After the long grind of the UEFA Champions League group stage, the draw was made on Monday, Decmber 17th, 2018 for the round of sixteen. Frankly there were no great surprises as to who the final sixteen teams were that managed to qualify for the knockout stage.
But that’s no bad thing as there are some massive, high-profile ties to come among Europe’s elite. The next round doesn’t start until the middle of February 2019, but it is well worth taking a look ahead to the action that is to come. You will be able to tune into BT Sport to watch the round of sixteen fxxitures.
Manchester United v PSG
12 February & 6 March
The Red Devils could have their backs against the wall in this tie. They do have time to get their ship steadied after having sacked Jose Mourinho in mid-December. It has been a very poor season by their standards though and it will forever remain a mystery as to why they didn’t go all out to try and win their match day six fixture against Valencia. The chance of winning the group was still there and that could have led to the avoidance of a big-gun.
But this is the bed they have made for themselves. PSG traded home wins with Liverpool in the group stage so have faced English opposition already this campaign. Given how easily Liverpool beat Manchester United in a December EPL meeting, it is easy to see why the bookmakers have the French champions as 1/5 odds-on favourites To Qualify from the tie. It shows the sizeable task ahead for the Red Devils. Will the change of manager bring new fortunes though? This will be the first-ever action between the two clubs
Roma v Porto
12 February & 6 March
Roma, after their second place finish behind Real Madrid in Group G will have nervously looked at the potential sides they could have faced. They will be breathing a sigh of relief after avoiding the big guns in the draw. The Italians, who lost in last season’s semi-final against Liverpool, get a shot against Portuguese outfit Porto. But will it be an easy tie for them? Because there is a bit of recent prior between these two.
In last season’s qualification playoff round, Porto went up against Roma and they dumped the Italians out 4-1 on aggregate. Porto are just shading things with the top bookmakers as 3/4 favourites To Qualify from this new meeting. The Portuguese powerhouses topped their group over Schalke and to be fair it was the easiest of the eight groups in the first round of this season’s Champions League. FC Porto went unbeaten with a W5 D1 record which shouldn’t be knocked though.
Ajax v Real Madrid
13 February & 5 March
Ajax are the ones charged with taking on the reigning European champions in the round of sixteen. Will it be too big of a task for them, or will they thrive as underdogs? They don’t have great history against Real Madrid. Ajax have lost their last six games in a row against them. Los Merengues won 4-1 in both meetings when they last met up, which was in the 2012/13 Champions League group stage.
Madrid have scored at least three goals in each of their last five games against the Dutch outfit. But Real Madrid did produce some below-par performances in the group stage. Notably they got stunned in a defeat against CSKA Moscow. Ajax meanwhile did only finish second in their group but they earned a tremendous point in a 1-1 away draw at Bayern Munich. It was the Germans who finished above them in their group. Ajax are big 10/3 underdogs in general at the top bookmakers to get through this tie.
Tottenham v Borussia Dortmund
13 February & 5 March
It was a remarkable comeback story for Tottenham in the group stage. After losing their opening two games of their campaign against Inter and then Barcelona, Spurs looked totally out of the running. More so when they could only manage a draw at PSV in their third fixture. Then it all turned around for them as they pulled themselves back into things, including a dramatic late goal in a draw at the Nou Camp against Barca on match day six.
It showed plenty of resilience from the Lilywhites and they are going to need it going forward. This is a tough tie against Dortmund, who are powering along so strongly at the head of the Bundesliga. The Germans topped their Champions League group over Atletico Madrid and BVB are a massive threat in this tournament overall. They will be out for revenge too after losing their two group stage matches against Spurs last season. Can they find a way to break the resilience of Tottenham? It is Dortmund who slightly edge things as 4/5 favourites in the To Qualify market for this tie.
Liverpool v Bayern Munich
13 February & 5 March
This could be the tie of the round. What a clash Liverpool have landed with after only finishing second in their group to PSG. It means they have drawn another of Europe’s elite. It is Bayern Munich who the Reds will have to showdown against in the round of sixteen. However, looking at the current status of things, it may not be a bad draw for the Premier League side. Liverpool are having a tremendous Premier League season and showed their experience last season in reaching the final.
Bayern Munich are not the Die Roten that we have seen over the last few seasons, because by their standards, they have been having a tough season. They are trailing badly in the Bundesliga title race, unable to stand up to the surprise form of Borussia Dortmund there. But this is a side full of quality and proven quality at that. Even though things on the domestic front haven’t been great for them, they simply coasted through their Champions League group stage. It’s a fascinating tie and the top bookmakers have Liverpool at a general 4/5 odds favourite to win through.
Lyon v Barcelona
13 February & 5 March
Barcelona may look at this tie on paper and be relatively happy with things. The Catalans found themselves facing a tricky group stage campaign, having been lumped together with Spurs and Inter Milan. However, Barcelona never batted an eyelid as they cruised their way calmly to top spot in the group. At times during the campaign, they (more specifically, Lionel Messi) were simply irresistible.
Lyon though should not be totally underestimated. They beat Manchester City in the group stage at the Etihad and then earned a draw back on home soil against them. They played so very well in those two games. It has to be put into context the strength that Lyon showed in those games against Manchester City. The Citizens are the outright favourites to win the tournament this season. Still, it hasn’t stopped bookmakers being fully aware of the threat of Barcelona, making the overwhelming odds-on favourites to qualify from this tie. The Catalans hold an unbeaten match record against Lyon from six previous clashes.
Atletico Madrid v Juventus
20 February & 12 March
This may be some tussle between Atletico and Juventus. Atletico missed out on top spot in their group stage campaign against Borussia Dortmund. They did finish level on points with the Germans after trading blows with them. Atletico are such a difficult side to get the better and they are going to know the importance of staying strong on home in the first leg of this epic tie.
Juventus did have a couple of slips in their group. They surprisingly threw away a lead late on in Turin against Manchester United. Then on match day six, they suffered an even bigger shock defeat out on the road against Young Boys. Still, when it comes to the crunch, they have Cristiano Ronaldo and they are not just going to be rolled over easily. It could be a long war of attrition in this spectacular tie which Juve are 4/9 odds-on favourites to win with the top bookmakers.
Schalke v Man City
20 February & 12 March
Schalke are one of the big outsiders to lift the Champions League title this season. The Germans won’t be too pleased about their draw for the round of sixteen. Schalke made it through their group stage campaign in second place behind Porto. That was in Group D which was arguably the weakest of all the groups. So what kind of stead does that leave them in to face Manchester City?
The Citizens are red-hot favourites according to the leading bookmakers, which is no great surprise. City did have a scare of their own in the group stage, losing on match day one on home soil against French side Lyon. Despite behind held to a draw in the reverse fixture against Lyon, Manchester City showed their class to recover well enough to come back and win their group after their early set back. This would be a great Champions League upset if the Germans got through this tie.
