UCL PREVIEW R-16: Day 4

Gladbach to unsettle Pep; Atalanta to unravel injury hit Madrid side. 

A preview of the last round of games in the first leg of the Round of 16. 

Atalanta vs Real Madrid

With Atalanta yet to win a game at home this season in UCL, they render themselves to the slaughter against Real Madrid who can only present an injury hit side. Zidane in his presser said he ‘has the maximum respect’ for the Italian side who made it to the R-16 for the second time in their first two years. Atalanta are a great attacking side and always seem to cause problems for the big guns. 

Real Madrid is well short but do have the muscle to get the nod in this fixture as they look the better side on paper. Los Blancos are veterans and they make it to the KO’s for the 24th consecutive time – the most by any club. Benzema is a doubt for this fixture but Vinicius and Asensio can lead the line for Zidane as they step of the dugout in Bergamo to take on La Dea. 

Borussia Monchengladbach vs Manchester City

I for one won't pity the commentators when both clubs face off at the Puskas Arena - apologies for bitten lips. Gladbach has never picked up a win against Manchester City, and have difficulties winning on home soil. With much gratitude, they will be happier it is on neutral grounds. The only positive is that they have scored in games they have played at home despite winning just two of nine. Great attacking potential in Lars Stindl, Alassane Plea, Embolo and Marcus Thuram – a doubt for this fixture. 

Gladbach coach, Marco Rose: “if there is something City doesn’t like then its not having the ball …” He will be looking to unsettle Pep’s side. Pep having played most games this season without a striker yet grabbed results which is pleasing to the eye. Swift movement of the ball from side to side just to force changes to the defensive shapes of his opponents is a thing of beauty. He may feel it’s his chance this year with City and to have De Bruyne back is a plus for him. Foden and Bernardo Silva have slotted in seamlessly for the Sky blues.  

No fans allowed into stadiums yet but happier the moments will be as we will follow from the comforts of our couches. 

All games 20:00 GMT.

UCL PREVIEW DAY 3/R-16

Holders, Bayern set to defend title, as Tuchel’s Chelsea faces toughest test yet against Atletico Madrid.

We are back again under the floodlights of European football in two nights of mouthwatering encounters as European football powerhouses will look to make safe their slots in the quarter finals. A somewhat clearer picture will be painted but we brace ourselves for shocks and surprises. 

Atletico Madrid vs Chelsea 

Chelsea will be looking to do what Liverpool could not do last year by kicking Atletico Madrid out of the competition. The Blues are unbeaten since the appointment of Thomas Tuchel – former PSG boss. This is his toughest test yet as Chelsea boss. Nights in the UCL for both clubs has been balanced with two wins apiece. Tuchel’s 3-4-3 approach has not given the goals but has brought some defensive solidity to their play. 

Diego Simeone is enjoying the season as Rojiblancos sit on top of the La Liga. Luiz Suarez joined from Barcelona in the summer last year and does not look like slowing down.

Carrasco and Joao Felix can cause an upset. With both teams set up well defensively, the edge will come for the team which will create and take its chances. 

Edouard Mendy has four clean sheets and guess what if Chelsea make it out of the Round of 16, it will be the first time since the 2013/14 season – Shocking.  

Lazio vs Bayern

The Italian side are only here in the KO’s for the first time in 21 years but have a great record playing against German sides. As was seen against Dortmund in the group stages, they can be very tough to crack on a good day. Ciro Immobile and Luis Alberto are the obvious threat Bayern Munich must look to neutralize but the hosts, Lazio remain unbeaten at home in five games in the UCL. 

The congested fixture schedules for the world champions have affected the consistency of their results owing to increasing levels of fatigue. Nonetheless, European nights bring a different spark as they are unbeaten in 17 games since that home defeat to Liverpool two years ago. Lewandowski remains a big goal threat with 26 goals domestically and 3 in the UCL this season and has well been aided by Gnabry, Koman and Muller.

Not forgetting the impact of Neuer as Hansi Flick has relied on the brilliance of his captain to win games this season. 

We go again tonight. Let’s enjoy this. 

All Games 20:00 GMT

Day 2: UCL Preview R-16 2020/21

A more natural neutral for Klopp and Mbappe stealing the so-called Messi show. Later to night Dortmund visit Sevilla and can Porto surprise Pirlo’s Juventus?

The opening night brought nothing short of excitement as neutral ground became all natural for the Reds when two costly Leipzig mishaps gave Liverpool a two-goal buffer in the first leg; Messi’s Barca in tatters but an emphatic Mbappe display and his seventh career hat-trick came at the home of the Catalans. Andriy Shevchenko the last player to score a hat-trick at the Camp Nou in 1997 – this reads badly for Ronald Koeman. 

Sevilla vs Dortmund

Dortmund lock horns with Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. The home side has been superb domestically with nine straight wins and seven clean sheets to add to that record. This bodes well for Lopetegui’s well-disciplined defense. He highlighted in his presser the many chances Dortmund create and will have devised the perfect strategy to halt this progress. 

He also will be aware of the forward threat in Haaland, Sancho and Reus and must clip their wings before they run riot over his side. He can also boast of great forward potential in Papu Gomez, Suso and Moroccan international, En Nesyri. 

Dortmund on one hand, has had contrasting results and their form domestically has been poor. The lack of consistency in results is a real bother for the German outfit and is so expected of a particularly young side. Roman Burki will not be between the sticks for them but old head, Matt Hummels can marshal this team to victory tonight if the right things are done. 

Porto vs Juventus

A defeat to Napoli became their third loss since December but their impermeable defense has considered just two goals in eight games in all competitions. This will be key for them going into this fixture. Ronaldo loves scoring against Porto and the Bianconeri will be depending on him to get them through. Porto is the only team in the CL this season yet to concede a goal at home and have kept five clean sheets in their last five games at home as well. 

Pirlo will want to keep the good record against the Portuguese side as they have never lost to Porto in five previous encounters. It would be very much unwise to underrate the champions of the Primeira Liga as they do have a strong team. The core of this team has come from having to keep most of its important players. Ronaldo’s old teammate, Pepe, Jesus Corona and Moussa Marega must be at their utmost best to be able to clinch something for their side. 

Ronaldo has been magnificent and Morata, Chiesa, and US international, McKinnie have been supportive, and Pirlo can turn on them to deliver. Dybala, Cuadrado and Ramsey will be major absentees for the old ladies. 

All Games 20:00 GMT

UEFA CL: 2020/21 R-16

It felt like eons apart between dates announced for the R-16 fixtures and its actual happenings. Amid Covid-19 and many other social distancing protocols we get to enjoy the wonderful scenes from the UEFA Champions League yet again. 

The traditional long break but its resumption gives us a grueling list of fixtures and soccer fanatics will not miss this. Rivalries and reconnections built in the hope of further advancement in the competition. 

Barcelona vs Paris Saint Germain

Barcelona is the only side to have overcome a 4-goal margin in a first leg defeat in UEFA Champions league history at the Parc des Princes to the PSG side they face tonight. It makes it more fun with Neymar Jr, a major catalyst in that famous pull around. PSG disappointingly exited the competition by a 6-5 aggregate. Barcelona will seek to wrap it up early at the Camp Nou – a ground they have barely tasted defeat in this competition. Ronald Koeman will attempt to reach the Quarter finals for the fourteenth time and knowing so well, they have had the upper hand in the last decade anytime these two met. 

PSG had a wobble of some sort in the group stages but managed to see off pressure from contenders Manchester United and RB Leipzig – the latter, their fellow breakouts in the group. Mauricio Pochettino has not had it all going for him as his side have struggled in games domestically upon his arrival. 

Some conviction will help fans believe he can take this team to another final after that slender defeat to Bayern Munich last season, but he will have to do this without Neymar and Di Maria as both will not be in contention for tonight’s showdown. Pochettino in his pre-game interview says the European obsession is fueling PSG – they are going to give it a hard try as they believe they can go past Ronald Koeman’s side with Mbappe and Icardi his leading front men in his 3-5-2 formation. Pochettino is gradually settling with this team and could cause an upset at the Camp Nou if he keeps a watertight defense. 

Koeman almost always settles with a preferred 4-3-3 formation. A false nine role for Messi who has been superb in recent outings along with Griezmann and others fused in. Dembele, Pedri and Trincao have been great as substitutes but this mix has failed to deliver when it matters most in big games. Can they keep the record at the Camp Nou?

RB Leipzig vs Liverpool

A great fall for the toughly driven Klopp army makes it unfathomable but the trust from fans and players a beauty to behold. They believe in his ability to perform and he managed to sniff his team out of the group. A long list of absentees for the Merseyside Reds is making it hard for the team stick to its style and approach in games. He has been forced to trying different partnerships in defense owing to his injury hit side. He has done most of the season without major center-back pairing Gomez/Virgil and his top scorer in the CL, Diogo Jota – his backup acquisition last summer.

Jordan Henderson looks to have found a home in defense. A partnership between him and Kabak for tonight is certain as they face RB Leipzig. The fullbacks look withered and have lessened impact in games. The front three have lost their mojo and Salah the only likely goal scoring threat. 

Julian Nagelsmann beat Manchester United in the final group game to make it out with PSG, that is motivation enough to come out here and grab the needed results. RB Lepizig is been unbeaten in 6 games at home in the CL, but the games will be played on neutral ground at the Puskas Arena in Budapest is the first competitive fixture between both sides – Julian has vowed to not treat his compatriot as a well beaten-up boxer. Almost always a notable 3-4-3 approach with major suspects Sabitzer, Angelino and Bayern bound Upamecano but a more dominant midfield line defines this team. 

Liverpool’s good away record to German sides will be tested here and these contrasting results for both teams duels on the quick switches from defense to attack.

Back to our couches tonight with bowls of popcorn. Let’s have fun. 

All games. 20:00 GMT