Predicting the Champions League Round of 16 Ties

Luis Suárez of Barcelona in 2018. Photo by Bagu Blanco/BPI/REX/Shutterstock (9943676j)

After three months of group stage play, the Champions League’s final sixteen teams have been determined and the matchups drawn for the competition’s first knockout stage.

There are plenty of tantalizing matchups in the Round of 16, so let’s take a look at each of them and predict a winner!

Borussia Dortmund vs. Paris Saint-Germain

This is an extremely intriguing matchup between two teams that have tons of talent on their rosters. PSG dominated Group A, dropping only one point, and we expect the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar (if he is able to play) to lead the Parisians past Dortmund, but it won’t be without a fight.

Paris Saint-Germain

Real Madrid vs. Manchester City

Manchester City once looked like one of the most dominant teams in Europe, but it seems as if Pep Guardiola’s side might be in decline. Behind in the Premier League race by a big margin and not looking as sharp as they once did, could Real Madrid overcome its recent woes and get past City? Count us as being skeptical.

Manchester City

Atalanta vs. Valencia

This matchup pits two of the biggest surprises of the group stage up against one another. Valencia and Atalanta, each of which needed a final matchday win to qualify for the knockout stages, will battle to see which team surprises everyone and moves onto the quarterfinals. Our pick has to be Valencia, the more talented and experienced team.

Valencia

Atletico Madrid vs. Liverpool

Liverpool looks to be the most dominant team in Europe right now, but they didn’t get an easy draw for the Round of 16. Diego Simeone’s Atletico always fights tooth and nail, and they have a defense that could test Liverpool’s skilled attack. However, we expect the reigning Champions League winner to move onto the next round.

Liverpool

Chelsea vs. Bayern Munich

This fascinating matchup pits two European giants against one another. Chelsea has been inconsistent under Frank Lampard this season, but Bayern Munich has had similar problems and a managerial change. I think they will squeak by, largely based on their more experienced roster.

Bayern Munich

Lyon vs. Juventus

After last year’s shocking early elimination at the hands of Ajax, Juventus will be looking to turn the page and get their knockout stage campaign off on a good note. Luckily, they drew a Lyon team that should not pose a big problem for Maurizio Sarri’s star-studded squad.

Juventus

Tottenham Hotspur vs. RB Leipzig

Tottenham has endured an extremely frustrating start to the season that ended with Mauricio Pochettino’s dismissal. However, Jose Mourinho looks to be getting last year’s Champions League finalists back towards being an ordered team that could be a threat in this tournament. Leipzig could pose a bigger challenge than many think, though.

Tottenham Hotspur

Napoli vs. Barcelona

Napoli has had a bizarre season up to this point, currently on an eight-game winless streak in Serie A. What’s even stranger is that they fired manager Carlo Ancelotti just before the last Champions League group stage game, and somehow still qualified. They’re a team with a lot of fight, but Barcelona’s Messi-Suarez-Griezmann trio is probably too much to handle.

Barcelona

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