Champions League Last 16 Predictions: 1st Leg

TUESDAY:

GALATASARAY V LIVERPOOL

Galatasaray won this fixture during the League Phase which came around the start of that terrible run of form they went on earlier in the season.

The Turkish champions were one of my dark horses earlier in the season because they've got some quality players in their side including Leroy Sane, Mauro Icadi and of course Victor Osimhen, who score the only goal of the game when the two sides met earlier in the season.

Liverpool's best chance of making the Champions League next season might be by winning the competition because they've been in better form in Europe than they have been in the Premier League.

The reds were a much improved team against Wolves in midweek and especially in the second half as they moved the ball quicker.

Their energy levels went up as soon as they scored the first goal and Arne Slot will want them to play with that same intensity from the get go in this one.

But because Galatasaray beat them back in September, I think the Turkish side will take the lead in this one and especially as they're the home team for this leg.

PREDICTION: 1-0

ATALANTA V BAYERN MUNICH

Atalanta have caused some shocks in this competition in the past including in the knockout play offs where they came from 2-0 down to defeat Borussia Dortmund 4-3 on aggregate.

They also beat Chelsea back in December where they did against Dortmund, they came from behind to win the game.

Bayern Munich have been one of the form teams in Europe this season and they'll definitely be among the favourites to win this competition because of it.

The quality and depth they have in their attack is frightening and it has since been boosted by the return of Jamal Musiala who is back after a long injury lay off.

Vincent Kompany's side will however be without Harry Kane for this game due to a calf injury and despite the number of goals he's scored this season, I don't see his absence affecting too much because they have players in their attack who can step up.

I think Atalanta will give them a game, but I think Bayern will just edge it because of the attacking quality they have.

PREDICTION: 1-2

ATLETICO MADRID V TOTTENHAM

You always know what you're going to get from Atletico Madrid under Diego Simeone. They're going to be tough to beat and well drilled defensively.

That hasn't exactly been the case for them this season and especially in Europe as they've failed to keep a clean sheet which is very unlike Atletico under Simeone.

They've been involved in some goal fests in this competition this season and were beaten 4-0 by Arsenal earlier in the season which very much proves that they're not as tight defensively as they once were.

Spurs will surely be looking to exploit this defensive weakness but I'm not sure they will because they look seriously low on confidence at the moment.

Igor Tudor has started off with three defeats from three games since taking over from Thomas Frank and he could do with a result from this game to give his team some much needed confidence.

Spurs have performed better in Europe than they have in the Premier League this season and it was the same for them last season as they won the Europa League but finished 17th in the league.

But I still fancy Atletico to go ahead in the tie here because they have more confidence on board and are a better team all-round.

PREDICTION: 3-1

NEWCASTLE V BARCELONA

These two sides met earlier in the season in the first week of the competition with Marcus Rashford's double winning it for Barcelona.

But Newcastle did put in an encouraging display in that game though and Eddie Howe will want his side to put in a similar kind of display in this one.

But it won't be straightforward as they're still without Bruno Guimaraes due to injury and he makes such a difference to them when he plays.

Barca have again been scoring goals for fun this season but there are still questions hanging over them defensively like there were last season.

Their leaky defence is what is holding them back from winning this competition because to win any trophy you need to have a solid defence and Barca haven't had that for a while.

But going forward they were are frightening to watch and it's because of their firepower that I see them going ahead in this tie.

PREDICTION: 1-3

WEDNESDAY:

BAYER LEVERKUSEN V ARSENAL

Bayer Leverkusen were Bundesliga champions two seasons ago and have been a long way off that this season which was probably expected after losing manager Xabi Alonso and a few of their best players in the summer.

They're currently 6th in the Bundesliga and only three points off the top four but a staggering 22 points behind leaders Bayern Munich.

in Europe they've done well against English clubs as they won at Man City and got a draw against Newcastle which should give them some confidence heading into this game.

Arsenal had a 100% record in the league phase and have been tipped by many people to win the competition because of this and their strength in depth.

Their strength in depth has been talked about a lot over the course of the season and it has arguably been the difference for them between winning a trophy and not winning a trophy.

They'll be back to full strength for this game after resting a number of players against Mansfield on Saturday and I think they'll win this one fairly comfortably.

PREDICTION: 0-3

BODO/GLIMT V SPORTING LISBON

Bodo/Glimt have been the surprise package of the Champions League this season after beating Man City and Atletico Madrid in the League Phase before knocking out Inter Milan in the knockout pay offs.

They were close to going out of the competition altogether before those wins over City and Atletico which were their only two during the League Phase and the results that sealed them a play off spot.

Beating Sporting won't feel like a massive shock unlike their previous three results in this competition, but it would still be a shock because Sporting are a bigger club and on paper have better players.

Sporting finished 7th in the League Phase during which they beat PSG and took a point off Juventus.

They've lost just one game in the Primeira Liga this season but are four points behind leaders Porto who have also lost just one game.

Bodo will be no doubt be feeling confident of causing another upset here and as they're the home team for this leg, I fancy them to cause another shock and take the lead in the tie here.

PREDICTION: 2-1

PSG V CHELSEA

PSG haven't been the same team they were last season in that they're not as cohesive and haven't quite performed at the levels they performed at.

It did take them time to get going last season after a slow start and once they got going, they were unstoppable so maybe we shouldn't write them off just yet.

Chelsea battered PSG in the Club World Cup final in the summer but that doesn't mean they'll do the same in this one because this competition is one big step up.

Liam Rosenior's side were given a good game by Wrexham on Saturday where they made a lot of changes as they were probably saving their best players for this one.

PSG may not be the same team they were last season, but they still have some quality players and it's because of those quality players that I'm backing to gain the upper hand in this tie.

PREDICTION: 3-1

REAL MADRID V MAN CITY

This will be the seventh season in a row that these two sides have met in the knockout rounds and I'm hoping that we get another good game here.

Real Madrid lost this fixture 2-1 during the League Phase which marked the beginning of the end of Xabi Alonso's time in charge.

Results have been mixed since Alvaro Arbeloa took over both in La Liga and in Europe but they are still in the La Liga title race as they're currently four points behind Barcelona.

Real will be without a number of players for this one due to injury including Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham which is both a blow for them in this game and the tie itself.

Man City rested a lot of players against Newcastle in the FA Cup as they were probably saving them for this game.

Erling Haaland was one of the players that was rested and it was his goal from the penalty spot that won this fixture back in December.

Because of Real having a lot of injuries, I'm backing City to gain the upper hand and record another win in this fixture.

PREDICTION: 1-2