Champions League Last 16 Predictions: Part 2 of the 2nd Leg

jonjoward1998
Mar 13, 2023
4 min read

TUESDAY:

PORTO V INTER MILAN

Porto missed some decent chances in the first leg and they also had a man sent off in Otavio for two yellow cards. They will have been disappointed with the chances they missed but they'll still fancy themselves to go through as they're only a goal behind and this leg of the tie being at home.

Inter Milan also missed a load of chances in the first leg and they could come back to bite them in this 2nd leg as they're away from home for this tie. But they did take their chance when it came to them when Romelu Lukaku scored off his rebounded shot.

They've lost 2 of their 3 Serie A games since their victory in the first leg and both defeats were away from home. Their away form hasn't been very good this season with just 5 wins away from home in Serie A all season. But having the advantage in this tie will give them confidence heading into this 2nd leg.

PREDICTION: 1-2

I'm backing Inter Milan to get the job done here because they have more quality and more firepower in their attack. With Lukaku back among the goals and Martinez being in the form he's been in, Simeone Inzaghi's side should edge this one.

MAN CITY V RB LEIPZIG

Man City couldn't make the most of their first half dominance in the first leg and their failure to do so cost them. Pep will want his side to be more clinical and to make the most of any dominance they have in this one because they need to win this one if they're to reach the Quarter Finals.

They're still one of the favourites to win this competition and this season arguably represents their best chance to do so. With the Premier League title slipping away from them, they might put their sole focus on winning the Champions League because of how important it is for them.

RB Leipzig had more of a go in the second half during the 1st leg and they got a deserved draw to take into this leg. The draw will give them something to build on heading into this 2nd leg but they'll surely be expecting a tougher game with this being the away tie.

They'll again be without Christopher Nkunku who is out till early April through injury. They did get a draw without him in the first leg but with City likely to come out stronger for this leg, Leipzig not having Nkunku available is a massive blow.

PREDICTION: 2-0

I'm backing City to see themselves through here because I think they'll have the quality to do so. Leipzig will try and make it difficult for them like they did in the first leg but I think City will be more clinical in this one.

WEDNESDAY:

NAPOLI V EINTRACHT FRANKFURT

Some people have Napoli down as one of the favourites to win this competition this season and I can see why they would. They've arguably been the best team in Europe's' top 5 leagues with the amount of points they've picked up in Serie A and have been in excellent form all season. Them winning the Champions League would be like Porto winning it in 2004.

It was a straightforward win for Luciano Spalletti's side in the first leg and this one could be the same as they're at home where they haven't lost all season. They were dominant throughout the contest and will be looking to play the same way in this leg.

Eintracht Frankfurt will be without Randal Kolo Muani for this leg as he is suspended following his red card from the first leg. This is a massive blow for Frankfurt as he's been their main supply for goals this season and without him I don't see Frankfurt offering much of a goal threat.

They hardly offered anything going forward in the first leg even before the sending off because of how dominant Napoli were. Their chances of reaching the Quarter Finals will be very slim now as they'll be without their top goal scorer and have a two goal deficit to overturn against a top side.

PREDICTION: 3-0

I'm backing Napoli to see themselves through here because of the form they're in and the way they've been playing all season. As they're at home for this leg I can see them win this one very comfortably because they've been very strong at home both in Europe and domestically.

REAL MADRID V LIVERPOOL

Real Madrid will probably put their sole focus on winning the Champions League with their chances of winning La Liga looking very slim. They've done this in the past whenever Barcelona have walked away with the La Liga title and will do so again because of the history they have with the competition among other things.

They showed their class in the first leg and particularly in the second half where they walked away with the game. Experienced duo Karim Benzema and Luka Modric played a key role in that win where they showed that they can still deliver at that level at the ages they are.

After beating Man United 7-0 a couple of weekend ago some people thought Liverpool were back. But they're not after losing to Bournemouth the weekend just gone. They just couldn't take their chances in that one and were let down by some poor defending which cost them the result.

Mistakes cost them massively in the first leg and they have it all to do here if they're to reach the next round. They have pulled off miracles before in this competition but completing another one here will be tough as they're away from home and are up against a Madrid side who are blessed with quality everywhere.