UEFA Champions League Round of 16, 1st Leg Odds, Predictions

The group stages, now a tiny speck in the rear-view mirror, offered plenty of drama, especially on match day 6 in early November. But half the clubs have been eliminated and only the strongest 16 remain. Even among the final 16, some squads pose more of a challenge than others. Then again, that’s why they play the game. Anything can happen.

As per the more recently updated knockout round schedule, not all eight Round of 16 first legs are this week. They’re spread over two weeks, with two on Feb. 14 and 15, which is what we’ll be previewing today. Next week we’ll preview the other half of first leg tilts.

Be sure to check out our Champions League odds.

Feb. 14: AC Milan vs Tottenham

Two clubs reeling lately will play at the legendary San Siro Stadium to gain the upper hand in the first leg of their series.

If there is one way NOT to get ready for midweek Champions League football, it’s getting thrashed 4-1 in one’s domestic league. That’s exactly what Tottenham endured when they paid a visit to Leicester City. Worse still, for once Spurs actually started on the right foot, claiming an early 1-0 lead, only to suffer a pummelling for the rest of the afternoon. Antonio Conte will need to get his men refocused and play a full 90 minutes, something they’ve struggled mightily with all season long, hence their fifth place in the Premier League and eight defeats.

The iconic rossoneri finally did away with an embarrassingly poor sequence over the weekend with a 1-0 victory at Torino. Olivier Giroud scored another brilliant header off a set piece in the 62^nd minute. It put an end to a disastrous three-game winning streak which saw them lose to city rivals Inter Milan and get smashed at home 5-2 by Sassuolo. They are in a tough fight for a top-four finish in Seria A, making both their domestic and Champions League tilts of the utmost importance.

Prediction: AC Milan 2-1 Tottenham

Feb. 14: PSG vs Bayern Munich

One of the more mouth-watering Round of 16 clashes features perennial contenders and German giants Bayern Munich facing off against Paris Saint-Germain, a club that dominates at home but has found continental success elusive. This also happens to be a rematch of the 2020 Final, which the Bavarian-based side won 1-0.

Judging by reports emanating from the Parisian club’s training session on Monday, Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi were both active. Each has missed some playing time in recent weeks due to injuries. Their absence was sorely felt over the weekend when the champions visited third-placed Monaco, who taught PSG a footballing lesson with a 3-1 victory. Moreover, the Parisian side emphatically looked like the second-best team on the pitch. And so begins another quest for European glory for a side that has invested countless funds into creating a juggernaut. Not many franchises can claim to have Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Neymar Jr. in their starting lineup. Now is the time to make the push for a title.

Over in the Bundesliga, things seem to have reverted to standard operating procedures, although it isn’t clear-cut as Julian Nagelsmann’s side would like. Union Berlin’s hold on first place lasted a couple of months last autumn and made for a terrific story. Bayern has since reclaimed the top spot, albeit by a single point. They bested Bochum at the Allianz Arena over the weekend 3-0 and looked comfortable in the process. This upcoming game at the Parc des Prince promises to be a lot more difficult.

Prediction: PSG 2-2 Bayern Munich

Feb. 15: Dortmund vs Chelsea

Wednesday offers a couple of games with less salivating prospects as far as prestige, but sometimes it’s the lesser matches that offer surprising sparks. First up is German side Borussia Dortmund hosting struggling English team Chelsea.

Speaking of teams faring well in Germany, Borussia Dortmund is holding its own rather well since superstar Erling Haaland’s departure last summer for Manchester City. Sitting in third in the Bundesliga, they trail the aforementioned Bayern Munich by only three points. Technically anything can happen over the remaining three months of domestic football. For now, a date with London club Chelsea awaits. Most eyes will be on Englishman Jude Bellingham, who plays for Dortmund. There have been rumours about his moving to the Premier League. He is one of the Bundesliga’s rising stars at the moment.

There is no other way to put it. Chelsea has had an extremely rough go for about 12 months ever since its previous owner was justifiably forced out the door. A managerial change in midstream to claim Graham Potter (who had done an admirable job at Brighton) has done little to quell the club’s ills. They have been smacked around more than once domestically (they failed to defeat a struggling West Ham side over the weekend, mustering a 1-1 draw). It’s a minor miracle that they are in the Champions League Round of 16 at all.

Prediction: Dortmund 2-0 Chelsea

Feb. 15: Club Brugge vs Benfica Lisbon

Probably the tie among the four to be featured this week that will get the least amount of spotlight is Belgian Pro League side Club Brugge hosting Portuguese giants Benfica.  It bears repeating that one never knows which of the first left leg ties has surprises up its sleeves, especially when it comes to the less popular clubs such as these two.

Brugge is not having the greatest domestic campaign. It sits fourth in the Pro League, a full 20 points behind table leaders Racing Gank who, pardon the pun, are running away with the league. To their credit, Brugge hasn’t suffered defeat in quite some time, avoiding that fate since Jan. 8 against Genk. On the flip side, they haven’t won very much either. Of their past six contests, five have seen Brugge and their opposites share the spoils. The team has no trouble scoring, having failed to put the ball in the back of the net only once in its last nine games.

Benfica is no stranger to the Champions League, having won the tournament or its equivalent twice in its history, albeit both occasions were a long time ago (1961 and 1962).  At the moment, they’re experiencing a rather successful domestic campaign, leading the Portuguese Primeira League. Their advantage is only five points, with eternal rivals Porto breathing down their neck at five points away and Braga not too far behind at seven points. There’s no doubt that the Portuguese side is the one with the most experience. Joao Mario and Goncalo Ramos are both having great seasons, having each scored 12 times.

Prediction: Brugge 0-1 Benfica