With all the big European football leagues now over, we’ve saved the best for last – it’s time for the Champions League knockout stages! This weekend the action resumes with the all-important round of 16 second legs, which had to be played back in March but got postponed because of the Covid-19 outbreak:
Then next week an 8-team tournament will take place in Portugal, featuring single-leg quarter-finals and semi-finals as well as the final. It means that in contrast to other years when the rounds ahead of the final were decided by home and away clashes, this time the winner in every round will be clear after one match (in case of a draw in regular 90 minutes there will be extra-time and penalties). This new format and the fact that all games will be played behind closed doors level the chances of the underdogs against the favourites. Two of the quarter-finals, which will take place next week, are already clear: Atalanta v PSG and RB Leipzig v Atletico Madrid. But first – let’s take a closer look at the most interesting round of 16 matches…
Guardiola or Real Madrid?
Man City v Real Madrid is without a doubt the highlight of this week’s last-16 action. Back in the spring City won the first leg 2-1 in Madrid but will this 1-goal advantage be enough for them to advance to the quarter-finals? Their star striker Sergio Agüero is out injured, while recently crowned Spanish champions Real Madrid will be without their captain Sergio Ramos who got sent off in the first leg. The game will be a managerial battle between two of the best coaches in the world – Barcelona legend Pep Guardiola and Real Madrid’s Zinedine Zidane, who can also be called Mr Champions League after winning the tournament three times in a row between 2016 and 2018. So who will come out on top this time? Man City have scored over 100 goals this season so we believe another high-scoring affair might be on the cards…
RECOMMENDED BET: Get 2.15 on over 3.5 goals to be scored in the game
Will Juve overturn a 1-goal deficit?
Juventus have just recently won their 9th Serie A title in a row and also have Cristiano Ronaldo, the Champions League’s all-time top scorer (128). But against Lyon they need to pull off a comeback after losing 1-0 the first leg in France. The French league was the only top league in Europe that didn’t resume and Lyon are very much lacking playing time. That and the fact Ronaldo loves the knockout stages tip the balance in favour of Juve.
RECOMMENDED BET: Get 3.90 on Juve to win by 2 goals and go through
Don’t miss the Europa League action!
Warm up for the Champions League round of 16 second legs with 8 Europa League matches that will be played this Wednesday and Thursday. Europe’s second tournament will also offer some fantastic games to bet and win on, including Inter v Getafe and Sevilla v Roma!
It promises to be one hell of a football week – score big with 10CRIC!
