The draw for the round of sixteen of the UEFA Champions League was made on Tuesday, December 16th. The matches won’t be played until towards the end of February next year. But the early draws gives the teams involved a look ahead.
None of the four English Premier League teams in the draw received anything like a comfortable draw. The headlining tie out of the Last-16 draw in the competition is Manchester City having to duel with Real Madrid. Reigning champions Liverpool have to deal with Atletico Madrid.
Here we take a look at the round of sixteen draw in full.
Champions League Winner Odds*
Manchester City 7/2
Liverpool 9/2
Barcelona 5/1
PSG 7/1
Bayern Munich 7/1
Juventus 12/1
Tottenham 20/1
Real Madrid 20/1
Atletico Madrid 33/1
RB Leipzig 40/1
Chelsea 40/1
Borussia Dortmund 66/1
Atalanta 100/1
Valencia 100/1
Napoli 1001/
Lyon 200/1
*(betting odds taken from bet365 on December 16th, 2019 at 6:29 pm)
Premier League Betting at Bet365
Table of Contents
Borussia Dortmund v Paris St-Germain
Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund finished second in their group stage campaign to Barcelona. They won three of their six games. In last season’s competition, they bowed out at the round of sixteen. They will be lining up as underdogs in this tie and have won just three of their last eight UEFA Champions League fixtures (D1 L4).
PSG were group winners, easily holding off the challenge of Real Madrid. The French champions were not undefeated in the group stage winning five of their six games. They looked like a solid unit in the group stage and they are the favourites to progress to the quarter-finals from this tie.
First Leg: Tuesday, February 18th
Head to Head
The only previous meeting between the two clubs happened in the 2010/11 Europa League group stage. Both of the games were drawn, with a 1-1 result in Germany and a 0-0 in the City of Lights.
Borussia Dortmund v PSG To Qualify Odds
PSG 1/4, Borussia Dortmund 11/4
*(betting odds taken from bet365 on December 16th, 2019 at 6:29 pm)
Borussia Dortmund v PSG Predictions
Backing the French side to get through looks the sensible option here. Dortmund just never quite seem to be able to live up to expectations in the knockout stages of the competition, at least not recently. PSG haven’t been great for a couple of seasons but had a solid group stage campaign, and can win this tie.
Real Madrid v Manchester City
A cracker of a draw and not a great one for Manchester City really as they try and drive towards their first title in the competition. With City not too likely to retain the Premier League title this season, there should be a fuller focus and dedication to trying to secure Champions League success.
There is a big hurdle of Real Madrid, winners of three of the last four editions, in their way. Real Madrid were second-place finishers in the group stage behind PSG, losing heavily to the French side along the way. Surprisingly they have claimed only one win in their last five Champions League home games (D2 L2).
So will Manchester City be able to haul themselves through this tie? They have only suffered one away defeat in their last eight road games in the competition. A win at the Bernabeu in the first leg of this epic tie is going to set the Premier League champions up well. Manchester City topped their group with an unbeaten W4 D2 record.
First Leg: Wednesday, February 26th
Head to head
There have been four previous matches between teeth two teams. Manchester City have yet to enjoy the taste of victory against the Spaniards, holding a D2 L2 record against them. The first meeting was in the 2012/13 Champions League group stage, the most recent happening in the 2016 semi-finals.
Real Madrid v Man City To Qualify Odds*
Man City 4/11, Real Madrid 2/1
*(betting odds taken from bet365 on December 16th, 2019 at 6:29 pm)
Real Madrid v Man City Prediction
Manchester City have nothing to fear in this showdown at all. Since Zinedine Zidane got back to Real Madrid, they have become more pragmatic and focused on defence. If City can sort out their defence between now and the round of sixteen start, they can progress.
Atalanta v Valencia
All credit due to Atalanta, who found a way to qualify, despite losing their first three group stage games. They mounted some comeback did the Serie A team. It was a second-place finish that they ended up taking behind Manchester City in Group C.
This will be their debut in the round of sixteen in the UEFA Champions League. Valencia won their group on a head-to-head record over Chelsea, the Spaniards impressing during the campaign. They didn’t get out of the group stage last season but did run to the semi’s of the Europa League.
First Leg: Wednesday, February 19th
Head to head
This will be the first meeting between Atalanta and Valencia
Atalanta v Valencia To Qualify Odds:
Valencia 8/13, Atalanta 6/5
*(betting odds taken from bet365 on December 16th, 2019 at 6:29 pm)
Atalanta v Valencia Predictions
There was some real naivety about Atalanta’s play in the early stages of the group campaign. But they learned quickly, adjusted and hauled themselves through. They look more of a threat in front of goal than Valencia and could cause an upset.
Atletico Madrid v Liverpool
Reigning European Champions Liverpool will have their hands full with Atletico Madrid. The Reds posted a W4 D1 L1 record in the group stage and did have some wobbles there along the way. But they showed their winning mentality to end up topping their group ahead of Napoli, who had beaten them on Matchday One.
Liverpool have won 10 of their last 13 Champions League games. They haven’t lost a European fixture at Anfield since back in October 2014 against Real Madrid. This is going to be all about how well they handle themselves physically against a rugged, well-organized Atletico.
Diego Simeone’s Atletico finished in second place in their group stage campaign, six points adrift of Juventus. They didn’t get any further than the round of sixteen last season and with only three wins in their last seven Champions League games, they have to be there for the taking.
First Leg: Tuesday, February 18th
Head to head
The first meeting between Liverpool and Atletico was in the 2008 Champions League group stage. Both of those games ended in a 1-1 draw. Their only other meeting came in the 2010 Europa League, with Atletico winning on away goals. Both teams had traded home wins.
Atletico Madrid v Liverpool To Qualify Odds
Liverpool 1/3, Atletico Madrid 9/4
*(betting odds taken from bet365 on December 16th, 2019 at 6:29 pm)
Predictions
Atletico are a little light up front with Antoine Greizmann around this season and they haven’t found a genuine replacement. They battle well, are rugged, but the class and power of Liverpool can see them off.
Chelsea v Bayern Munich
This is a tough tie for Chelsea, who qualified in second place from their group stage campaign. The big issues for Chelsea’s progress this season is a weak defence. That looks more than likely to trip them up at some point. They did have some bright moments in the group stage, but they never totally looked comfortable or in control of things in picking up a W3 D2 L1 record.
Bayern Munich won all six of their group stage matches. They are currently running under interim boss Hans-Dieter Flick after sacking Nico Kovac. The change at the top has certainly made a difference, as they look a bit more free-flowing and confident. They scored 24 goals in their six group stage games, ten of those were against Tottenham. Robert Lewandowski was the group stage top scorer.
First Leg: Tuesday, February 25th
Head to head
The most famous meeting between Bayern Munich and Chelsea was in the 2012 Champions League Final. Everything looked to be going Bayern’s way when Thomas Muller gave them the lead in the 83rd minute. But then Didier Drogba came to Chelsea’s rescue two minutes from time. Despite having their backs against the wall throughout the entire contest, Chelsea secured their first European Cup title via a penalty shootout.
Before that, they had met in the 2005 Champions League with Chelsea taking a 6-5 aggregate win in the semi-finals. Their most recent meeting went in favour of the Germans, who won a penalty shootout to claim the subsequent UEFA Super Cup over the Blues.
Chelsea v Bayern Munich To Qualify Odds
Bayern Munich 1/4, Chelsea 11/4
*(betting odds taken from bet365 on December 16th, 2019 at 6:29 pm)
Chelsea v Bayern Munich Predictions
Chelsea don’t look in great shape to really handle the rigours of the Champions League knockout stages. Frank Lampard’s men don’t have the quality at the back. This should swing the way of Bayern Munich who are looking like a rejuvenated side.
Lyon v Juventus
French side Lyon are the rank outsiders of the round of sixteen draw. They earned second place in a really competitive Group Gand Les Gones only managed to secure passage through to the knockouts on Matchday Six with a W2 D2 L2 record. They bowed out at the round of sixteen last season and this is a tough tie for them.
Juventus had a shock exit in last season’s quarter-finals against Ajax. The Dutch side really rattled them, but it’s hard seeing Lyon do that to the Old Lady. Juve took a W5D1 record from their six qualification games. Things really haven’t gelled for them under Mauririzo Sarri however and Cristiano Ronaldo hasn’t looked at his best.
First Leg: Wednesday, February 26th
Head to head
Juventus hold a W3 D1 record from their four previous games against Lyon. The first coming together between them was in the knockout stages of the Europa League in 2014 with Juve winning both games. Their most recent encounter was in the 2016 Champions League group stage, with Juve collecting four points. All three of Juve’s win over Lyon have been by one goal margin
Lyon v Juventus To Qualify odds
Juventus 1/8, Lyon 5/1
*(betting odds taken from bet365 on December 16th, 2019 at 6:29 pm)
Lyon v Juventus Predictions
Lyon are likely to find themselves out of their depth in this one. Juventus are not particularly strong, not adjusting too well to the managerial change this season. But they have the quality in depth, particularly in Turin, to get through.
Tottenham v RB Leipzig
Spurs have to settle for second place in their group behind Bayern Munich. Tottenham were eight points back of the Germans and the Premier League side definitely had some uncertain moments along the way. Last season’s runners-up now have Jose Mourinho in charge to try and get them that one step further.
There looks to have been worse draws in the group that they could have taken, however, this is no easy contest for the Lilywhites. RB Leipzig are not only pushing for the Bundesliga title this season, but they also topped their Champions League group with a W3 D2 L1 record. Granted it wasn’t the toughest of groups, but they have phenomenal goal scoring power.
First Leg: Wednesday, February 19th
Head to head
This will be the first meeting between Spurs and Leipzig
Tottenham v RB Leipzig To Qualify Odds
Tottenham 19/20, RB Leipzig 4/5
*(betting odds taken from bet365 on December 16th, 2019 at 6:29 pm)
Tottenham v RB Leipzig Prediction
The Germans are a powerful, tidy side and Leipzig can mount a serious challenge here. Spurs have won just three of their last ten European away games and given that the second leg is in Germany, where Leipzig have a high scoring average in games, the underdogs are well worth a punt.
Napoli v Barcelona
Napoli posted an unbeaten W3 D3 record in their group stage campaign, which included taking four points off Liverpool. Still, they couldn’t beat the Reds to top spot. So that left them facing a tough draw for the round of sixteen and they certainly got one. The Partenopei have only lost one of their last twelve European games. It’s their away record which could let them down. They are W1 D3 L4 in their last eight European road games.
Barcelona are still unbeaten in the group stage with a W5 D2 record. The five times European Champions fell at the semi-final stage to Liverpool last season. As long as Messi is fit and competitive, then they are going to be in the mixer, even though they are nowhere near being the unbeatable side that they once were. There’s still time for the Griezmann-Messi-Suárez trident to get better, as it hasn’t quite clicked yet.
First Leg: Tuesday, February 25th
Head to head
This will be the first meeting between the two clubs
Napoli v Barcelona To Qualify Odds
Barcelona 2/11, Napoli 7/2
*(betting odds taken from bet365 on December 16th, 2019 at 6:29 pm)
Napoli v Barcelona prediction
Barcelona should have too much in the tank for Napoli, who have a terrible record on the road in recent times on the European front. Barcelona have the second-leg home advantage. They can make things count there as Napoli are not a major force.
Last-16 first legs
18 February: Borussia Dortmund v Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid v Liverpool
19 February: Atalanta v Valencia, Tottenham v RB Leipzig
25 February: Chelsea v Bayern Munich, Napoli v Barcelona
26 February: Real Madrid v Manchester City, Lyon v Juventus
Last-16 second legs
10 March: Valencia v Atalanta, RB Leipzig v Tottenham
11 March: Paris Saint-Germain v Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool v Atletico Madrid
17 March: Manchester City v Real Madrid, Juventus v Lyon
18 March: Bayern Munich v Chelsea, Barcelona v Napoli
