Between assumed favorites, diminished teams, balanced matches and possible surprises, the knockout stages of the Champions League are looming in an eclectic atmosphere. On the French side, PSG welcomes Real Madrid to the Parc des Princes on February 15, while Lille will go to Stamford Bridge to challenge Chelsea on February 22. Other big shocks of the eighth, Inter Milan will meet Liverpool on February 16 while Atlético de Madrid will face Manchester United on February 23.
PSG-Real Madrid: the best enemies reunited again
The big shock of the eighth was announced for a long time. The recent negative signals launched by PSG, eliminated in the round of 16 of the Coupe de France, could nevertheless redraw the scenario of the match. With Sergio Ramos injured and Neymar recovering, the reception of Real Madrid on February 15 promises to be perilous.
The two teams know each other well. Very well even, like Angel Di Maria or Keylor Navas, passed through the ranks of Madrid. The last Champions League confrontation between the two clubs dates back to the 2019-2020 season. The match had then turned to the advantage of the Parisians. But this time the Meringues are in good shape, La Liga leaders, even though they have struggled offensively for three games. In the Champions League, Madrid also remain on three away victorious matches (1-0 against Inter Milan, 5-0 against Shakhtar Donetsk and 3-0 at Sheriff Tiraspol) and intend to make their success last in Paris.
She is back ! #UCL
The round of 16 of #LoC start this week with 4️⃣ posters totally
The one(s) you won’t miss for any reason _____ pic.twitter.com/SG6nEt0977
— UEFA (@UEFAcom_fr) February 14, 2022
Lille does not want to have the Blues
The last memory left by the Blues to the Dogues in the Champions League had a bitter taste: with two defeats by the same score (1-2) in the group stage during the 2019-2020 season. The English ogre has since crunched many frogs. Of their 10 previous home games against French clubs, Chelsea have lost only once (6 wins, 3 draws, 1 loss). The Lille will try to make the statistics lie, Tuesday, February 22, to hope to clinch a place in the quarter-finals.
But the English are a scarecrow for the Northerners. In 2006-2007, during its last qualification for the knockout stages in the Champions League, Losc broke its teeth on another British club: Manchester United.
Manchester City, Juventus Turin and Bayern Munich favorites
Manchester City is on the rise. At the top of the Premier League, the Citizens have been undefeated since October and are already eyeing the cup that slipped from under their fingers in the final last season (Chelsea then won the Champions League). Pep Guardiola’s men will be ultra favorites against Sporting Portugal on February 15.
For its part, Bayern is preparing to challenge Salzburg. The Bavarian club won all six of their games to finish ten points clear in Group E. This is the second time the German side have won every game in their group, having achieved the feat in 2019-20, when they won the trophy. The Austrians meanwhile make their debut in the round of 16 – it is the only team in this case this season – and will act as outsiders against Bayern, present at this stage of the competition for the 18th time.
Finally, Juventus Turin got off to a flying start by winning their first four games. If since then, the Whites and Blacks have hardly impressed, they will act as favorites against Villarreal, qualified on the wire.
Two big posters: Inter Milan-Liverpool and Atlético de Madrid-Manchester United
Jürgen Klopp’s players know San Siro well. They won there 2-1 earlier in the season against Inter rivals AC Milan and ended the group stage with six wins from six games. But the Nerazzurri will be tough opponents, with their impressive record at home against English clubs (11 wins, 3 draws, 2 losses).
Finally, meet in unknown territory on Wednesday February 23 in Madrid. The only meeting between Atlético and Manchester United, two European heavyweights, dates back to … the European Cup Winners’ Cup, in 1991-1992 (4-1 for the Spaniards). Enough to maintain the suspense for this indecisive double confrontation between the team of Antoine Griezmann and that of Paul Pogba.