Preview of UEFA Champions League 15-16 March 2016
The final matches of the Champions league Round of 16 will take place today and tomorrow. Already Real Madrid, Benfica, Wolfsburg and PSG are already through to the Quarter finals and four more teams will be willing to join them. My predictions for the four remaining matches are as follows.
Athletico Madrid vs PSV
The first leg ended in a goalless draw and with Athletico playing at home, it will seem that the scales will tip in favour of Athletico. However Athletico are in danger because if PSV scores a goal it means nothing short of a victory will be enough to see Athletico through. However Athletico have been in a good run of form of late as they have won 4 straight matches since the draw at PSV and Griezmann has scored in the four matches, they definitely would want that run to continue in tonights’ encounter.
This encounter is quite dicey but I believe Athletico have enough firepower to scrap out a win in this encounter.
Prediction: Athletico wins
Man City vs Dynamo kiev
Man City already hold a 3-1 advantage and unless Dynamo kiev plays the match of their life, Man City would be through to the last 8. They have also received a boost when it was announced that Yaya Toure would be fit to play so we expect the mercurial midfielder to play in some capacity tonight. This encounter is so favourable for Man City that they do not even need a victory to qualify even if they lose 2-0 they would still qualify.
Prediction: Man City qualifies
Barcelona vs Arsenal
If you listen to the Sportsration podcast (talkbox 4) you would remember that I famously predicted that Barcelona would soundly thrash Arsenal and the gunners were indeed lucky to lose 2-0 at the Emirates. The 2nd leg at Camp Nou promises to be more of the same as the gunners are on a record low they are 11 points adrift leaders Leicester City in the league, they also got knocked out of the FA Cup and they have lost all their opportunities for a trophy this season.
They would only hope that they do not bow out disgracefully at Camp Nou but they definitely would be packing their bags to the Emirates on Wednesday night.
Prediction: Barcelona wins comfortably
Bayern Munich vs Juventus
Bayern Munich already had this encounter in the bag but they handed Juventus a lifeline when they allowed Juventus to equalise and end the first leg at turin 2-2. However in spite of the draw the advantage still swings in Bayerns favour as a result of the 2 away goals they scored. They would definitely be looking forward to wrap this up at the Allianz arena and nothing short of qualification for Bayern would make this season disastrous by their standards. A goalless scoreline, 1-1 draw or an outright victory are enough to make Bayern qualify.
Prediction: Bayern Munich qualifies
So there you have it, I predict that Athletico Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Man City would qualify for the last eight. Agree or disagree have your say in the comments section below.
