Champions League round of 16 predictions: Real Madrid over Man City

The path to the 2025-26 Champions League last is now clear, and a few of Europe’s largest golf equipment are locked on a collision course between now and the ultimate in Budapest’s Puskas Arena following a blockbuster round of 16 draw. Real Madrid will face Manchester City but once more in an enormous doubleheader subsequent month, whereas reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain renew their rivalry with Chelsea, who beat them in final summer season’s FIFA Club World Cup last.

Both these ties are within the Silver Path, the place they’re joined by Bayern Munich, Atalanta, Liverpool and Galatasary, with just one of these sides making it to the ultimate.

The Blue Path is much less stacked with previous winners, with the finalist coming from a bracket that features Barcelona, ​​Newcastle, Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Bodo/Glimt, Sporting CP, Atletico Madrid and Tottenham.

The round of 16 first-leg ties are lower than two weeks away, so how will all of them play out?

First legs will likely be performed March 10-11; second legs will likely be performed March 17-18

SILVER PATH

Paris Saint-Germain vs. Chelsea

The European champions in opposition to the world champions and two golf equipment who constructed a fierce rivalry throughout the 2000s and 2010s, so this matchup has the potential to be explosive.

PSG have been unimpressive this season, definitely in comparison with final 12 months, though Luis Enrique’s workforce ought to have Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele and midfielder Fabian Ruiz again from harm for this tie. It would imply solely keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma — now at Manchester City — will likely be absent from PSG’s strongest workforce final season. That group of gamers will need revenge on Chelsea for the FIFA Club World Cup last defeat in New Jersey final summer season, and with coach Liam Rosenior dealing with an enormous step-up in opposition to Luis Enrique, this tie ought to go in PSG’s favor.

Chelsea have expertise, however they aren’t on the identical degree as PSG and can discover it powerful over two legs.

Winners: PSG

Galatasaray vs. Liverpool

Victor Osimhen’s penalty in Istanbul final September sealed a 1-0 league section win for Galatasaray in opposition to Liverpool, which was one of 4 straight defeats in all competitions for Arne Slot’s aspect.

But whereas the Turkish membership are robust at house — they beat Juventus 5-2 on house turf within the first-leg of their playoff tie — they’ve a woeful file on their European travels and have solely received as soon as in England (in opposition to Manchester United in November, 2023).

Despite Liverpool’s inconsistency this season, they are going to be robust favorites to progress from this tie in the event that they keep away from a major defeat in Turkey. That stated, Osimhen will likely be a menace and Galatasaray’s robust illustration of former Premier League gamers (Leroy Sane, Ilkay Gundogan, Mario Lemina) may assist them overcome their earlier difficulties in England.

Winners: Liverpool

Real Madrid vs. Manchester City

These two have met in every of the previous 4 seasons and likewise performed out a league section tie in Madrid in December, so there will likely be no surprises after they conflict once more for a spot within the quarterfinals.

Both City and Real will regard a round of 16 exit as calamitous as a result of respective ambitions of every membership, however one must undergo defeat and the tie is simply too near name. Historically, City and Real have overwhelmed one another 5 occasions, with 5 attracts too, and this tie will come all the way down to which of them can deal with the opposite workforce’s superstars higher.

Kylian Mbappe has seven objectives in seven video games in opposition to City, whereas Erling Haaland has three objectives in six appearances in opposition to Real, however none in his previous 4 video games in opposition to them.

Haaland often finds it powerful in opposition to Antonio Rudiger. If that battle goes in Real’s favor once more, Real will undergo.

Winners: Real Madrid

Atalanta vs. Bayern Munich

Atalanta spared Italian soccer the ignominy of having no groups within the round of 16 for the primary time in Champions League historical past by overturning a 2-0 first-leg deficit in opposition to Borussia Dortmund to achieve this stage. But Bundesliga leaders Bayern will likely be a completely completely different prospect for Raffaele Palladino’s workforce, and though Atalanta have the capability to harm Vincent Kompany’s aspect, it’s tough to see them persevering with to fly the Italian flag into the quarterfinals.

Bayern are robust in all areas, and the purpose menace of Harry Kane has now been added to by the return from harm of Jamal Musiala. They have additionally proven themselves to be ruthless in opposition to weaker opposition within the knockout phases, and they’ll count on to comfortably progress by way of this tie.

Winners: Bayern Munich

BLUE PATH

Newcastle United vs. Barcelona

Marcus Rashford’s spectacular double sealed a 2-1 win for Barcelona at St James’ Park within the league section final September, which suggests Hansi Flick’s workforce can have fond reminiscences of their most up-to-date journey to England’s north-east.

With Newcastle lacking a number of key gamers attributable to harm, together with Bruno Guimaraes, Fabian Schar and Tino Livramento, the chances are stacked in opposition to Eddie Howe’s aspect on this tie. And though Barca’s defensive excessive line could possibly be weak in opposition to the tempo and intent of Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga, the Spanish aspect ought to have method an excessive amount of for Newcastle over the 2 legs.

With the second leg at Camp Nou, Newcastle want a wholesome first leg lead, though that appears a tall order at this stage.

Winners: Barcelona

Atletico Madrid vs. Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham and Atletico have met simply as soon as earlier than, with Spurs rising as 5-1 winners within the 1963 European Cup-Winners’ Cup last. But though the Premier League aspect have latest European pedigree following their Europa League triumph final season, their dismal home performances — Spurs are but to win a league recreation in 2026 — have put them in relegation hazard, and they need to be no match for Diego Simeone’s workforce.

On paper, this seems to be like a heavyweight matchup, but it surely could possibly be probably the most one-sided tie of the round. Atletico should not the formidable opponent they as soon as had been, however with Alexander Sorloth and Julian Alvarez up entrance and Antoine Griezmann nonetheless performing on the age of 34, it is tough to see something aside from an Atleti win.

Winners: Atletico Madrid

(*16*)Bodø/Glimt vs. Sporting CP

The Bodø/Glimt fairy story continues as Kjetil Knutsen’s workforce have a fantastic probability of making it to the quarterfinals after avoiding a tie in opposition to Manchester City — whom they beat 3-1 final month — and ending up with Sporting.

Already this 12 months, Bodø have overwhelmed City and Inter in Norway and claimed victory away to Atletico Madrid and Inter of their round of 16 second leg at San Siro. Jens Petter Hauge, Kasper Hogh and Hakon Evjen have been stars of the match to this point, and they’ll don’t have any concern in opposition to Sporting.

One observe of warning: Sporting did sign a top-eight end within the league section and defeated PSG in that part, which makes them each bit a harmful outsider. But the momentum — and their plastic pitch within the Arctic Circle — is with Bodø, so again them to win.

Winners: Bodø/Glimt

Bayer Leverkusen vs. Arsenal

Leverkusen have bounced again properly beneath coach Kasper Hjulmand this season following the disastrous two-game reign of former Manchester United supervisor Erik ten Hag, however they continue to be exterior the Champions League spots within the Bundesliga. And though they’ve proficient purpose scorers within the kind of Patrik Schick and set-piece specialist Alex Grimaldo, Leverkusen have misplaced the majority of Xabi Alonso’s 2023-24 title winners and are unlikely to bother Premier League leaders Arsenal.

This is an efficient tie for Mikel Arteta’s aspect, and so they might wrap up with a powerful efficiency within the first leg in Germany. Having averted the a lot more durable Silver Path, the Gunners can confidently look forward to the semi-finals not less than with a quarterfinal in opposition to Bodø/Glimt or Sporting awaiting the winners of this tie.

Winners: Arsenal

PREDICTING THE REST OF THE TOURNAMENT FROM HERE

With the Silver and Blue Paths giving a transparent path to the ultimate, who will likely be in Budapest competing for the Champions League title on the finish of May?

The Blue Path appears destined to have a Barcelona-Arsenal semi-final, however with the Gunners prone to be locked in a draining Premier League run-in with Manchester City, I’m tipping Barcelona to have the sting and attain the tip.

The Silver Path is far tougher to name with so many 50-50 round of 16 ties, however primarily based on the predictions above, I’m going for a Real Madrid v Bayern Munich semi, with Bayern Munich rising victorious to face Barca within the last.

Once once more, a Clasico last between Real and Barca will likely be so shut, but so far-off!