Preview: Champions League Last 16 1st Legs (Part One)

It's back! February is always a great month for all football fans as the Champions League knockout stages begin and this year we've been treated to an incredible draw that has thrown up interesting ties across the board.

The trophy that is craved most by all of Europe's giants, the Champions League currently belongs to Liverpool after spending 5 years in Spain, 4 of which were with Real Madrid. As we enter the Last 16 stage of this season, you'd be brave to bet against the trophy remaining in England as Liverpool have hardly lost a game since lifting it in Madrid last summer and Manchester City have even stronger motivation than ever following the ban they have recently been handed by UEFA.

Here are the first leg ties we'll be seeing this week along with a preview of each of them, some team news and what my Superbru pick is likely to be.

Atletico Madrid vs. Liverpool

Champions League holders Liverpool have been in invincible domestic form for over a year now having picked up a ridiculous 103 Premier League points from the last 105 available. The Reds are hot favourites in this tie to transfer that league form across to the European stage (just as they did last season) though it's worth noting that they did 'only' win 4 of their 6 group games having lost and drawn in their two matches against Napoli.

So far, this has been a season to forget for Atletico with many feeling that this tie would have been far more exciting if Klopp's Liverpool were up against the Atleti of a couple of seasons ago. Diego Simeone's side are 4th in La Liga, more than 10 points behind Spain's big two, struggling with injuries and seriously struggling for goals. They aren't fun to play against and aren't much fun to watch in truth but Liverpool should find their way past them over 180 minutes even if means just grinding things out in this first leg at the stadium where they lifted last year's title.

Team News: Atletico are set to be without one of their more creative players in Joao Felix (illness), right-back Kieran Trippier (groin) and Hector Herrera (muscle injury). Diego Costa has recovered in time to make the squad list. Xherdan Shaqiri is the only man missing from Liverpool's travelling squad.

Prediction: It's never easy beating Atletico in Madrid but Liverpool will be confident they can get at least a draw and an away goal. The hosts need something to take to Anfield if they're to even stand a chance of progression but chasing an advantage against this Liverpool team could well result in a home loss. 1-2

Borussia Dortmund vs. Paris Saint-Germain

The complete opposite of that Atletico vs. Liverpool game. Forget pragmatism and experience in the knockout stages, these two have little of that but absolutely bundles of pace, creativity and goals. Lots of goals.

As always, the league is practically already won in France for PSG so it's all about the UCL and this squad does seem better equipped to go all the way than in previous years which is thanks in no small part to the defensive addition of Idrissa Gueye in the middle of the park. Dortmund have been conceding far too many goals all season meaning the attacking trio of Kylian Mbappe, Mauro Icardi and Neymar (who has been named in the squad following injury) might just run riot in this game. If they don't there's always Di Maria, Sarabia and Draxler after all.

However, Dortmund know how to fight fire with fire. A frightening attacking trio of their own in the shape of Thorgan Hazard, Jadon Sancho and new signing Erling Braut Haaland will definitely trouble PSG but can they cope without the injured creative players that usually link them together? BVB are involved in an incredibly exciting Bundesliga title race involving 5 teams.

Team News: Key men Julian Brandt and Marco Reus are both sidelined with injury for Dortmund. Neymar has been passed fit and named in the squad for PSG.

Prediction: With Reus and Brandt unavailable, PSG might just see this as an opportunity to go all out and seal progression before we even get to Paris. But with these teams and this competition coupled with the fact that Haaland can't seem to miss at the moment, there's likely to be lots of twists and turns across both legs. 2-3

Click here to make your own Last 16 predictions

Atalanta vs. Valencia

Two sides that are seen as underdogs in the context of the whole competition, but both are very capable teams and one of them will of course be making the quarter-finals at least. Atalanta currently sit fairly comfortably in 4th over in Serie A while Valencia are 2 points away from La Liga's crucial 4th spot.

An incredibly attacking side, Atalanta are unbeaten in their last 4 matches heading into this fixture and they've scored at least twice in each of those games. The Italian side, who will be playing this game at Milan's San Siro due to their own ground not meeting UEFA requirements at the start of the campaign, play with wing-backs and three very dangerous players at the top of the pitch as Alejandro Gomez sits in behind a front two. Atalanta lost their first 3 matches in the group stage of this competition but then came to life in the second half of that stage and there's every chance they maintain that momentum heading into this one.

Valencia are not a side that many teams beat with ease, though. A home loss to Ajax was their only defeat in the group stages and away wins in Amsterdam and at Stamford Bridge show how capable they are. The Spanish side will almost certainly lineup in their favoured 4-4-2 meaning much will depend on how well Atalanta's wing-backs are able to restrict the service from Valencia's wide players while their defence looks to keep on top of the movement of two out-and-out strikers.

Team News: Atalanta's squad is looking fit and fresh ahead of this tie, Valencia are expected to confirm their travelling squad in the next 24 hours (to be updated).

Prediction: This is a very even looking tie. The away goal rule isn't going to change Atalanta's attacking philosophy and I think the Serie A side may just have the upper hand when they head to Valencia for the second leg. 2-1

Tottenham vs. RB Leipzig

Another tie that is expected to be very tight. Tottenham were of course finalists last year and have managed an improvement in form recently (although no one is really sure how they've managed their results) while Leipzig are busy threatening to end Bayern's run of Bundesliga titles.

Leipzig have now shown too much consistency and quality over the past couple of seasons to be considered an 'underdog' at this level. Though they lack experience of the knockout stages, there's no doubting the fact that they have the capability to defeat Tottenham and many of the other teams left in this tournament. Julian Nagelsmann's team only lost once in the group stages and managed a decent point at Bayern in the league about 10 days ago where they had good enough chances to win and move to the peak of the German top flight.

In Tottenham, they'll be facing a team that is without their talisman as Harry Kane continues to recover from a hamstring problem but who have plenty of quick forwards that are sharp enough in front of goal to cause issues in the form of Heung-min Son, Lucas Moura and Steven Bergwijn. There's no denying that Spurs have riden their luck in recent weeks in order to beat Manchester City and Aston Villa (Leipzig will almost certainly beat them unless they improve) but results are what matters and Mourinho will be eager to prove he still has the tactical capability to challenge in this competition.

Team News: As well as Harry Kane (hamstring), Spurs will be without Moussa Sissoko (knee) and likely Erik Lamela (groin). Leipzig centre-half Willi Orban is out until April.

Prediction: It's hard to pick a winner and I think this could end level but Tottenham's recent performances have suggested that Leipzig have nothing to fear and Timo Werner will fancy his chances against the Spurs defence. 1-1

Our predictor game for this tournament includes all of the Last 16 first-leg matches and previews of next week's fixtures within this round will be released next Monday. Our Champions League daily fantasy game will of course remain 'daily' meaning you must pick separate teams for the action we'll be seeing on Tuesday and Wednesday this week (and next!).