Preview: Champions League Last 16 2nd Legs (Part 1)
We're set for a very interesting couple of days of Champions League football this week with three of the four ties looking to have clear favourites to progress while Porto vs. Roma remains evenly balanced. Here, I'll be giving you a quick preview of each game taking place this week along with some team news to help you out with your predictor and fantasy picks.
Second leg results are of course quite difficult to predict at Superbru and it's important to remember the away goal rule that can prevent games from going to extra-time and penalties. There have been many miraculous second leg comebacks in recent years so anything is possible!
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Dortmund's recent form has been poor which adds to the likelihood of Spurs progressing but the German side are certainly capable of scoring the number of goals required to win this game. However, BVB also concede plenty and a single Tottenham goal in this match would remove the chance of extra-time and mean the hosts require 5 in order to progress.
Dortmund team news: Notably, Dortmund's best player Marco Reus is fit for this second leg having missed the first meeting at Wembley. Christian Pulisic has been suffering with a minor injury but has trained ahead of this clash.
Tottenham Team News: Spurs' team news is mainly positive as well with Eric Dier, Ben Davies and Dele Alli all in with a chance of featuring following injuries. The potential return of Alli is especially big news but it's hard to tell whether Pochettino will rush the English international back for a game that will be played with such high intensity.
Prediction: The atmosphere will be huge and Dortmund will fly out of the traps at this Spurs side. The opening half hour is vital as if Spurs don't concede or even score a goal themselves then they'll feel they can get through this. Equally, it's not hard to imagine BVB 2-0 up after 30 minutes in which case anything can happen. I expect Dortmund to take the lead and threaten a huge turnaround but Tottenham should be able to spoil the party with a goal on the counter. 2-1
Meanwhile, Ajax were defeated by Heracles in the Eredivisie following the first leg of this tie but did bounce back with a resounding 6-0 win over VVV on Saturday. A young team with incredible talent, the Dutch side will feel a result is possible, though not probable, against this wounded Real Madrid side that will be without Sergio Ramos.
Real Madrid Team News: Sergio Ramos (suspended) is the only notable absence from the squad list Madrid have released ahead of this one.
Ajax Team News: Lisandro Magallan has been passed fit and is named on the 21-man squad list Ajax have released for this game.
Prediction: Despite their poor season so far, Real Madrid should have too much for Ajax and will live to fight another day in this competition. The holders just know how to win knockout ties in Europe and there won't be many teams wanting to face them as a result. 2-0
Despite continuing to impress domestically, this does look a step too far for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his squad which includes numerous academy youngsters for this specific game due to the injury list shown below. Strikers Marcus Rashford and Romelu Lukaku are both in great form and should cause the hosts problems but it's defensively and in midfield that will concern OGS.
PSG Team News: Neymar remains unavailable but there's a chance Edinson Cavani could feature - perhaps most likely from the bench if at all.
Man Utd Team News: Paul Pogba is suspended and United are without Matic, Valencia, Herrera, Lingard, Mata, Sanchez, and Martial due to injury.
Prediction: PSG looked far too good for United at Old Trafford and should be in Paris as well. There's a good chance United can find a goal but it seems very unlikely they'll get the clean sheet they'd likely need to progress. 2-1
Porto have been eliminated at this stage of the competition in the last two seasons while Roma made it as far as the semi's last year.
Porto Team News: Moussa Marega is back in contention after missing the first leg but Vincent Aboubakar remains sidelined with a cruciate ligament injury.
Roma Team News: Manolas should be fit which is important for the visitors leaving Javier Pastore and William Bianda as the absentees.
Prediction: This could go either way and I think there's even a chance of extra-time. I've decided to back Roma to hold out defensively and grab an away goal which would see them narrowly through. 1-1
Second leg results are of course quite difficult to predict at Superbru and it's important to remember the away goal rule that can prevent games from going to extra-time and penalties. There have been many miraculous second leg comebacks in recent years so anything is possible!
Click here to make your Champions League predictor picks
Click here to make your Champions League 5-a-side fantasy picks
Borussia Dortmund vs. Tottenham
This is as much a mentality test for Tottenham as it is a football match as Spurs arrive in Germany with a 3-0 first leg lead. The English side are of course favourites to progress but their 'Spursy' label which refers to them losing from great positions has proven difficult to shake off for years now.Dortmund's recent form has been poor which adds to the likelihood of Spurs progressing but the German side are certainly capable of scoring the number of goals required to win this game. However, BVB also concede plenty and a single Tottenham goal in this match would remove the chance of extra-time and mean the hosts require 5 in order to progress.
Dortmund team news: Notably, Dortmund's best player Marco Reus is fit for this second leg having missed the first meeting at Wembley. Christian Pulisic has been suffering with a minor injury but has trained ahead of this clash.
Tottenham Team News: Spurs' team news is mainly positive as well with Eric Dier, Ben Davies and Dele Alli all in with a chance of featuring following injuries. The potential return of Alli is especially big news but it's hard to tell whether Pochettino will rush the English international back for a game that will be played with such high intensity.
Prediction: The atmosphere will be huge and Dortmund will fly out of the traps at this Spurs side. The opening half hour is vital as if Spurs don't concede or even score a goal themselves then they'll feel they can get through this. Equally, it's not hard to imagine BVB 2-0 up after 30 minutes in which case anything can happen. I expect Dortmund to take the lead and threaten a huge turnaround but Tottenham should be able to spoil the party with a goal on the counter. 2-1
Real Madrid vs. Ajax
After winning a controversial VAR-heavy first leg, Real Madrid are in a very good position ahead of this home game vs. Ajax and will expect to progress comfortably. This is not a team on the same level as previous years though and few expect them to retain the trophy for a fourth time. Two El Clasico defeats in the past week will likely have dented confidence.Meanwhile, Ajax were defeated by Heracles in the Eredivisie following the first leg of this tie but did bounce back with a resounding 6-0 win over VVV on Saturday. A young team with incredible talent, the Dutch side will feel a result is possible, though not probable, against this wounded Real Madrid side that will be without Sergio Ramos.
Real Madrid Team News: Sergio Ramos (suspended) is the only notable absence from the squad list Madrid have released ahead of this one.
Ajax Team News: Lisandro Magallan has been passed fit and is named on the 21-man squad list Ajax have released for this game.
Prediction: Despite their poor season so far, Real Madrid should have too much for Ajax and will live to fight another day in this competition. The holders just know how to win knockout ties in Europe and there won't be many teams wanting to face them as a result. 2-0
PSG vs. Manchester United
A challenging task for Manchester United to say the least if they're to make the quarter-finals given their 2-0 home defeat, a ridiculously long injury list and the suspension of Paul Pogba who was sent off at the end of that Old Trafford leg. PSG looked composed when they made the trip across the channel for the first leg, something that spells danger for all other teams in the competition given that they were without Neymar and haven't played as professionally in this tournament before. That said, the French giants will always be remembered for their ridiculous elimination against Barcelona in 2017 after that 6-1 loss.Despite continuing to impress domestically, this does look a step too far for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his squad which includes numerous academy youngsters for this specific game due to the injury list shown below. Strikers Marcus Rashford and Romelu Lukaku are both in great form and should cause the hosts problems but it's defensively and in midfield that will concern OGS.
PSG Team News: Neymar remains unavailable but there's a chance Edinson Cavani could feature - perhaps most likely from the bench if at all.
Man Utd Team News: Paul Pogba is suspended and United are without Matic, Valencia, Herrera, Lingard, Mata, Sanchez, and Martial due to injury.
Prediction: PSG looked far too good for United at Old Trafford and should be in Paris as well. There's a good chance United can find a goal but it seems very unlikely they'll get the clean sheet they'd likely need to progress. 2-1
Porto vs. Roma
By far the most evenly balanced of this week's ties, Porto host Roma having achieved an away goal in Italy and will feel they stand a good chance given the Italians' domestic season that has left Eusebio Di Francesco in need of a win here if he is to maintain his position as Roma boss, according to reports.Porto have been eliminated at this stage of the competition in the last two seasons while Roma made it as far as the semi's last year.
Porto Team News: Moussa Marega is back in contention after missing the first leg but Vincent Aboubakar remains sidelined with a cruciate ligament injury.
Roma Team News: Manolas should be fit which is important for the visitors leaving Javier Pastore and William Bianda as the absentees.
Prediction: This could go either way and I think there's even a chance of extra-time. I've decided to back Roma to hold out defensively and grab an away goal which would see them narrowly through. 1-1
I got Porto right but unfortunately fared just as bad , 1 out of 4.