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After a pulsating group stage games, the Champions League has now reached the business end of the competition. The round of 16 draw took place at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon today with all the qualified teams learning their fate in the knockout phase.
On paper, the two best ties from the draw are Real Madrid's tough test against PSG and Chelsea's tryst with FC Barcelona.
Some of the so-called big names faltering to win their respective groups have led to the round of 16 draw to become one of the most exciting ones in recent seasons. On that note, let's delve deeper into each knockout match and do an in-depth analysis of each fixture:
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#8 Juventus vs Tottenham Hotspur
Last year's finalists will take on one of the most in-form sides in Europe at the moment with Juventus ready to face the winners from the group of death - Tottenham Hotspur. Mauricio Pochettino's men managed to win their group handsomely which consisted of the likes of Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund and accumulated as many as 16 points.
Juventus, on the other hand, had to recover from their opening day loss to FC Barcelona and survived a scare at the hands of Sporting Lisbon. The Bianconeri look like a different unit without Leonardo Bonucci but have still managed to play at their strategic best. This match is set to be a direct battle between two future Ballon d'Or candidates in the form of Harry Kane and Paulo Dybala.
Predicted winners: Juventus
Head to Head: The first competitive meeting between the two sides.
#7 FC Basel vs Manchester City
The Swiss side could not have asked for a more tougher fixture than this as the team from Basel will fight over two legs against probably the most in-form side in the world. Pep Guardiola's Manchester City are on a roll this season and except a surprising blip against Shakhtar Donetsk in the final group game, they have looked imperious.
FC Basel have levelled with their best ever display in the Champions League whereas Manchester City are looking to better their 2015/16 haul of reaching the final four. Basel have proved to be more than a handful for English sides in the previous few years (they beat Manchester United 1-0 this season at home) but this City side are expected to brush them aside with ease.
Predicted winners: Manchester City (Duh!?)
Head to Head: The first competitive meeting between the two sides.
#6 FC Porto vs Liverpool
Liverpool's Fab Four were at their dangerous best in the Champions League group stage and despite some disappointing draws, the Reds managed to win their group, scoring 23 goals in 6 games. FC Porto were one of the surprise packages this season as the Portuguese giants defeated the likes of AS Monaco and RB Leipzig with ease.
FC Porto are a dangerous proposition at home with the same can be said about their opponents. Mohammad Salah has been one of the best players in the Champions League so far and he will be up against Porto's Vincent Aboubakar who has already bagged 20 goals this season. Though this looks like a cakewalk for Liverpool on paper, FC Porto can prove to be a tricky draw for Jurgen Klopp and his men.
Predicted winners: Liverpool
Head to Head: Played - 4, Liverpool - 2, FC Porto - 0, Draw - 2
Goal aggregate: Liverpool 7-2 FC Porto
#5 Sevilla vs Manchester United
The Europa League experts had to work hard to reach this stage as 9 points from six games managed them to match their highest ever finish in the Champions League. Their 3-3 draw with Liverpool, coming from three goals behind was the highlight of the Champions League so far.
Manchester United, on the other hand, have been clinical in Europe. Barring a loss against FC Basel, United did not have to break a sweat in the group stage with Romelu Lukaku and Paul Pogba starring for the Red Devils. A trip to Seville and a game at the Ramon Sanchez Piszjuan stadium is never an easy task but Jose Mourinho does have enough firepower in his artillery to get past the Spanish side.
Predicted winners: Manchester United
Head to Head: The first competitive meeting between the two sides.
#4 Real Madrid vs Paris Saint Germain
It surely doesn't get any bigger than this! PSG was the best side in Europe during the group stage, scoring a record 25 times. Though they lost their final group game against Bayern Munich, the Parisians still managed to grab the top spot by being magnificently ruthless. Real Madrid struggled against Tottenham Hotspur and had to settle for being the runners-up.
PSG bowed out of the round of 16 stage last season against FC Barcelona (Yes, THAT comeback) and now with the perpetrator of that loss in their colours, the cash-rich French side are the favourites to win this one. Real Madrid's struggles of this season are well documented and after winning three Champions League titles in four years, this season may offer a change in narrative.
Real Madrid failed to qualify from the round of 16 stage for six straight years between 2005-2010 and this match-up may bring up the forgotten past for Los Blancos. This battle will also witness the direct competition between Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar, believed by many as his successor at Real Madrid.
Predicted winners: Paris Saint Germain
Head to Head: Played - 6, Real Madrid - 2, PSG - 2, Draw -2
Goal aggregate: Real Madrid 6-7 PSG
#3 Shakhtar Donetsk vs AS Roma
This tie also looks like a brilliant match on offer as both sides have impressed in equal measures this season. No one had predicted AS Roma to top their group ahead of the likes of Chelsea and Atletico Madrid whereas Shakhtar Donetsk managed to fend off Napoli's pressure to qualify as the runners-up in their group.
Roma are having a solid season so far with Radja Nainggolan and Edin Dzeko being the star performers whereas former Newcastle United striker, Facundo Ferreyra has been on fire for Shakhtar. He has already scored 20 goals this season and is looking like the real deal. Playing in Donetsk, Ukraine has seen the best of sides crumble and it may prove to be just the case for the Romans as well.
Predicted winners: Shakhtar Donetsk
Head to Head: Played - 4, Shakhtar Donetsk - 3, AS Roma - 1, Draw -0
Goal aggregate: Shakhtar Donetsk 7-5 AS Roma
#2 Bayern Munich vs Besiktas
In one of the most interesting groups this season, Besiktas managed to top with 14 points which included the likes of Leipzig, Monaco and Porto. The Turkish giants have been brilliant going forward with the strike force of Cenk Tosun and Alvaro Negredo wrecking havoc for the opposition.
But their opponents in the knockout stage will be a hell lot tougher than any of the sides they have faced this season. Bayern Munich qualified with ease but a brutal loss to PSG made the Bavarians change their manager. They are one of the regulars to reach the final four in Europe and this season is expected to be no different. But an over-reliance on Robert Lewandowski may hurt their cause in winning their sixth European title.
Predicted winners: Bayern Munich
Head to Head: The first competitive meeting between the two sides.
#1 Chelsea vs FC Barcelona
These two sides have provided us with some of the most iconic and controversial knockout matches in the Champions League history. And this bitter rivalry is set to be revisited as Antonio Conte will take his Blues to a resurgent FC Barcelona side.
The Catalans obviously look the better side at the moment with a Lionel Messi inspired performances taking them over Juventus in the group stage and winning the group with ease. On the other hand, Chelsea struggled against AS Roma and Atletico Madrid at times and failed to win theirs albeit tough group.
Chelsea remain one of the few top clubs against whom Lionel Messi has failed to score against (in 8 attempts). This may be the best chance for the Argentine to change that record. Revenge will definitely be on FC Barcelona's minds in February with Chelsea managing a smash and grab win of the highest order when these sides last met in 2012.
Predicted winners: FC Barcelona
Head to Head: Played - 15, Chelsea - 5, FC Barcelona - 5, Draw - 5
Goal aggregate: Chelsea 20 - 25 FC Barcelona
