2014/15 Champions League: Round of 16 predictions

The 2014/15 Champions League season resumes mid-week with some cracking matches on the horizon to kick off the second half of this year’s competition. Standout ties include Juventus versus Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain taking on Chelsea, but the biggest clashes of the round have to be Manchester City’s two battles with Barcelona. Last season’s finalists from both sides of Madrid face German opposition, while a number of other European heavyweights are expected to negotiate their fixtures with relative comfort. Read on to see each fixture summarised (with a little bit of early news thrown in). And to boot, there’s a prediction about which teams will progress into the last eight. Are there going to be any upsets? Let’s see.

#1 Manchester City vs Barcelona

The tie of the round doesn’t take place until Tuesday next week, and it’s pretty crazy just how things can change over the course of a few months. Plenty of Manchester City fans may have fancied their chances of revenge on Barcelona when the draw was made back in December, but the Catalan club have come through their rough patch, sorted the differences between Lionel Messi and Luis Enrique, and are flying again.

City, on the other hand, have shown their defence's frailties against some of the weakest teams in the Premier League and even clubs in the Championship (think the FA Cup home defeat to Middlesbrough). Matters don’t bode well for Manuel Pellegrini and while City will have the likes of Yaya Toure, Wilfried Bony and Sergio Aguero to call upon, Barcelona’s own stars should be out in full force.

Barca will obviously look to get the ball down and play, pulling City’s banks of four around in search of a gap. The Premier League champions simply have to remain diligent and give Lionel Messi and Co nothing to feed on, though that is slightly easier said than done. City have not grown since last season, so expect similar results to what we saw in last season’s round of 16.

Prediction: Barcelona will chase the win in the first leg and the result of that would be purely down to how City defend, but Barca will be too strong at Camp Nou.

Aggregate Score Prediction: Manchester City 2-4 Barcelona

#2 Arsenal vs AS Monaco

Arsenal are hitting good form at the right time. A number of their attacking stars are back from injury, and while they will be without Aaron Ramsey, Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Debuchy, they should have the likes of Jack Wilshere and Alexis Sanchez back in contention to start. The Chilean will definitely play if fit, and Arsenal will perhaps look to overrun the Principality club in the first leg.

Monaco could have Joao Moutinho back in the fold, but on paper there’s a gulf in class between the teams. Few would bet against that gulf showing on the field. Arsenal have the ability to produce some scintillating attacks, and if they get an early goal they will smell blood. Dimitar Berbatov could give them something to think about in the opposite direction, but the Gunners will hope to be on the front foot in both legs of the tie.

One suspects Arsenal will get their early goal in the tie and go on to do the damage, perhaps taking a two or three goal lead into the second leg. It should be plain sailing from there.

Prediction: Arsenal to do their damage in the first leg and perhaps snatch a draw at Stade Louis II.

Aggregate Score Prediction: Arsenal 4-1 AS Monaco

#3 Juventus vs Borussia Dortmund

This one should be interesting. Jurgen Klopp’s Dortmund have been epically poor this season; inexplicably poor even. They managed to win their Champions League group from Arsenal, though they’re probably wishing now that they’d have finished second given they have been awarded a tough old draw against Italian champions Juventus.

Juve are top of Serie A once more and have quite the impressive home record – winning nine and drawing two of their 11 matches so far. By contrast, Dortmund have spent most of the season teetering around the Bundesliga’s relegation zone – losing 11 of their 20 games prior to Friday night’s encounter with Mainz.

However, Dortmund always have that potential to blow teams away. Whatever the result in the first leg in Turin, if Dortmund are within a goal or so they will hope they can rely on their yellow wall of supporters to pull them through.

We will see what Max Allegri’s side are made of in this one, regardless of the form Dortmund have been in. Juve certainly have the ability to damage their foes with the likes of Carlos Tevez and Paul Pogba in scintillating form, but at the same time the German side’s Marco Reus should be fit and they are blessed with some pace up top. It’s going to be close.

Prediction: Two entertaining games, but Dortmund may find their season’s misery extended. Juve will battle to win their home leg, while they will fancy their chances of nicking a goal in the return leg. Either an aggregate or away goals win for the Italians.

Aggregate Score Prediction: Juventus 4-3 Borussia Dortmund

#4 Bayer Leverkusen vs Atletico Madrid

Last season’s finalists Atletico Madrid are certainly hopeful they can go one better this year. Despite a host of changes in the summer, Diego Simeone still runs the same rule over his players and he can trust his bunch to work to the bone to get a result.

Bayer Leverkusen will provide a tough test – especially in Germany – but Atletico’s power and determination will set them apart. Simeone’s players are well drilled and they will certainly not baulk at the challenge of turning Bayer over on their own patch. Monaco showed in the group stages that Leverkusen can be beaten, and while they are a strong outfit on their day, Atletico are the hot favourites.

As far as the ties go, it could be down to somebody like Mario Mandzukic to decide Leverkusen’s fate. The Croat will return to Germany for the first time since leaving Bayern Munich last summer, unless Fernando Torres plays ahead of him. But if he doesn’t score in the opening fixture, rest assured that Atletico will defend their ground and reap the benefits through one of their players at the other end.

Prediction: A scoreless draw in Germany, before Atletico comfortably seal their progress at Vicente Calderon.

Aggregate Score Prediction: Bayer Leverkusen 0-3 Atletico Madrid

#5 Schalke 04 vs Real Madrid

The reigning champions of Europe are in an indifferent spell of form going into the return of the competition, and just how bad their 2015 has gone so far was confirmed when local rivals Atletico Madrid humbled them 4-0 at the Vicente Calderon in La Liga.

But Carlo Ancelotti will ensure that his team are ready to burst out of the blocks in defence of their crown. Schalke are the perennial early knockout stage bow-outs, adept at getting a trouncing from one of Europe’s big guns when they inevitably meet. The Gelsenkirchen club are pushing to qualify for next year’s competition through their standing in the Bundesliga at the moment, but they are very much off the pace for top spot.

Cast your mind back to this stage of the tournament last season. Real smashed Schalke 6-1 in the first leg to seal their place in the last eight, while the second leg was a formality. Schalke will do their best to deny Real, but despite the absence of Luka Modric, James Rodriguez and possibly Sergio Ramos, they will have far too much up front.

Prediction: Two comfortable wins for the reigning champions and easy progress into the last eight.

Aggregate Score Prediction: Schalke 04 1-7 Real Madrid

#6 FC Basel vs FC Porto

This tie could be where we see the upset of the round. FC Basel are a difficult team to turn over on their home patch, and with FC Porto a little off the pace compared to usual the Swiss side will fancy their chances of progression.

Basel successfully held out to draw 1-1 with Liverpool in their final group game, while they’ve turned over the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and the Reds in Switzerland in the recent past. The Portuguese champions do though have something going for them – considering they went through the group stages unbeaten and finished top of Group F on 14 points. This tie is a close call and could either end up with Porto showing their class or a plucky Basel forcing a narrow win in the opener.

If they do manage it, expect them to defend diligently in their away leg and perhaps snatch what could be a vital away goal.

Prediction: Basel to win first leg 1-0 and qualify on away goals.

Aggregate Score Prediction: FC Basel (A) 2-2 FC Porto

#7 Shakhtar Donetsk vs Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich restart their European campaign with a difficult trip to Ukraine as they take on Shakhtar Donetsk. Pep Guardiola’s team top the Bundesliga going into the clash, but will be hoping to rediscover the form that saw them fire seven goals past Roma in the group stages to make the second leg return in Munich that little bit easier.

The German champions will be without long-term absentees Thiago Alcantara, Philipp Lahm and Javi Martinez, but have Franck Ribery back in the fold after an injury of his own. Shakhtar sit second in their home division, though they may be struggling to get back into the swing of things given they haven’t actually played a competitive game since their last Champions League game in December.

Bayern will have to be wary of Luiz Adriano, given the Brazilian is the top scorer in the competition after the group games – boasting an incredible nine goals in his five appearances to date. But they will fancy their chances of monopolising possession and winning both legs – even the difficult opening tie – to seal their place in the quarter-finals. Few would bet against them doing so given the quality they boast, even with key members of the team out injured.

Prediction: Bayern to win both legs.

Aggregate Score Prediction: Shakhtar Donetsk 1-4 Bayern Munich

#8 Paris Saint-Germain vs Chelsea

Chelsea, boosted by the recent news that PSG target Eden Hazard has signed a new contract, face the French champions in the knockout stages of the tournament for the second year in a row. They will be hoping to avoid a daunting home leg this time around by doing a little better than they did in their 3-1 quarterfinal defeat in Paris last year.

They did, of course, turn it around with a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge, but Chelsea are unequivocally stronger this season. They hold a healthy lead in the Premier League title race while Laurent Blanc’s side go into the match in indifferent form. Domestically, they have drawn nine of their first 24 Ligue 1 matches and face a fight with Lyon and Marseille to keep a hold of their crown. Jose Mourinho though will be all too aware that his opponents beat Barcelona in the group stages.

It goes without saying that both of these matches will be tight – but Mourinho is the man for the Champions League knockout rounds – especially considering the tactical capabilities he possesses as well as the experience. With no outstanding injury issues to first choice players and the previously suspended (in the league) Diego Costa back in the frame, Chelsea are slight favourites.

Prediction: A low-scoring draw in the first leg while Chelsea will edge their home tie.

Aggregate Score Prediction: Paris Saint Germain 1-3 Chelsea