UEFA Champions League 2016 round of 16 predictions

Now the fun really begins.Two long months have passed since the end of the UEFA Champions League group stages and the serious business of the knockout stages now takes on priority in the European football calendar.Spanish teams once again look like the ones to beat despite England also having three representatives, the joint most in the round of 16.None have particularly favourable draws mind you and at this stage, it’s very much all to play for. Let’s delve into each of the games in a little more detail:

#1 Paris Saint Germain vs. Chelsea

This could be the last chance for Zlatan to win the Champions League

Chelsea have done an about turn since Guus Hiddink took temporary charge of the club following the sacking of Jose Mourinho.

The Special One was known for the way in which he would have his teams surround the referee and complain about every single decision in a bid to influence the officials.

We saw it at work the last time these two did battle during the same competition last season when an innocuous Zlatan Ibrahimovich tackle resulted in a red card after the entire Chelsea side took it upon themselves to ensure the punishment was severe.

In the event, PSG went on to win the tie against all the odds and they come into this match as indisputably the kings of France. In fact, the very thing that may count against them in this match.

They are yet to lose in the league this season and are already 24 points ahead in the race for the title. To put it into perspective, they could lose the next eight games straight and still be top of the pile.

No competition whatsoever, but that’s exactly what the Blues will give them. A number of players are aware that they’re playing for their places as they wait for the summer arrival of a new manager.

Are the hosts up for the fight, in what is likely to be Ibra’s last chance to win the trophy with his current employers before an expected summer move?

Prediction: PSG with the advantage

#2 Benfica vs. Zenit St. Petersburg

Hulk has to play to his best ability against Benfica

This is a battle of the form teams with the Portuguese giants having won all of their last six matches whilst Zenit have lost just once, winning the other five games in their last six.

During the group stages in September 2014, the Russians had no problems overcoming a long flight and a climate that they were arguably not used to, to convincingly take a 2-0 victory away with them.

In truth, the scoreline flattered the hosts and Hulk’s performance on the night deserved better than a solitary strike.

The visitors haven’t played any competitive games since their last Champions League fixture against Gent, a 2-1 loss for Andre Villas-Boas’ side back on 3rd December. The Portuguese has an encyclopaedic understanding of the teams and leagues from the country of his birth and arguably that experience will be brought to bear in this game.

If he’s fit, Hulk will again be the dangerman and it’s not unheard of for Villas-Boas to settle for a five-man defence to protect a lead.

The Stadium of Light will be in uproar at such negative tactics but if it hands the Russians the advantage, Jose Mourinho’s old sidekick won’t care a jot.

19 goals in their last five games with only three conceded suggest that Benfica might just be able to penetrate at some stage.

Prediction: Zenit in pole position.

#3 Gent vs. Wolfsburg

Draxler would be the X-factor against the Belgians

Gent have won 12 out of their last 16 games but importantly the wheels have come off most recently with two successive defeats against Club Brugge.

It’s put a dent in the aspirations of the Belgian side, who’ll be keen to get back on the horse against a strong Wolfsburg side.

The Germans haven’t actually registered a win since they comprehensively outplayed Manchester United to send the Red Devils into the Europa League but another victory has to be just around the corner for Dieter Hecking’s side.

Julian Draxler was almost Arsenal bound a year ago and he continues to delight. Ditto for Max Kruse. The loss of Bas Dost to injury has hit them hard however.

Putting the ball in the onion bag has become the preserve of Nicklas Bendtner, hardly the most prolific of strikers.

Neither side will go on and win the competition but one will grace the quarter-finals of this year’s competition. Who will it be? Pick a straw...

Prediction: You can’t write off the Germans.

#4 AS Roma vs. Real Madrid

Ronaldo would be looking to score a few goals against Roma

Zinedine Zidane’s managerial credentials will be put to the test over Real Madrid’s two legs against AS Roma.

Although they’ve only met once in the Champions League, way back in 2008, the Italians took both legs by 2-1 and in two friendlies since, Roma emerged victorious.

With Gareth Bale still struggling to regain fitness and Marcelo joining him on the sidelines, the Frenchman doesn’t have the luxury of a full-strength side to choose from.

There’s little point in rushing his star players back because the Madrid derby looms large just 10 days later. Lose that and Los Blancos will potentially find themselves 10 points off of top spot and for all intents and purposes out of the title race for another season.

Defensively Roma have been poor this season and an away goal or two should mean a comfortable second leg back at the Santiago Bernabeu. Zidane would do well to review Barca’s group stage game at the Stadio Olimpico early in the competition however.

The Giallorossi, under the stewardship of new manager Luciano Spalleti, will be no pushovers.

Prediction: Viva Espana!

#5 Arsenal vs. Barcelona

Mesut Ozil would have to star for Arsenal

Pre-tournament favourites Barcelona won’t have it all their own way at the Emirates Stadium for example.

A team that are now 30 games unbeaten and with the best front line on the continent will obviously be heavily fancied. If they play to anything like their best then there’s more than enough to suggest they’ll run out comfortable winners.

But that is to discount the mercurial talents of Mesut Ozil, the magician that is Alexis Sanchez and football’s Usain Bolt, ex-La Masia graduate Hector Bellerin.

All three have more of a point to prove than their team-mates. And how the Gunners would love to be celebrating the sweetest of victories after losing the 2006 final at the hands of the Catalans, being put to the sword by Lionel Messi in 2010 and then bowing out early again in 2011.

To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best and if Barca are put under some early and sustained pressure, don’t be surprised to see Luis Enrique’s side buckle.

They’ve yet to win at the Emirates too.

Prediction: Arsenal out-gunned.

#6 Juventus vs. Bayern Munich

Paul Pogba will try to take Juventus all the way to the final

Quite probably the tie of the round with last season’s beaten finalists looking for an advantage against last year’s beaten semi-finalists.

Pep Guardiola won’t want to go out of the competition at such an early stage and with the expected absence of Juve’s Giorgio Chiellini from the first leg, Bayern are handed the advantage.

If the granite-chinned Italian had played against Barcelona in last year’s final, there’s every reason to expect that the outcome could’ve been different. Not that one man makes a team but when Chiellini plays well, Juve play well.

Paul Pogba will be out to showcase his finest talents once again too, in what could be his last Champions League tie as a player for the Bianconeri.

We can expect an old fashioned “attack vs. defence” type set up with the Germans going all out for the advantage to take back to Bavaria. Although the tie is unlikely to be settled after 90 minutes, one of these great institutions will wave bye to the cup with the big ears for one more season come the end of the return leg.

Prediction: Life in the “Old lady” yet.

#7 PSV Eindhoven vs. Atletico Madrid

Antoine Griezmann would be crucial to Atletico's chances

The Rojiblancos also find themselves with the toughest of opponents to negotiate over 180 minutes.

PSV Eindhoven, the Dutch league leaders, have lost only four times in all competitions since the start of the season and just once in the last 20 matches stretching back to late October.

Phillip Cocu’s side are playing as well as at any point over the last 18 months or so and have more than enough about them to combat the physical tactics that Atleti will surely employ on the night.

Diego Simeone needs to ensure his players take particular care in the defensive areas. Shipping three goals to an under-par Celta Vigo in the Spanish Cup recently hints that all is not well at the back for Atletico Madrid.

PSV have scored at least three goals in three of their last four home games and roared on by a partisan crowd that the Vicente Calderon would be proud of, they’ll take some stopping.

Prediction: Go Dutch.

#8 Dynamo Kiev vs. Manchester City

This is the right time for Raheem Sterling to prove his ability

Manchester City will be heavily fancied to take this tie over the two legs but Manuel Pellegrini’s side certainly won’t enjoy their night in Ukraine.

Sub-zero temperatures are the greatest levellers and against a team in such fine fettle, City might struggle to impose their natural game.

Without the creativity of Kevin De Bruyne to rely on, Raheem Sterling must step up to the mark and his battle with Danilo Silva is likely to be one of the games highlights.

Star player Andriy Yarmolenko needs no introduction and the wide man needs to be cut off at source if the visitors want to limit the quality and regularity of his pin point delivery.

It’s worth noting that the hosts haven’t had a game since early December, their last Champions League match against Maccabi Tel Aviv in fact.

Including that match, Dynamo won their last six matches in all competitions and have lost just three in the last 25.

But over two months without any sort of game is ridiculous at this level of football and plays right into the hands of the visitors.

Prediction: Manchester City to edge it.