The second legs of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 conclude Wednesday, with quarterfinal spots on the line in four high‑stakes clashes. Tuesday’s action set the tone, now the final four clashes on Wednesday will resolve which teams are still enjoying Champions League nights into the spring.
Newcastle at FC Barcelona
(1‑1 aggregate)
Newcastle’s 1‑1 draw at St. James’ Park in the first leg keeps this tie wide open. Barcelona believe they have a better squad but failed to break through decisively, both goals were scored late, and Newcastle will also have belief here. Barcelona were roaring offensively on the weekend 5-2 over Sevilla, a good omen while Newcastle upset Chelsea. Newcastle are defensively sound, but can they find goals?
Barcelona’s injury lists include Alejandro Balde, Jules Kounde, and Frenkie de Jong. Newcastle continues to miss Fabian Schar and Bruno Guimaraes. Anthony Gordon will be back and try to sparkplug Eddie Howe’s attack. Barcelona are favored, and they should be, but it doesn’t feel simple going into this match.
Prediction: FC Barcelona 3‑2 Newcastle United (Barcelona advances 4‑3 aggregate)
Atletico Madrid at Tottenham Hotspur
(5-2 Atletico Madrid on aggregate)
Last week’s Champions League clash was the stuff of nightmares for Tottenham and their young goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky. Subbed after 16 minutes with Atletico Madrid romping 3-0, in part due to his errors, Kinsky was controversially given a cold shoulder by embattled (and new) Spurs manager Igor Tudor. Tudor’s ability to get a point against Liverpool, thanks to Richarlison’s magic on the weekend, was noted, but Tottenham have a relegation weighted clash coming up against Nottingham Forest, and only the most delusional but passionate Spurs fans believe they can overturn a three goal deficit at home, having struggled at home all year in the Premier League.
This Atletico Madrid side under Diego Simeone knows how to sit and rotate off the ball, to defend, to avoid conceding a lot of goals, and that’s all they have to do here.
Tottenham’s injury list remains long, a half dozen first-choice players are off the squad list, Richarlison is suspended, Mohammed Kudus and Rodrigo Betancur are among the outs, while Cristian Romero, Joao Palhinha, Destiny Udogie, and Conor Gallagher could also miss. Xavi Simons is set to start.
Atletico Madrid will put Juan Musso in goal, but are generally fit, Antoine Griezmann will be starting and hunting for an early goal to put this tie out of reach. Tottenham can avoid defeat on the night, but that’s not enough. Prediction: 1-1 Draw (Atletico Madrid win 6-3 on aggregate)
Galatasaray at Liverpool
(Galatasaray 1-0 on aggregate)
Drawing with Tottenham on the weekend is yet another disappointment for such an expensive Liverpool side, a side that may miss the Champions League places depending on the final shake out of the Premier League table. With Galatasaray, Turkey’s best team, taking a 1-0 lead with them from Istanbul, they will have to press hard and survive at Anfield. Galatasaray are a side that concede chances, but Liverpool will have to finish them against a side on a five match winning streak.
Liverpool will have Mo Salah likely to start, Hugo Ekitike, and Dominik Szoboszlai are expected to be in the lineup as well. Davison Sanchez is suspended for Galatasaray, making another hole in the backline for Liverpool to exploit. Gabriel Sara, a new Brazil international, will start for Galatasaray. This tie should be close, it’s the most likely we have to produce penalty kick drama. Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 (Liverpool advance on penalties)
Atalanta at Bayern Munich
(Bayern Munich 6-1 on aggregate)
There’s little drama here for Bayern, other than whether they will start a 16-year-old American youth player in goal due to injuries. Bayern’s attack continues to thrive, they thrashed Atalanta 6-1 in Italy, this is the closest thing to a “game off”, you will ever get in the Champions League. Atalanta did manage a 1-1 draw with Inter Milan on the weekend, but it’s hard to see how they can approach this tie with anything but a hit and hope style.
The real question? Will teenager Leonard Prescott be Bayern’s solution to the goalkeeper injury crisis. Joshua Kimmich and Michael Olise are out on yellow card suspensions, Harry Kane imight start, or not in a low stakes game. Giacomo Raspadori will be out for Atalanta. Prediction: Bayern Munich 4-2 (Bayern Munich 10-3 on aggregate)
Main Photo Credit: IMAGO / APL,
