UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Predictions

The UEFA Champions League group stage is always interesting but the level of play and excitement goes up in the knockout stage. Being second best isn’t good enough, and the road to Istanbul gets clearer with each round. Though the task is simple in theory, achieving it is easier said than done: defeat the club in front of you and keep your dream of European glory alive. These are the eight matchups football fans look forward to this year in order of their first leg. For each leg I will provide a few talking points as well as give my prediction.

Atlético Madrid (4th in La Liga) vs Liverpool (1st in PL)

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Atlético Madrid are a strong side known for resilient defense, but that defense only becomes a notable advantage when you have the offense to keep it afloat. Joao Felix’s injury is one of the factors that denies Atlético major teeth on the attacking front, whereas Liverpool are as healthy, balanced, and lethal as ever. Liverpool face a tough test in Atlético on their first knockout game in their Champions League title defense but it’s a test they’ll surely pass.

Prediction: Liverpool advances 3–2 on aggregate

Borussia Dortmund (3rd in Bundesliga) vs Paris Saint-Germain (1st in Ligue 1)

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Both sides boast exciting players but this is another case of one team that has a massive injury and is in indifferent form coming up against another peaking at possibly the right time. PSG’s…