Europe’s premier competition is back on Tuesday night with the first batch of Champions League Round-of-16 ties all set to take place. Here is all you need to know ahead of the big kick-off.
Paris Saint-Germain VS Real Madrid-8PM GMT Kick Off
Two of Europe’s elites will meet in the Champions League for the 11th time in the competitions history as Les Parisiens host Los Blancos on Tuesday night.
Both sides come into this heavy-weight clash at the top of their domestic leagues with the host’s 1-0 win over Rennes on Friday night enough to open up a 13 point gap between themselves and those behind.
The visitors however, have somewhat struggled as of late with Carlo Ancelotti’s side only managing one win in their last 4 fixtures including a 1-0 defeat to Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Ray Quarter Final.
Real Madrid enjoyed a smoother passage to the knock-out stages comparatively however as they picked up 15 points from their first five games in Group D to secure their spot in the next round whilst PSG had to rely on getting two wins from their last two games to go through.
The last time these two sides met in this competition was in the 2019/20 group stages where then manager, Thomas Tuchel, avoided defeat in both games, in a campaign which saw the French giants make it to the final where they were defeated by Bayern Munich.
However, it was Madrid who prevailed the last time these two juggernauts met at this stage of the competition back in 2018, with goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Casemiro giving the visitors a 2-1 win in Paris to progress through to the quarter finals by a 5-2 aggregate score-line.
Team News
Real Madrid talisman Karim Benzema is a doubt for the game following an injury picked up in his side’s 2-2 draw with Elche back in January but has made the trip back to his native France with the rest of his teammates.
Ancelotti will have the services of defender Ferland Mendy after making a recovery from his recent hamstring problem.
For the home side, Neymar, who hasn’t featured for PSG since last November, is back in contention for a starting place after returning to training following an ankle injury.
Former Real Madrid captain, Sergio Ramos, will not be lining-up against his former side however as the Spaniard continues to be side-lined with a calf injury.
Ciaran’s Prediction:
PSG 2-1 Real Madrid
Sporting CP VS Manchester City-8PM GMT Kick-Off
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side make the trip to Lisbon to take on Sporting CP, who currently sit 2nd in the Primeira Liga.
Tuesday’s visitors to the José Alvalade Stadium will come into this tie as firm favourites having won 11 out of their last 12 games in all competitions, with their last defeat coming against RB Leipzig in this season’s group stages.
Rúben Amorim’s side also come into this game with some good form, winning four out of their last five games. Their previous fixture against Porto contained a lot of late drama with the sides playing out a 2-2 draw in a game which saw five red cards shown.
The Citizens progressed to the Round of 16 of this year’s competition as group winners despite suffering two defeats against Leipzig and PSG in the process.
The Portuguese side had less of a comfortable road to this year’s knockout stages as they finished level on points with Borussia Dortmund after six games after losing their last two group stage games, progressing due to their superior head to head record.
These two sides have only met once previously in European competition, with the Leões coming away with a 1-0 win which was enough to knock City out of the Europa League on away goals back in 2012.
Unsurprisingly, it has been Guardiola’s men who have enjoyed the better fortunes in the Champions League, with a win on Tuesday night meaning they would become the first side to win five consecutive away fixtures in Champions League knock-out stages.
Team News
Sporting are left sweating over the fitness of forward, Pedro Gonçalves, who missed last Friday’s clash with Porto due to a muscle injury.
The Portuguese winger is Sporting’s top scorer in the Champions League this season, netting four times in six matches, and will be critical to their chances of denting City’s hopes of making it through this tie without any complications.
Guardiola will be without Kyle Walker through suspension after picking up a straight red card in their last game of the group stages against RB Leipzig.
Jack Grealish and Gabriel Jesus remain injury doubts ahead of Tuesday’s game with both men not making the squad for their last Premier League game against Norwich.
Ciaran’s Prediction:
Sporting CP 1-3 Man City
Words by Ciaran Coyle
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