The big debate: The Champions League last 16 features former winners Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG, Liverpool and Manchester City, as well as favorites Arsenal and diminutive Bodo/Glimt.
Arsenal secure top spot in the Champions League with a perfect record (Image: Clive Mason, Getty Images)
All six Premier League teams will be in this week’s Champions League last 16, with England looking to win their first title in six years and Arsenal the favorites to conquer the continent.
Entering the second year of the new format, the knockout play-off phase saw the likes of Newcastle and Real Madrid secure a spot alongside the teams who finished in the top eight of the league phase.
Newcastle have a mouthwatering clash with Barcelona, whom they lost at St James’s Park earlier this season, while Real face Manchester City in their annual clash. Arsenal, who have won every game in Europe this season, will face Bayer Leverkusen while north London rivals Tottenham take on Atletico Madrid.
The Champions League was a welcome respite from domestic troubles for Tottenham, who broke their Premier League form on the European stage.
Chelsea will face holders PSG and will need to be at their best if they are to defeat the defending champions. Liverpool will face Galatasaray, whom they have already beaten this season.
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Six-time champions Bayern Munich will take on Atalanta with Harry Kane leading the way as they look to regain the European title. The Englishman shows no signs of slowing down on his goalscoring exploits, on track to break the Bundesliga record, and winning the Champions League on his CV would further cement his legend.
Bodo/Glimt have been the talk of this season’s Champions League, with the underdog Norwegian side defeating Inter Milan to reach the last 16. They drew with Sporting Lisbon, but one of them was given a big chance to qualify for the last eight. Mirror Football’s writers looked at the last 16 fixtures and predicted who is still dreaming of European glory.
Bodo/Glimt has exceeded all expectations this season (Image: Getty Images)
sam mead
Arsenal are likely already looking forward to a last-eight clash, as is Atletico Madrid. Bayern would also have too much for Atalanta, despite their obvious quality. Newcastle’s European journey could end with the match against Barcelona. Their only hope lies in regaining the lead at the Camp Nou.
PSG may not be as dynamic as last season, but they have the quality to defeat Chelsea. Josep Guardiola has already won one at the Bernabéu this season and City are starting to feel like it. That’s why I want to support them as they play against Real in their second match.
Liverpool will take revenge on Galatasaray, but Galatasaray could be far more dangerous than people fear. And I think the feel-good story of this campaign will continue during the Bodo/Glimt march.
Players predicted to advance to the quarterfinals
Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Arsenal, Bodo/Glimt, PSG, Manchester City.
Jeremy Cross
This is when the Champions League finally gets interesting. And in this tournament, it was a delicious draw that saw them advance to the top 16.
Harry Kane wants to lead Bayern Munich to European glory (Image: Getty Images)
Chelsea will struggle to beat holders Paris Saint-Germain in a repeat of last summer’s Club World Cup final, while Manchester City and Real Madrid will resume the battle that became Europe’s biggest rivals. Josep Guardiola’s side will need to overcome the Spanish giants.
I expect Liverpool to beat Galatasaray despite their poor form, but the same cannot be said for Newcastle and Tottenham.
Eddie Howe’s side will do well enough to beat Barcelona, while Tottenham face Atletico Madrid in a dire situation where they won’t be able to win a single ticket.
Arsenal, meanwhile, still have a quadruple in their sights and should have no problem sending Bayer Leverkusen into the easier half of the draw.
Players predicted to advance to the quarterfinals
Arsenal, Manchester City, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, Bodo/Glimt, PSG, Bayern Munich.
Andy Dunn
In typical Premier League fashion, there has been much talk about English club football being the dominant force in Europe, and more has been glossed over than the representation of the six teams in the last 16.
Over the next week or so we will be reminded that we are not as formidable as all the British pundits on radio and television think we are. Against Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, Spurs and Newcastle each have a puncher’s chance, but that’s about it. In La Liga, Atleti and Barça, who are in 3rd and 1st place, will advance.
Man City have already beaten Real Madrid this season (Image: Getty Images)
The difficult ones are the heavyweight battles between Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, and Real Madrid and Manchester City. These could extend to a managerial battle, with Luis Enrique and Guardiola potentially proving too smart for Liam Rosenoir and Alvaro Arbeloa.
Arsenal and Liverpool won’t be able to do everything well against Bayer Leverkusen and Galatasaray respectively, but they will do far too much at home.
Players predicted to advance to the quarterfinals
Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Arsenal, Bodo/Glimt, PSG, Manchester City.
daniel ohm
Looking at the obvious candidates for the quarter-finals, Arsenal should advance against Bayer Leverkusen, who are my favorites to go all the way and lift the trophy.
They should be joined by Spanish duo Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, who beat Premier League opponents in Newcastle and Tottenham respectively. German giants Bayern Munich should also continue their good run, but they will continue to be pushed by Atalanta.
Igor Tudor faces a difficult task if he is to continue Tottenham’s impressive run in Europe (Image: Julian Finney/Getty Images)
That makes it a little harder to predict. Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain will be a difficult opponent for Chelsea, but the Blues have already beaten them at the Club World Cup, so a repeat cannot be ruled out.
Manchester City also have a difficult task ahead of them as they aim to beat perennial champions Real Madrid. However, the Spanish side have been weak this season and there is a good chance they will be eliminated by City.
The Liverpool vs Galatasaray card could be a shock. Arne Slott’s side have had a great run in Europe, but given the shortcomings this season, there’s a good chance the Turkish team could top that.
Bodo/Glimt are also one of the talking points in this season’s Champions League and could find a way to take advantage of the Arctic Circle to get past Sporting Lisbon.
Players predicted to advance to the quarterfinals
Galatasaray, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Chelsea, Bodo/Glimt, Manchester City.
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