Champions League Round of 16 Match-Ups This Week
This week’s Champions League match-ups have a little bit of everything that makes Champions League football so dynamic.
On Tuesday, we have Eintracht Frankfurt facing off against Napoli, and European giants Liverpool and Real Madrid facing off in a rematch of last year’s Champions League final.
Wednesday’s games have Porto facing off against Inter Milan and RB Leipzig facing off against Manchester City. In Porto and Inter Milan, I see a game with the potential for lots of attacking. In RB Leipzig and Man City, it’ll be interesting to see if Manchester City has any anxieties stemming from their off-the-field troubles. The Champions League is the one trophy that the club is missing.
Tuesday: Eintracht Frankfurt/Napoli & Liverpool/Real Madrid
In our first match-up on Tuesday, Napoli takes on Eintracht Frankfurt in Frankfurt. Eintracht made the Champions League this year by winning last year’s Europa League. Starting off the Round of 16 legs at home will be an advantage for them.
Napoli is having one of the best seasons they’ve had since Diego Maradona played there. They’re 15 points clear of second place Inter Milan in Serie A, so their incentive to perform in the Champions League will be high. I’m looking for this game to be back and forth and might want to target an over here.
Since losing in the Champions League final last year, everything has gone wrong for Liverpool. They struggle to perform consistently and have endured multiple injuries. A win in Anfield could get the team back on track.
Unfortunately, Liverpool is playing Real Madrid, whom they have lost to the last six times they played the club in the Champions League. Champions League matches that they have played. Real Madrid has struggled in England in the Champions League. They have only won one of their last seven Champions League away matches in England. If Benzema doesn’t play, I’d be looking at Liverpool on the money line for this match.
Wednesday: Inter Milan/FC Porto & RB Leipzig/Manchester City
Wednesday’s matches offer the potential for a lot of attacking football. In the first match, Porto will take on Inter Milan in what will almost certainly be a game where you can feel free to bet the over. Porto has been scoring like crazy across league & European competitions. Expect a free-flowing game between them and Inter Milan at the San Siro.
RB Leipzig and Manchester City face off in another offensive-minded match-up. Leipzig scores an average of 2.2 goals per home game. Leipzig will also return French international striker Christopher Nkunku from injury in this game. Manchester City will bring their Godzilla-like striker Erling Haaland with them – I expect he should get on the score sheet in this one too. For this game, I’d look to get as much exposure as possible to an over-total and the top goal scorers on each club.
