UEFA Champions League 2021 Round Of 16 Predictions

 Welcome Everyone to another Prediction blog and this one is about the UEFA Champions league round of 16 fixtures.  The Round Of 16 stage is coming to us very shortly as February 16 is set as the stage for the Round Of 16 fixtures to start.  There are some mouthwatering clashes waiting our way like the Barca-PSG one.  First Of all in my predictions, (OET: On Extra Time), (PEN:Penalties).  So without further delay let us get to the predictions and Here is our first match up.

First we get to RB Leipzig Vs Liverpool One.

RB Leipzig Vs Liverpool

          RB Leipzig are yet again battling Bayern for the title but Bayern keep on getting away with the title.  Their form is good, they don't seem to miss Werner much as he does.  Sorloth is playing well and Poulsen constantly does what he does best, apart from some setbacks that they had this season, overall they look a very good side that can go far in this competition.  And they have their manager Nagelsmann who can turn things on it's head with his motivation.  Liverpool though are not enjoying the same under Klopp as they had performed way out of sorts in the past few weeks.  Completely outplayed in a draw against their arch-rivals Man United and a dismal display against Relegation battling Burnley.

  The goals have dried up for Liverpool as Salah-Firmino-Mane are suffering a poor run of form and Jurgen couldn't do anything to resolve this.  Liverpool have lost ground on the title to Man United, who have picked up form after a very dismal start to their season.  And I don't favor Liverpool going through the Round Of 16.  Their injury problems are continuing to haunt them and they are struggling to get points under their belt in the Premier League.  In this situation, they don't favor themselves to go past RB Leipzig.  So My vote here is for Nagelsmann and his Leipzig.  I don't think they will win comfortably but could make it through.  So here is my score predictions

                                               1st Leg: RB Leipzig: 2-0 :Liverpool

                                              2nd Leg: Liverpool: 1-1 :RB Leipzig 

So, I am hoping for a 3-1 victory for Leipzig on Aggregate.  They could make it through easily against a Liverpool outfit which is lacking goals. So let us move on to the next tie.  

Barcelona Vs PSG

          This is a very tight fixture, because if you had asked me a month before, I would've easily opted out for PSG.  But not now.  Because by that time Barca were rot, Griezmann just could not find the net, Messi was in such a bad form both mentally and on the pitch.  Coutinho was single handedly trying to make the team win, then coutinho got injured and from then on it has been one hell of a run for Barcelona.  Dembele is back after series of injury haults and Griezmann is in his prime best and looks like the Griezmann of Atleti.  Messi is finally smiling because of Pedri and the team is back once again fighting for the title.  They are at their best form since football's resumption and are looking to build on that.  On the other side at Paris, Mbappe keeps on bagging in the goals and Neymar is back to his best.

  His injury might have haulted him a bit, but he will be well and truly back to face his Brotherly kind Friend Messi.  This clash is going to be an emotional one both for Messi and Neymar as they will be sharing the pitch together after a long gap.  But what about this tie?  I think on the basis of Barca's form currently, excluding their dismal performace agianst Bilbao might find a way thorough in to the last 8. 

          Predictions for this fixture is very tricky, but On the defensive side of the game, PSG lack a bit solidity and are still heavily reliant Mbappe.  Barca however are not like PSG.  They are good on the defensive side, please ignore Bilbao, and their Midfield is good but not excellent and their Forwards are doing their job perfectly.  Messi is in terrific form and so are griezmann and Dembele.

  This game might be a tight one, but on the whole Barca might make it through.  But remember we cannot expect anything from this game, do anyone remember what happened when these two teams locked horns last time?  It has been more than 3 years and Neymar will be at the other end and there would be No Suarez but everyone just remember "Remontada".  It is very hard to give a clear winner in this tie.  And here is the score predictions.

                                                 1st leg: Barcelona: 1-4  :PSG

                                               2nd leg: PSG: 1-5 :Barcelona (OET)

 Porto Vs Juventus

          Porto put everyone on shock when they did the double against Olympique De Marsielle who had a Champions League Campaign to forget.  But I don't think they could do the same against Juventus.  Last time I said Juventus were favorites against Lyon, Lyon Silenced Juve and went winning on Away goals but it should not be the case this time around and It would not be the case.  Because Juve have found a good striker in the name of Alvaro Morata, and Dybala is closing on to touching his best form again.  So Juve could make things look very easy and get to the quarter finals.  Their talisman is Cristiano Ronaldo and they could suffer If he is absent, but with him they could give no chance to Porto.

  Porto however are in good form as well as they are battling with Sporting Lisbon for the title and have taken 12 out of 12 possible points from their last 4 games.  But there is still some weeks to go by and anything could happen, but, on the whole, Juventus could make it through unless Porto Shock them like they did against Marseille.  Remember Porto struggled winning away, but they have made their home as their fortress as they did not lose a single game at home this season in the champions league

                                                1st Leg: Porto: 1-0 : Juventus

                                               2nd Leg: Juventus: 3-0 :Porto 

Sevilla Vs Borussia Dortmund

             Sevilla had a rough start to their La Liga Campaign, but have done well ever since to regain their form back and are having a pretty decent run in La Liga now.  They are currently trailing Barcelona by just a point and are well equipped at the 3rd place of the table.  They are pretty well balanced as far as their squad is concerned.  They still lack the presence of Reguilon but have done well to match it up.  Ocampos is in pretty good form, Rakitic is performing week in week out.  And they really have a good record in Europe especially in the Europa League, but they also have a good record in the Champions League.  But they will regret their performance in this year's Champions League, because, simply they were not upto the mark, they won narrowly against Krasnodar and Rennes and were thrashed by Giroud at home.  Dortmund on the other hand did well to make it out of their group and Haaland keeps on scoring goals regardless of whether his team wins or not.  But Sevilla might stand a chance as for their greatest help, Dortmund are in a torrid run of form as they are winless in their last 3 games and have lost both of their last two and drew against FSV Mainz 05.

  They lack a true boss as Favre was sacked after their 5-1 anhilation against Stuttgart and now they only have an interim boss at the helm.  However Haaland keeps on scoring but lacks the support of his teammates.  Sancho has been out of form for a pretty long time for now and their defence is absolutely screwed up in few games.  So I am going for a Sevilla win, not a great one, but a narrow one as Haaland would draw them back into the game.  But, if Dortmund go into the tie without Haaland, I am sure that they would score no more than a goal in the tie.  So here are the score predictions

                                             1st Leg: Sevilla: 2-1 : Borussia Dortmund

                                            2nd Leg: Borussia Dortmund: 1-1 : Sevilla

Lazio Vs Bayern Munchen

             On this tie, Lazio take on Bayern Munchen, Bayern are dominant in the Bundesliga and also in the Champions League were they were invincible,

their results are solid at home, but are inconsistent when it comes away from home.  They thrashed La Liga Leaders Atletico Madrid 4-0 at home but drew against the same Atletico Madrid away from home.  Lazio on the other side are clearly the underdogs in here as they lack a lot when it comes to away turf.  They are in a very good run of form lately and so do Bayern, but as it comes to this tie, there are no surprises, it is only the guys from Bavaria that I think will have the Upper hand.

                                            1st Leg: Lazio: 1-1 : Bayern Munchen

                                           2nd Leg: Bayern Munchen: 5-1 : Lazio

Atletico Madrid Vs Chelsea

            This is a no brainer and I know it is going to be Atleti who will prevail in this tie.  Chelsea are out of sorts right now and German striker Werner is lacking confidence and Self-Belief as his goalless run continues and Havertz no more has the backing of Lampard and is missing first-team action.  Chelsea have really performed badly in the past few weeks that had gone by and Lampard is in the verge of leaving which is not a great sign for the club.  And by the time   I am Writing this blog, Frank Lampard Has Been Sacked By Chelsea.  On the flip side, there stand Atletico Madrid, already 7 points ahead of their local rivals Real Madrid with a game to play.  Simeone has finally built a title winning team for which he has been working for more than 5 years.  Atleti are truly rampant and their talisman is Luis Suarez.

  Suarez has just been phenomenal for Atletico Madrid right since he made his free move from Barcelona.  And Suarez is in no mood to stop either.  He didn't score anything in the Champions League but his deputy Felix has covered it up for him in his abscence.  Felix and Suarez have really formed a deadly duo and Felix is at the top of his game since his big money move from Benfica.  And an Atleti on this kind of form could just eat out Chelsea.

                                         1st Leg: Atletico Madrid: 0-1 : Chelsea

                                        2nd Leg: Chelsea: 0-2 : Atletico Madrid

Borussia Monchengladbach Vs Manchester City

               This is a good one to watch as City are back in their best ever form and Pep has got his confidence back and City are once again scoring goals.  Gladbach however came through here by pure luck as Inter Milan Deserved this place, if Lukaku had not blocked Sanchez's header, Inter would be travelling to Manchester to face City rather than Borussia Monchengladbach.  But now they are here, but they don't stand a chance against an in-form City.

  If this tie had held a month before, then, Gladbach as chances of going past city, but not now.  City have not lost a game yet in this calendar year and their unbeaten streak just keeps on increasing.  Their forwards are scoring goals and everything is going on well at City.  As for now City are the clear winners, but Stranger things do happen in the UEFA Champions league, just like Lyon, who managed to silence both Juventus and Manchester City and Almost held Bayern in the last year's Champions League.  But as for now City are the favorites given their tremendous form.

                                        1st Leg: Borussia Monchengladbach: 1-1 Man City 

                                       2nd Leg: Man City: 4-0 : Borussia MonchenGladbach

Atalanta Vs Real Madrid

               Real Madrid and their UCL campaign so far has been the most interesting one as for once they looked to be eliminated to the Europa League for the first time since the 93'-94' season.  Atalanta on the other hand, started their league campaign slowly but are now cutting in on the gap and we all now how rampant they are in the second phase of the Season.  Real, despite some inconsistent performances, are still contending for the title, which has been slipping away gradually from them.  But the only positive thing as far as Real Madrid are concerned is that they have performed exceptionally well against high class opponents and have struggled only against opponents of lower quality, and hopefully Hazard has got his touch and his magic back and Benzema is at the form of his life.

  Zidane is under huge pressure but he knows how to get the results out.  And given their performance against high class sides in this year, especially against the likes of Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Inter, I expect Real Madrid to prevail through this tie. 

                                      1st Leg: Atalanta: 2-2 :Real Madrid 

                                     2nd Leg: Real Madrid: 3-0 : Atalanta