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Round of 16: 6 possible power-packed UEFA Champions League matchups

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7th Dec 2017

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Many believe that the UEFA Champions League actually begins from the Round of 16, since that is when the true test of a team’s quality comes to the fore. With tougher match ups expected, it is on merit that one can know the best sides of the season in Europe.

Over the years, the Round of 16 has been the one to watch out for, with teams either making or breaking their tournament. With the draws expected to come out on Monday, here are 6 possible blockbuster matchups that will not only determine the true champion clubs, but also have had historic significance over the years to come.

1) Juventus vs Manchester United

Do not be surprised if these two teams are pitted against each other. Both these sides have a passionate fan base in their leagues and a rich heritage to fall back on for inspiration.

Juventus would come in with a massive advantage of their side having the knowledge to play in knockout matches of the Champions League. They have made it to the tournament final twice in the last three years, even though they lost on both occasions.

While Manchester United have taken their Premier League form into Europe, topping Group A and making it to the Round of 16 after 4 long years, they have several shortcomings to plug, especially in defence.

The last time these two sides clashed in Europe was way back in 2003! It is indeed a shocker, and makes the matchup more wanted. United hold a 4-3 lead in their last 8 Champions League clashes.

The most famous contest between them was the semi-final in 1999, where United fought back remarkably from a 0-2 deficit to win 3-2 in Turin in the dying moments of the game and going on to win the competition.

2) Chelsea vs Barcelona

This could be perhaps the most even matchup out of all in the history of European club football. No two teams have gone equally at loggerheads with each other as Barcelona and Chelsea has. And you can fairly expect history to repeat itself should these two teams be drawn in the Round of 16 this time.

Barcelona have rallied exceptionally well, not losing a single match across all competitions since August 2017 despite external issues threatening to derail them. The Spanish giants were barely challenged in the group stages of the Champions League.

The question is – will that be a case of reverse psychology and work in Chelsea’s favour? Chelsea finished second in Group C, having to fight tooth and nail with AS Roma and Atletico Madrid, two sides with contrasting form and styles of play.

Incredibly, Barcelona and Chelsea have only played each other in the knockout matches of the competition. In 12 such games, Chelsea lead 4-3 even as Barcelona on 3 occasions managed to knock them out of the competition, as compared to Chelsea’s 4.

Whom to pick? Guess the real winners here are the fans of neither who can enjoy some electrifying football without feeling polarized.

3) Paris Saint Germain vs Real Madrid

Real Madrid’s legendary manager Zinedine Zidane tried to dodge a question in the press conference after his side’s win over Borussia Dortmund. The question was related to a possible matchup with Paris Saint Germain in the Round of 16 of the Champions League this season.

Real haven’t been at their very best in all competitions, finishing second to Tottenham Hotspur in Group H. So, their win against Dortmund will bring them much needed confidence.

PSG on the other hand, have been dominant in Ligue 1 as well as in Europe barring their 1-3 loss to Bayern Munich recently.

These two teams have only played in two matches in European football against each other, with Madrid winning one of them and the other being a draw in the 2015-16 season during the group stages.

However, the prospect of Neymar going head to head against his old rivals makes this the battle of football’s biggest superstars and the one to watch out for.

4) Manchester City vs Bayern Munich

Manchester City’s resurgence in the early 2010s ensured that one of the teams they struck up some rivalry against in European football, is quite surprisingly Germany’s perennial champions, Bayern Munich.

What is quite interesting as well is that City and Bayern have a 3-3 head to head record in the 6 matches they have played against each other in Champions League history and all of them have been in the group stage.

City have been unstoppable this time, despite a 1-2 loss to Shakhtar Donetsk in their final group match this season. While Bayern have had the task to rebuild their side following Carlos Ancelotti’s hasty exit as manager and are finding their old groove, fans and critics are asking, "will it be too late though?"

What adds spice to this match is that Pep Guardiola was Bayern’s all-conquering manager from 2013-2016, building the sturdy base of this current side. He is sure to use a lot of his knowledge and tactics, now that he is a rampaging Manchester City side’s manager.

Or will his former wards outsmart him and spring a major upset?

5) Basel vs Liverpool

This rivalry may not be a fan favourite to watch, but it could hold tremendous value to the competition.

Despite remaining undefeated this season in the Champions League, Liverpool were challenged in their quest to stay on top of the table in Group E. It is always a mystery which Liverpool shows up on the field – the best or the worst?

FC Basel is an opponent which cannot underestimated. At home, they beat Liverpool’s arch-rivals Manchester United in a group game earlier this season. It was also the first ever Swiss team to make it to the Round of 16 back in 2002, and co-incidentally the opponents they had beaten to go through, was Liverpool!

Any repeats this time?

6) Sevilla vs Tottenham

Call them the underdogs or the dark horses in comparison to the other teams, these two have impressed everyone in the Champions League this season.

Tottenham overcame their topsy-turvy form in the Premier League and unpredictable, yet big competition from Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund to finish on top of Group H with ease. The English side on their day, is hard to stop.

Sevilla on the other hand, matched Liverpool in both their Champions League group fixtures this season as the Spanish team finished a close second to them.

Both these faced each other once in the Europa League back in 2007. Yet Sevilla might hold a slight advantage on current form, having experience of playing more Champions League football in recent years than Tottenham.

Another toughie to predict!

So, come Monday, 11th of December at 4.30 pm the battle lines will be drawn. This is one action-packed fixture you don't want to miss.

Author : Sportobuddy

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