Football fan’s most beloved club competition will finally be making its long awaited return. Now that we reached the knockout stages, every match will be a “Do or Die”, which will make for a must-see TV. This week, four matches will take place in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16, including Juve’s trip to Porto, and the much anticipated clash between PSG and Barcelona, and therefore, we have a full preview for all the upcoming action, including the expected lineups.
RB Leipzig Vs Liverpool
Due to travel restrictions, RB Leipzig ended up losing their home advantage, as the match will be held at the Puskas arena in Hungary. The Germans reached the semi finals of the competition in the previous, and they booked their ticket to this round this season by eliminating Manchester United.
After a series of league defeats, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp conceded the Premier League title, and should therefore shift his attention on saving the season with another European triumph.
Julian Nigelsmann is expected to start with a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Christopher Nkunku and Dani Olmo supporting Yussuf Poulsen in attack. Nordi Mukiele and Angelino will play on the wings.
His compatriot Klopp should maintain his usual 4-3-3 lineup, led by the infamous trio of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mané. Captain Jordan Henderson will play as an emergency center back beside the young Ozan Kabak.
Although Leipzig arrive to the encounter with a higher morale, the Reds have much more experience at this stage. The fact that this match will be played on a neutral turf could offer a vital advantage for the “visitors.”
RB LEIPZIG (3-4-2-1): Gulácsi; Klostermann, Orban, Upamecano; Mukiele, Sabitzer, Kampl, Angeliño; Nkunku, Olmo; Poulsen
Out: Forsberg (knee), Laimer (knee), Szoboszlai (groin)
Doubtful: Henrichs (knee)
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Kabak, Henderson, Robertson; Thiago Alcántara, Wijnaldum, Jones; Salah, Firmino, Mané
Out: Origi (hamstring), Milner (hamstring), Matip (ankle), Keïta (hamstring), Jota (knee), Gomez (knee), Van Dijk (knee)
Doubtful: Fabinho (muscular), Davies (knock), Kelleher (knock)
Barcelona Vs PSG
Tuesday’s big match will be held at the Camp Nou stadium, when Leo Messi’s Barcelona host a “Neymar-less” Paris Saint Germain. The Catalans were enjoying a perfect group stage round, until they were defeated in the last match-day at the hands of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus, which relegated them to finishing second in the group.
Therefore, The Blaugrana were drawn against the French champions, who finished on top of one of the most difficult groups in the previous stage – which included Leipzig and Man United.
Ronald Koeman is expected to start in a 4-3-3 formation, with Messi being supported by Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembélé in attack, whilst Frankie De Jong, Sergio Busquets and the young Pedri occupy midfield.
Mauricio Pochettino should use the same tactical lineup in his Champions League debut with the French side, with Moise Kean, Mauro Icardi and Kylian Mbappé forming a terrifying attack. Marco Verratti should be available to dictate the play from the middle.
The last time these two sides met in the knockout stage, the Parisians won the first leg 4-0, before Barcelona mounted their infamous 6-1 RemUntada in the second leg. Therefore, nothing will be determined before the final whistle of the second leg.
BARCELONA (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Dest, Mingueza, Lenglet, Alba; De Jong, Busquets, Pedri; Messi, Griezmann, Dembélé
Out: Coutinho (knee), Roberto (hamstring), Ansu Fati (meniscus), Araújo (ankle)
Doubtful: Piqué (match fitness), Braithwaite (adductor)
PARIS SG (4-3-3): Navas; Florenzi, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Kurzawa; Gueye, Verratti, Paredes; Kean, Icardi, Mbappé
Out: Bernat (knee), Neymar (adductor), Di María (thigh), Dagba (thigh), Pembélé (illness)
Sevilla Vs Borussia Dortmund
On Wednesday, Sevilla and Dortmund lock horns in what is expected a be an exciting contest. Both sides took advantage of being pitted in some of the easier groups in the first phase of the competition to comfortably advance to the second round. The Andalusians are enjoying a formidable domestic winning streak, whilst the Germans are in the midst of a poor run which saw them drop to 6th place in the Bundesliga.
Julen Lopetegui will opt for a 4-3-3 lineup, with the former Serie A duo of Suso and Alejandro Gomez supporting the in-form Youssef En-Nesyri.
On the other hand, Edin Terzić will unleash a formidable attacking force in his 4-2-3-1 formation. Jadon Sancho, Marco Reus and Giovanni Reyna will be playing behind the sensational Erling Braut Haaland.
Although BVB will be eager to earn a moral boost in this particularly difficult moment of the season, their hosts seem to be in a much better position to come out of the first leg with a lead.
SEVILLA (4-3-3): Bounou; Aleix, Koundé, D. Carlos, Escudero; Jordán, Fernando, Rakitić; Suso, En Nesyri, P Gómez
Out: Acuña (thigh), Navas (muscular), Ocampos (ankle)
BORUSSIA DORTMUND (4-2-3-1): Hitz; Morey, Akanji, Hummels, Guerreiro; Can, Delaney; Sancho, Reus, Reyna; Haaland
Out: Meunier (knee), Piszczek (thigh), Schmelzer (knee), Witsel (Achilles), Zagadou (hamstring)
Doubtful: Bürki (shoulder), Hazard (thigh)
Porto Vs Juventus
The final encounter of the week will be between two domestic champions who are running the risk of losing their respective thrones. Porto have drifted away from the Primeira Liga leaders Sporting by seven points after a series of draws, whilst Juve’s slow start to the season saw them trailing behind the two resurgent Milanese giants.
Sérgio Conceição will maintain his 4-3-3 formation, with Jesus Corona, Moussa Marega and Luis Díaz forming the attack. Former Real Madrid veteran Pepe will be leading the backline.
For his part, Andrea Pirlo is expected to start with his versatile 4-4-2 formation. Alvaro Morata will play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in attack, whilst Federico Chiesa and Weston McKennie will be on the wings. Rodrigo Bentancur and Adrien Rabiot will play in the double pivot.
Porto will try to earn a good result at home before traveling to Turin next month, but the Bianconeri will be determined to send a strong signal for the rest of the continent, and launch an early onslaught for the title with a strong performance in Portugal.
PORTO (4-3-3): Marchesín; Manafá, Pepe, Mbemba, Zaidu; Sérgio Oliveira, Uribe, Otávio; Corona, Marega, Díaz
Out: Nanu (concussion)
Misses next match if booked: Sérgio Oliveira
JUVENTUS (4-4-2): Szczęsny; Danilo, Bonucci, De Ligt, Alex Sandro; Chiesa, Rabiot, Bentancur, McKennie; Morata, Ronaldo
Out: Cuadrado (thigh), Artur (leg)
Doubtful: Dybala (knee), Ramsey (thigh)
