After finding out the first four teams qualified for the Champions League quarter finals, this midweek, another four clubs will be joining Porto, Dortmund, PSG and Liverpool. Whilst Bayern Munich and Manchester City look very much likely to seal an unexpected qualification, Real Madrid and Chelsea will still have to earn their place in the hard way. So here is our full preview for the second leg of the Champions League round of 16, including expected lineups.
Manchester City VS Monchengladbach
In the first leg between the two sides, Borussia Monchengladbach were unlucky to play their “home” encounter at a natural avenue – Puskas arena in Budapest – and Manchester City took care of business as usual by beating their German counterparts with two unanswered goals, in courtesy of Bernardo Silva and Gabriel Jesus.
Pep Guardiola will have a full squad to choose from, and is expected to start in 4-2-3-1 formation. The returning Sergio Aguero should lead the line, supported by Kevin De Bruyne in the playmaker role, with Ferran Torres and Raheem Sterling on the wings. Rodri and Ilkay Gundogan should play in the double pivot role.
Marco Rose is expected to deploy a similar formation, with Jonas Hoffman, Lars Stindl and Hannes Wolf supporting Alassane Pléa in attack.
Although the cityzens will also have to play the match on the same neutral avenue, they have already put themselves in a comfortable situation to seal their qualification to the Champions League quarter finals, and an upset is highly unlikely.
Man. City: Ederson; Walker, Rúben Dias, Laporte, Zinchenko; Rodri, Gündoğan; Ferran Torres, De Bruyne, Sterling; Agüero
Out: none
Mönchengladbach: Sommer; Lainer, Ginter, Elvedi, Bensebaini; Zakaria, Neuhaus; Hofmann, Stindl, Wolf; Pléa
Out: none
Doubtful: Bensebaini (groin), Kramer (ankle), Thuram (muscular)
Misses next match if booked: Lainer, Stindl
OFFICIAL: UEFA have confirmed the second-leg tie between Man City and Gladbach will now be played in Budapest.
— Squawka News (@SquawkaNews) March 10, 2021
Real Madrid VS Atalanta
Two weeks ago, Real Madrid had to suffer until the dying minutes to come away with a slim advantage against 10-man Atalanta. Ferland Mendy’s sole goal broke the Italian resistance in Bergamo, but the Spanish champions are far from qualified just yet.
After missing the first leg with an injury, Zinedine Zidane should have Karim Benzema available at his disposal once again. The French striker should be supported by Marco Asensio and Vinicius Junior in attack, with Luka Modric, Casemiro and Toni Kroos behind them.
On the other hand, Gian Piero Gasperini should maintain his usual 3-4-1-2 formation, with Matteo Pessina playing just behind the Colombian striking partnership of Duvan Zapata and Luis Muriel. Mario Pasalic should replace the suspended Remo Freuler in midfield alongside Marten De Roon.
The Orobici were able to put up a decent display at home despite playing with a man-down after Remo Freuler’s early dismissal, and if they can pull off a solid away performance, they might just give Los Blancos a run for their money.
Real Madrid: Courtois; Vázquez, Varane, Ramos, Mendy; Kroos, Valverde, Modrić; Asensio, Benzema, Vinícius
Out: Carvajal (hamstring), Casemiro (suspended), Díaz (hip)
Doubtful: Odriozola (unspecified)
Misses next match if booked: Mendy
Atalanta: Gollini; Tolói, Romero, Palomino; Maehle, De Roon, Pašalić, Gosens; Pessina; Muriel, Zapata
Out: Freuler (suspended), Hateboer (foot)
Doubtful: Djimsiti (muscular)
Misses next match if booked: Djimsiti, Romero
Ramos and Hazard return to Real Madrid training and could feature against Elche and Atalanta.https://t.co/uenKM1OL8f
— AS English (@English_AS) March 10, 2021
Bayern Munich VS Lazio
For the sake of sportsmanship, we will try to pretend that this one is not already done and dusted. Bayern Munich are arguably the strongest side in world football – and they possess all the titles to prove their claim – therefore, when the Lazio defenders gave them one gift after another, the result could have even been worse than 4-1.
Hansi Flick will maintain his typical 4-2-3-1 formation, as Robert Lewandowski could be given the chance to add to his impressive European tally. The Polish striker should be supported by the returning Thomas Muller, with Leroy Sané and Serge Gnabry.
As for the visitors, Simone Inzaghi’s 3-5-2 formation will be spearheaded by Ciro Immobile and Joaquin Correa. As usual, the midfield should feature the trio of Sergei Milinlovic-Savic, Lucas Leiva and Luis Alberto.
Although we’ve seen some incredible Champions League comebacks in the previous seasons, this one is all but impossible, as avoiding another thrashing would be considered as a decent enough result for the Biancocelesti.
Bayern: Neuer; Pavard, Süle, Alaba, Davies; Roca, Goretzka; Sané, Müller, Gnabry; Lewandowski
Out: Costa (foot), Kouassi (knee), Tolisso (thigh)
Lazio: Reina; Patric, Acerbi, Radu; Marušic, Milinković-Savić, Lucas Leiva, Luis Alberto, Lulić; Correa, Immobile
Out: Lazzari (calf)
Doubtful: Akpa Akpro (muscular)
Misses next match if booked: Akpa-Akpro, Hoedt, Luis Alberto, Marušić
UEFA Champions League winner updated
Manchester City 9/4
Bayern Munich 3/1
PSG 5/1
Liverpool 7/1
Chelsea 14/1
Real Madrid 14/1
Borussia Dortmund 16/1
Atletico Madrid 30/1
FC Porto 40/1
Atalanta 60/1
Borussia Monchengladbach 500/1
Lazio 1000/1— Jeff Sherman (@golfodds) March 10, 2021
Chelsea VS Atletico Madrid
This one is probably the most anticipated encounter for the midweek. When the two sides met in Bucharest, Olivier Giroud’s bicycle kick was the highlight of the entire European week. The French veteran’s stunning goal was the only difference between the two sides, and thus Chelsea will enter their home encounter at the Stamford bridge against Atletico Madrid with an important advantage.
Thomas Tuchel will probably reward Giroud with another start, and he could be supported by Timo Werner and Callum Hosdon-Odoi in a 3-4-3 formation. N’Golo Kante and Matteo Kovacic should be the central midfielders.
Diego Simeone could start the match in a 5-3-2 formation, with Luis Suarez and Angel Correa in attack. The midfield should be composed of Marcos Llorente, Koke and Thomas Lemar.
Even though the odds are in favor of the Premier League side, the Rojiblancos are experts when it comes to the Champions League knockout stages, and they will put all their experience, shrewdness and quality in the sake of overturning the result – although it won’t be an easy task against the West Londoners who are evolving well under the guidance of their German manager.
Chelsea: Mendy; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rüdiger; James, Kanté, Kovačić, Alonso; Hudson-Odoi, Giroud, Werner
Out: Jorginho (suspended), Mount (suspended)
Doubtful: Thiago Silva (thigh), Abraham (ankle)
Misses next match if booked: Kovačić, Ziyech
Atlético: Oblak; Trippier, Savić, Felipe, Hermoso, Carrasco; Llorente, Koke, Lemar; Correa, Suárez
Out: none
Misses next match if booked: Llorente, Lodi, Savić
??Giroud vs Atletico Madrid wins Chelsea Goal of the Month for February. #CFC
— CFCDaily (@CFCDaily) March 11, 2021