Champions League Round of 16 – 2nd Leg Preview and Expected Lineups

Assi di Coppe, Barcelona, Champions League, European Cups, Italian Football, Juventus, Liverpool, PSG, Serie A

Between Tuesday and Wednesday, we’ll find out the names of the first four clubs qualified for the quarter finals of Football’s biggest club competition. Although PSG and Liverpool are close to booking a place on the back of two significant wins in the first leg, their opponents haven’t raised the white flag just yet. Here is our full preview of this midweek’s Champions League round of 16 second leg fixtures, including the expected lineups.

Borussia Dortmund vs. Sevilla

In the first leg, former Milan man Suso gave an early lead for Sevilla, but Mahmoud Dahoud equalized for Borussia Dortmund. Then, it was time for the Haaland show, as the young phenom scored a brace for the visitors. Luuk De Jong managed to lower the deficit within the last minute, as it ended 3-2 for the Germans.

Edin Tezic is expected to start in a 4-3-3 formations, with Marco Reus and Thorgan Hazard supporting Haaland in attack. Former Juventus midfielder Emre Can could be deployed as a center back alongside side Mats Hummels.

On the other hand, Julen Lopetegui should start in a similar formation, with Youssef En-Neysri spearheading the Spanish attack, with Alejandro Gomez and Lucas Ocampos on the flanks. Joan Jordan and Fernando should play in the double pivot, with Ivan Rakitic bursting between the lines.

The Andalusians will have to score at least twice away from home in order to turn the tide. Whilst this task doesn’t sound like an impossible one, they also have to prevent the likes of BVB’s terryfing attack from adding to the score-line. Therefore, Sevilla’s chances of qualification for the next Champions League round looks complicated to say the least.

BORUSSIA DORTMUND: Hitz; Meunier, Can, Hummels, Schulz; Delaney; Bellingham, Dahoud; Reus, Hazard; Haaland

Out: Akanji (thigh), Sancho (hamstring), Schmelzer (knee), Witsel (achilles)

Doubtful: Guerreiro (groin), Reyna (groin)

SEVILLA: Bounou; Navas, Koundé, Diego Carlos, Acuña; Jordán, Fernando; Ocampos, Rakitić, Gómez; En-Nesyri

Out: Aleix Vidal (muscular)

Doubtful: Bounou (finger)

Misses next match if booked: Acuña, Óscar Rodríguez

Juventus vs. Porto

Three weeks ago, Porto shocked the world when they took the lead against the Italian champions after a minute of play, as Mehdi Taremi pounced on a terrible back-pass from Rodrigo Bentancur. Moussa Marega added the second right after the half-time break, but a late Federico Chiesa strike reignited the flame for the Old Lady.

Andrea Pirlo should start in what would appear to be a variable 4-4-2 formation. Alvaro Morata and Cristiano Ronaldo will reunite in attack, supported by Chiesa and Aaron Ramsey on the wings. Arthur could be set to start for the first times in months beside Adrien Rabiot.

For his part, Sérgio Conceição will deploy his usual 4-4-2 lineup, with Marega and Taremi in attack. The Portuguese midfield should include Jesus Corona, Otavio, Uribe and Sergio Oliviera.

Two years ago, the Bianconeri came back from a more difficult scenario against Atletico Madrid at the same stage of this competition after a remarkable display against the Spaniards. However, last season, Lyon managed to eliminate the Italians also from the Champions League round of 16.

So which Juventus will show up on Tuesday night?

JUVENTUS: Szczęsny; Cuadrado, Bonucci, De Ligt, Alex Sandro; Chiesa, Rabiot, Arthur, Ramsey; Morata, Cristiano Ronaldo

Out: Dybala (knee), Bentancur (virus), Danilo (suspended)

Doubtful: Chiellini (calf), Arthur (leg),

Misses next match if booked: Bentancur, Cuadrado, Demiral

PORTO: Marchesín; Manafá, Pepe, Diogo Leite, Zaidu; Sérgio Oliveira, Uribe, Otávio, Corona; Marega, Taremi

Out: none

Doubtful: Mbemba (knee)

Misses next match if booked: Sérgio Oliveira

Liverpool vs. RB Leipzig

During the first leg, Liverpool put all their domestic woes behind them, as they came away with a vital advantage from Budapest. Leipzig survived the first half, but Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané scored within five minutes to make Jurgen Klopp’s path towards the quarter finals much easier ahead of the second leg clash.

The EPL champions should maintain their 4-3-3 shape, with Diogo Jota joining Salah and Mané in attack. Curtis Jones, Gini Wijnaldum and Thiago Alcantara should make up the midfield.

For his part, Julian Nagelsmann could start in a 4-2-3-1 lineup, with Yussuf Poulsen leading the attack. His supporting crew should be made up of Christopher Nkunku, Dani Olmo and Emil Frosberg.

Whilst the first leg result clearly put the Reds in a good position to seal a qualification at home, the Englishmen’s deep injury crisis saw them losing against much weaker sides than Leipzig – with all due respect for Fulham.

Thus, with this current version of Liverpool, nothing is truly certain.

LIVERPOOL: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Phillips, Robertson; Jones, Wijnaldum, Thiago Alcántara; Jota, Salah, Mané

Out: Henderson (groin), Matip (ankle), Gomez (knee), Van Dijk (knee)

Doubtful: Kabak (muscular), Firmino (knock)

Misses next match if booked: Henderson, Milner, Wijnaldum

LEIPZIG: Gulácsi; Adams, Mukiele, Upamecano, Klostermann; Haidara, Kampl; Nkunku, Olmo, Forsberg; Poulsen

Out: Halstenberg (knee), Laimer (knee), Szoboszlai (groin)

Doubtful: Angeliño (muscular), Orban (hand), Sabitzer (calf)

Misses next match if booked: Henrichs, Kluivert, Konaté, Mukiele, Nkunku, Olmo, Sabitzer

PSG vs. Barcelona

When the two sides met last month, the football world played witness for a stunning performance from Kylian Mbappé. Although Lionel Messi opened the scoring for Barcelona from a dubious penalty kick,  PSG ended up winning the first leg 4-1 thanks to a brilliant hattrick from the French star, plus a header from Moise Kean.

Mauricio Pochettino should opt for a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Mauro Icardi being supported by Marco Verratti in the trequartista role, with Angel Di Maria and Mbappé on the flanks.

On the other hand, Ronald Koeman could go for a 3-5-2 formation. Lionel Messi and Ousmane Dembelé should lead the attack, supported by Sergino Dest and Jordi Alba in the wingback roles.

Whilst logic says that the Parisians should comfortably seal the qualification at home, Champions League history tells us otherwise, as four years ago, the Catalans pulled off an extraordinary comeback after losing the first leg in a 4-0 result against the very same opponents. Barcelona completed their magical Remontada with a last minute goal from Sergi Roberto, as a 6-1 victory overturned the result.

They say lightning doesn’t strike twice, but we better wait and see.

PARIS SG: Navas; Florenzi, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Kurzawa; Gueye, Paredes; Di María, Verratti, Mbappé; Icardi

Out: Bernat (knee), Kean (illness)

Doubtful: Neymar (adductor), Florenzi (adductor), Kehrer (adductor)

Misses next match if booked: Neymar, Paredes, Verratti

BARCELONA: Ter Stegen; Mingueza, Lenglet, Umtiti; Dest, De Jong, Busquets, Pedri, Alba; Messi, Dembélé

Out: Coutinho (knee), Sergi Roberto (hamstring), Fati (meniscus), Piqué (knee)

Doubtful: Araújo (ankle)

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  3. The Night Barcelona Were Brought Down by Juventus and Roma Rejects
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