The draw for the Last 16 of the Champions League has thrown out some pre-Christmas crackers. Two EPL managers have landed monster ties as life doesn’t get any easier: Manchester United’s Jose Mourinho was drawn against PSG while Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool take on his old Bundesliga foes, FC Bayern.
Tournament favourites Barcelona and Manchester City both have favourable draws. Barca will face Ligue 1’s Olympique Lyonnais while the Premier League champions have drawn FC Schalke, out of form and in 13th place in the German league.
It’s a draw to set the pulses racing, so make sure you keep up with all the latest Champions League 2018 betting odds right here at SBOBET.
Tie of the Round
Atletico Madrid vs Juventus
Cristiano Ronaldo is never far away from the Champions League 2018 news; he managed to get himself sent off against Valencia in his opening Euro game for the Bianconeri and has managed just one goal in the group matches. He scored nine at this stage last season and remains the competition’s top scorer.
So make no mistake, Ronnie will be ready to torment his old Madrid foes. It could be an interesting battle for the limelight, though, as Antoine Griezmann is hitting form for Diego Simeone’s team, scoring a brace on the weekend as Atleti keep up their pursuit of Barca at the top of La Liga.
A job interview for Jose
Manchester United vs PSG
Their former, and much loved, talisman had a bad time against Valencia though it didn’t matter in the end, but Manchester United will be seriously regretting their 2-1 defeat at the Mestalla. A draw against PSG is about as tough as it gets. The French leaders gave Liverpool the run-around in their group match, and we saw how easily the Merseysiders brushed United aside last Sunday.
The only way I can see the Red Devils competing is if Jose is able to strengthen in the January window. But the next question is whether or not Mourinho will still be at Old Trafford by then. It’s almost three years to the day since he was sacked by Chelsea, and the curtain at the Theatre of Dreams could be about to fall.
Next stop, Paris?
Revenge could be sweet for Jurgen Klopp
Liverpool vs FC Bayern
It shows just how far Liverpool have come, and how FC Bayern have struggled this year, that Jurgen Klopp’s Reds will likely start as favourites for this tie.
Last season’s beaten finalists have just returned to the top of the Premier League with a win over Manchester United, and in Xherdan Shaqiri Klopp has found a fourth striker to add to his Fab Three.
As head coach at Borussia Dortmund, Klopp suffered the agony of losing a Champions League final to FC Bayern in 2013 when Arjen Robben scored a late winner.
The memories of that Wembley final defeat will spur the Reds’ boss on, and his team will be determined to go one better than last year. But they must beware Bayern: they still have world-class players. Robert Lewandowski is enjoying European football more than domestic this season, with seven Champions League goals already to his name.
BVB can put the record straight
Spurs vs BVB
Borussia Dortmund are surely a decent outside bet to go all the way in the 2018/19 Champions League. Lucien Favre’s team is nine points clear at the top of the Bundesliga and is playing some of the best attacking football in Europe. Spurs beat BVB in last season’s competition, and the Germans will be keen to assert their superiority this time around.
The Yellow Wall will be there to roar on their heroes with the advantage of the second game at home, and the Christmas Bundesliga break could work to their advantage. But Mauricio Pochettino will tell his players this is winnable for Spurs. And they have shown they can upset the odds and keep fighting to the end, with late goals against Inter Milan and Barcelona to thank for their progress in this competition. And they were at it again with an injury-time winner against Burnley on Saturday.
Can Ajax continue their unbeaten run?
Ajax vs Real Madrid
Nicolas Tagliafico scored a 95th-minute equaliser in a 3-3 draw with FC Bayern to maintain Ajax’s unbeaten record in the Champions League this season. Including qualifying rounds, that makes 12 games in total for Erik ten Hag’s young team.
He is leading his side in a two-horse race against PSV for the Dutch League, having won the last six games. In Serbian Dusan Tadic, the Dutch have a lively goal threat. The former Liverpool man has scored five so far.
Meanwhile, Santiago Solari has steadied the ship at the Bernabeu after Julen Lopetegui’s disastrous tenure. Five wins in six have lifted Los Blancos up to fourth and within five points of leaders Barca. The champions will be favourites, but Ajax will entertain and aim for a big upset.
Full Draw
FC Schalke vs Manchester City
Atletico Madrid vs Juventus
Manchester United vs Paris Saint-Germain
Spurs vs Borussia Dortmund
Lyon vs Barcelona
AS Roma vs FC Porto
Ajax vs Real Madrid
Liverpool vs FC Bayern
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