The draw for the last 16 round of the Uefa Champions League was done in Nyon on Monday. And, as ever, it has thrown up some intriguing, and mouth-watering, ties.
READ HERE: Man City face Real Madrid, Liverpool draw Atletico
Who will be buzzing with delight? Who will be sobbing straight into the dressing room? Which eight will be back again for the quarter-final draw? And who takes home the ultimate this year?
The Joy Sports team has answers to all these and more…
Nathaniel Attoh
Biggest winner: Valencia. A good draw for the Spanish side because they can rub shoulders with Atalanta. Biggest loser: Manchester City. Pep needs this trophy and now a round of 16 exit looks likely against Zidane’s side. Best tie: Atletico Madrid vs Liverpool. A very aggresive match expected with both teams expected to fight it out. Who to surprise: Chelsea. Lampard’s men have what it takes to knockout a Bayern side that tends to freeze in the knockout stages. Final 8: Dortmund, Real Madrid, Valencia, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Juve, Tottenham, Barcelona.Title favourites: Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Barcelona.George Addo-Jnr
Biggest winner: Juventus. Olympique Lyon were arguably one of the weakest sides on paper. Biggest loser: Chelsea. The Blues can’t win at home and Lewandowski can’t stop scoring. Best tie: Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid. Tough one to call but both sides look like they will cancel each other out. Who to surprise: Atalanta. The fairytale doesn’t look like it will be ending soon. Final 8: Real Madrid, Liverpool ,Bayern Munich , Tottenham, Barcelona,Juventus, Atalanta and PSG. Title favourites: PSG, Liverpool, Bayern and Barcelona.Gary Al-Smith
Biggest winner: Juventus. You have to give it to them. Lyon will be without Depay and Reine-Adelaide. Biggest loser: Chelsea. Bayern Munich do posses to many weapons in the attacking department. Best tie: Real Madrid vs Man City. The battle of the bald coaches, should be intriguing. Who to surprise: RB Leipzig. Currently table toppers in the Bundesliga and playing some beautiful. Final 8: PSG, Real Madrid, Atalanta, Liverpool, Bayern, Juventus, RB Leipzig, Barcelona Title favourites: Barcelona.Benedict Owusu
Biggest winner: Barcelona. Napoli look like a side that have given up on their season. Biggest loser: Lyon. Facing Ronaldo is one thing most teams dread in the Champions League. Best tie: Man City vs Real Madrid. Two teams who are eyeing the trophy meet in the round of 16. None of them will want to lose. Who to surprise: Atalanta. They are currenlty playing some amazing attacking football and could surprise a few. Final 8: Liverpool, Atalanta, Bayern, Man City, Spurs, Barcelona, Juventus, PSG Favorites for title: Man City, Liverpool, Bayern and Juventus.Hans Mensah Andoh
Biggest winner: Juventus. Lyon was on every team’s wishlist and Sarri got it. Biggest loser: Napoli. Have to feel sorry for the Italian side which currenlty seems to be in disarray. Best tie: Real Madrid vs Man City. A match that can easily go both ways. Two sides that play some brilliant football. Who to surprise: RB Leipzig. Mourinho is doing a good job at Spurs but Naglesmann’s team can cause an upset. Final 8: PSG, Real Madrid, Atalanta, Liverpool, Juventus, Leipzig, Barcelona. Favorites for title: Barcelona.Enoch Fiifi Forson
Biggest winner: Juventus. Lyon struggling for form, could be a springboard to help spark Sarri’s season. Biggest loser: Manchester City. A very difficult and tricky test for Pep as he faces Zidane. Best tie: Real Madrid vs Man City. A real spectacle as both coaches try and outwit each other. Who to surprise: RB Leipzig. Julian Nagelsmann has built a machine that could perhaps shock everyone.Final 8: PSG, Real Madrid, Valencia, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Juventus, RB Leipzig, Barcelona
Owuraku Ampofo
Biggest winner: Atalanta. Could have met either PSG or Bayern Munich or Barcelona or Liverpool or Leipzig. Valencia ain’t bad, is it? Biggest loser: Chelsea. Had numerous chances to win Group H and relatively get an “easier” draw. Bayern Munich will be tough. Best tie: Atalanta vs Valencia. Two sides who weren’t expected to qualify. Two sides who have nothing to lose. Nothing beats these two precedents, a cracking match in the making. Who to surprise: Dortmund. PSG were knocked out for a third consecutive time at the last-16 stage in 2018-19, losing to a depleted Manchester United side. If Favre’s boys can keep their concentration for 180 minutes, they could pull a surprise. Final 8: Dortmund, Manchester City, Atalanta, Atletico, Chelsea, Juventus, Tottenham, Barcelona. Title favourites: Manchester City, Juventus and Barcelona.Moses Yeboah
Biggest winner: Juventus. A sigh of relief for Sarri and his boys knowing that Lyon are a manageable side. Biggest loser: Napoli. Too much going on for the side from Naples. Messi is about to join their ongoing problems. Best tie Real Madrid v Manchester City. Both teams will set out to win making it an end-to-end fixture. Who to surprise: Chelsea. Nobody is giving them a chance but the Blues might just cause an upset. Final 8: Paris St-Germain, Manchester City, Atalanta, Liverpool, Chelsea, Juventus, Tottenham, Barcelona. Title favourites: Liverpool, Barcelona and Juventus.Susan Owusu-Ansah
Biggest winner: Barcelona. Napoli are in shambles currently. Biggest loser: Chelsea. The Blues are very inexperienced and concede too many goals. Best tie: Real Madrid vs Man City. A lot will depend on current form as two favourites clash. Who to surprise: Valencia. Celades performed a miracle when he topped group H. Final 8: Psg, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Tottenham, Barcelona and Valencia Title favourites: Barcelona and Tottenham.Haruna Mubarak
Biggest winner: Juventus. Best team for the Italian giants to build some confidence. Biggest loser: Man City. Pep needs this title but he will need to find a way past the 13-time champions. Best tie: Dortmund vs PSG. Two attacking sides should produce a goal-fest. Who to surprise: None. Final 8: Juventus, Real Madrid, Liverpool, PSG, Valencia, Bayern, Tottenham, Barcelona Title favourites: PSG, Juventus, Barcelona and Tottenham.Bill Eshun
Biggest winner: Juventus. Sarri’s men couldn’t have drawn a better team considering the circumstances. Biggest loser: Lyon. A tough week for the French side; dropping to eighth and losing two key players to injury. Best tie: Real Madrid v Manchester City. Cracking tie as two giants lock horns. Who to surprise: Atalanta. Gian Piero Gasperini has worked wonders and looks likely to continue. Final 8: PSG, Real Madrid, Atalanta, Liverpool, Bayern, Juventus, Tottenham, Barcelona Title favourites: Liverpool.Louis Ampofo
Biggest winner: Barcelona. Napoli are vulnerable under Gattuso. Biggest loser: Chelsea. They are poor defensively and Bayern will be a headache for Lampard. Best tie: Real Madrid vs Manchester City. World class players will be on the pitch in what should be a thrilling tie. Who to surprise: Atalanta. They have nothing lose and could be one to watch out for. Final 8: PSG, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Tottenham, Barcelona. Title favourites: Barcelona, Liverpool and Juventus. --DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
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