After a week’s break, the Champions League returns to our screens once again, beginning with the second legs of the first four ties.
The two English teams in action are well placed, Manchester City and Liverpool both well in control of their own destinies after brilliant wins at Sporting and Inter respectively.
The other two ties are in the balance, Bayern with work to do as they welcome Salzburg to the Allianz Arena, and Real Madrid still very much in the tie against PSG despite Kylian Mbappe’s last minute winner at the Parc des Princes.
Bayern vs Salzburg (Tuesday 8pm)
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Credit where credit is due, Salzburg turned in a brilliant display of counterattacking football against Bayern three weeks ago.
In fact, the Austrians were arguably unlucky to come away with just a draw, spurning several great chances before Kingsley Coman’s late equaliser.
With away goals no longer a factor, the positive for them is they can play exactly the same way in Germany, not needing to become overly expansive in pursuit of a goal.
The downside is that performing in Bayern’s own backyard is a different proposition. Europe’s top scorers in all competitions this season, the six-time winners should enough quality to progress.
SCORE PREDICTION: 3-1 (Aggregate: 4-2)
Liverpool vs Inter Milan (Tuesday 8pm)
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Inter Milan took the game to Liverpool at the San Siro, the Serie A champions bossing periods of the match but being wasteful in front of goal.
They were made to pay as Jurgen Klopp’s side once again found a way to get the job done, the ever-reliable pair of Roberto Firmino and Mohammed Salah converting to ensure Liverpool have one foot in the quarter-finals.
Under the lights at Anfield, it would be a major shock were the six-time winners to relinquish their lead.
SCORE PREDICTION: 2-1 (Aggregate: 4-1)
Manchester City vs Sporting Lisbon (Wednesday 8pm)
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Manchester City’s performance in Lisbon was simply a joy to behold.
Pep Guardiola’s side were at their clinical best, putting 4 past their shellshocked opponents in the opening half alone, Bernardo Silva’s half-volley the pick of the bunch.
Even with Pep Guardiola likely to rotate, City will still be a class above their opponents, making another comfortable score line likely.
SCORE PREDICTION: 3-0 (Aggregate: 8-0)
Real Madrid vs PSG (Wednesday 8pm)
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As it was 21 days ago, this is the game to watch this week.
It is also still just as hard to call. PSG missed a host of wonderful chances at the Parc des Princes – Lionel Messi being particularly guilty – but will nonetheless be delighted to be ahead thanks to Mbappe’s moment of brilliance.
At the same time, Madrid will be happy that they are still in the tie having offered little attacking threat in the French capital.
The current La Liga leaders surely won’t be that poor again. Whether they have enough quality to overturn the one goal deficit and beat PSG is a different matter, however.
This really could go either way. As Mauricio Pochettino’s job depends on how well they do in the Champions League, though, his PSG team might just pull through for him. If they don’t, the Argentinian surely won’t be in charge beyond the end of this season.
