After witnessing the primary video games of the Champions League knock-out stage, in the present day we’re about to see 15 mouth-watering clashes with loads to play for. The street to this yr’s closing in Lyon begins right here. One recreation was performed already earlier this week – Serbian champions Crvena Zvezda hosted CSKA Moscow and completed 0-0 and left the return leg with all to play for.
Astana – Sporting Lisbon
Sporting must make one of many longest journeys in European soccer with greater than 6,000 km from Portugal to Kazakhstan. The sport will see the four-time consecutive champions FC Astana tackle for the primary time ever on their opponents. The hosts are the primary ever workforce from Kazakhstan to achieve the latter levels of European competitions and will definitely attempt to exploit the slip within the type of their guests. Sporting was unbeaten in January however misplaced already two video games in February – in opposition to rivals Porto and Estoril.
Prediction: Bas Dost to attain and beneath 2.5
Östersund – Arsenal
In one of the vital intriguing video games of the spherical, the Swedish minnows Östersund face Arsenal. The hosts are one of many European most romantic footballing tales making their manner from decrease divisions of Swedish soccer to a glamorous knock-out tie with a well-known English opponent. Östersund has already performed 12 video games within the event and progressed from their group as runners-up. Their English connection is powerful – their supervisor is the Englishman Graham Potter, who loved 13-year taking part in profession and made 307 appearances within the Soccer League. The Swedish membership is his first managerial expertise and is behind the success of the workforce over the past 6 years. Each groups are having fun with their debut campaigns within the event, and Arsenal are into knockout phases for the nineteenth consecutive yr – all beneath present supervisor Arsene Wenger. The freezing temperatures, the unbeaten residence report and the vital matches within the League are all factors resulting in a shock consequence, however might David defeat Goliath?
Prediction: Arsenal to win and over 2.5
Ludogorets Razgrad – AC Milan
Some of the profitable golf equipment in Europe is constant their debut Europa League marketing campaign with a difficult away journey to Bulgaria, the place they are going to face Ludogorets Razgrad. The Rossoneri improved domestically in 2018 and are unbeaten with a 4-0 win in opposition to SPAL final weekend. Ludogorets have misplaced solely one in every of their final 9 European fixtures (W4 D4) – though they’re with out a win in three (D2 L1) and can look to realize a bonus earlier than the return leg at San Siro later this month. The Bulgarian champions will likely be with out suspended Erol Dost, Claudiu Keșerü and Natanael, however new signing Jakub Świerczok might make his aggressive debut. Gennaro Gatusso is having virtually absolutely match squad however might choose to rotate his line-up earlier than upcoming fixtures in Seria A and Coppa Italia later this month in – Roma and Sampdoria within the league and second leg of ½-Ultimate of the Cup in opposition to Lazio.
Prediction: Draw
Spartak Moscow – Athletic Bilbao
Spartak is one in every of 4 Russian golf equipment nonetheless concerned on this season’s competitors, and proceed their marketing campaign in opposition to the spherical of 32 regulars Athletic. The Russians have been disillusioned of their Champions League group ending behind Liverpool and Sevilla and now will hope to get a optimistic consequence in opposition to Europa League specialists Bilbao. Regardless of Spartak’s elimination, they didn’t lose at residence – drawing in opposition to Liverpool and Maribor and successful in type in opposition to Sevilla 5-1. Bilbao facet has by no means misplaced UEFA tie to Russian opposition, however are with out a win since 07 January. Spartak remains to be within the winter break and has not performed a aggressive recreation since December might trigger issues to supervisor Massimo Carrera and his workforce.
Prediction: Bilbao to win and over 2.5
Borussia Dortmund – Atalanta
Borussia Dortmund is but to win this season in Europe and their try gained’t be a simple one as their face Italian facet Atalanta. Below new coach Peter Stöger, Dortmund is unbeaten in 2018 in Germany and – impressed by new arrival Michy Batshuayi – have gained the final two video games. They’ve improved drastically and need to put their kind in Europe too. In the meantime, Atalanta having fun with their first European soccer for the reason that 1990-1991 season will likely be hoping for a future and will likely be trying to proceed their quest after ending prime of their group. Marco Reus, Jadon Sancho are the notable inclusions within the host’s squad for the sport and given Borussia’s better expertise, they are going to be trying to win comfortably.
Prediction: Batshuayi to attain and Borussia to win
Lyon – Villarreal
Lyon is happening a quest to achieve the ultimate which goes to be hosted on their stadium in Could 2018, however the mission won’t be a simple one. The French facet gained a formidable win in opposition to PSG earlier this month, however after that, they’ve misplaced 3 times. Villarreal is the most effective performing workforce within the competitors – most wins and objectives, however they have been weakened when Cedric Bakambu left for China changing into probably the most precious African participant ever. Each groups got here by way of with 11 factors, having gained three matches, drawn two and misplaced one, the only defeat coming in every case on matchday six after qualification had already been secured. The match sees two evenly matched sides, with the distinction may be the house benefit.
Prediction: Over 2.5 and draw
Napoli – RB Leipzig
The tie sees two groups popping out of the Champions League, and the previous Uefa Cup winner Napoli face debutants Leipzig in what seems to be the largest derby of the Spherical 32. The Italians are focusing on home glory in combating for the Seria A title and will decrease the significance of the Europa League. The rise of the RB Leipzig mission sees them qualify for the knock-out levels of European competitions for the primary time. The Azzurri are going to overlook their talismanic ahead Dries Mertens who’s suspended. RB Leipzig will face a troublesome process in making an attempt to duplicate their 2nd end within the Bundesliga from the final time period, however the likelihood to display what they’re manufactured from.
Prediction: RB Leipzig win
The complete draw for the Spherical 32, 15/02 (in CET):
17:00 FC Astana – Sporting CP
19:00 Borussia Dortmund – Atalanta
19:00 Ludogorets Razgrad – AC Milan
19:00 Marseille – Braga
19:00 Good – Lokomotiv Moscow
19:00 Oestersunds FK – Arsenal
19:00 Actual Sociedad – Salzburg
19:00 Spartak Moscow – Athletic Bilbao
21:05 AEK Athens – Dynamo Kyiv
21:05 Celtic – Zenit St. Petersburg
21:05 FC FCSB – Lazio
21:05 FC Koebenhavn – Atletico Madrid
21:05 Lyon – Villarreal
21:05 Partizan Beograd – Viktoria Plzen
21:05 SSC Napoli – RasenBallsport Leipzig
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