PREAMBLE
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Football is the most popular sports at the moment and I doubt if there is any country that jettison this sport. It is played by both gender.
There are club side teams(eg Real Madrid, Chelsea etc) as well as national teams(eg super eagles of Nigeria, Three lions of England etc).
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (UCL)
When it comes to club side football. The Uefa Champions League (UCL) is the biggest of them all. It is watched almost all over the world. Just yesterday the draws for the round of 16( knock out stage) was released. It is going to be a two-legged encounter and the team with the better win ratio(winner) advances to the quarter finals while the other (loser) crashes out.
Here is the draw for the round of 16 👇
•PSG vs Bayern Munich
•AC Milan vs Tottenham
•Borussia Dortmund vs Chelsea
•Club Brugge vs Benfica
•Liverpool vs Real Madrid
•Frankfurt vs Napoli
•Liepzig vs Manchester City
•Inter Milan vs Fc Porto
PSG vs BAYERN MUNICH
This is one of the strongest fixture in this season's round of 16 draw. The first leg will take place on 14th Feb, 2023. This two teams played in the 2020 UCL final where Bayern Munich won by a lone goal.
It is going to be a revenge mission because PSG would want to pay them back with their own coin this time. Furthermore, PSG now has LIONEL MESSI as a boost.
However, looking at the performance of this two teams in the UCL over the years, I believe Bayern Munich will qualify for the quarter finals.
MILAN vs TOTTENHAM
It is also taking place on the 14th of feb, 2023. I mean the first leg. Both Milan and Tottenham haven't been doing well in the UCL over the past five years. Although Milan has won the trophy 7 times in the past.
Looking at the game proper, the coach of Tottenham fc has not done well in the UCL all through his career and also considering the fact that the team hasn't won the trophy before.
Milan have also not been too good in the UCL in recent times. However, I think MILAN will progress to the quarter finals by a whisker.
DORTMUND vs CHELSEA
Another encounter to look out for. The first leg will hold on 15th Feb, 2023. Both Chelsea and Dortmund haven't been that fantastic this season. Although Chelsea won the UCL last year (2021) which is two last two seasons.
As for the result, I believe that Chelsea will qualify ahead of Dortmund provided their key players like KANTE, CHILWELL and JAMES would be fit by then. Otherwise, they might find it difficult to progress.
CLUB BRUGGE vs BENFICA
This particular game would take place on the same day as the Chelsea vs Dortmund game.
Benfica finished top of their group and Club Brugge also did well in the group stage. It would be difficult for me predict which team will progress to the next round. It's a tight game. Anything can happen.
LIVERPOOL vs REAL MADRID
This is just a repeat of this year's UCL final( last season) where Real Madrid beat Liverpool to win the trophy. Real Madrid also beat Liverpool in 2018 UCL finals to lift this same trophy.
This doesn't suggest that Liverpool is obidient to Real Madrid. This season hasn't been so rossy for both teams especially Liverpool.
With the loss of Sadio Mane- who has been a key player for Liverpool over the years, it might be easy for ** Real Madrid** to scale through. The first leg will take place on 21st feb, 2023.
FRANKFURT vs NAPOLI
This game will take place on 21st Feb, 2023. Frankfurt won the Europa league
not UCL this year( last season).
Napoli has been in a fantastic form this season, they are top of the Italian league and have lost only one game in the group stage of this season's UCL.
If their(Napoli) key players stays fit till the time of the game, I am pretty sure that Napoli will progress to the quarter finals.
LIEPZIG vs MANCHESTER CITY
Happening on 22nd Feb, 2023. It is going to a harvest of goals because both teams have penchant for scoring.
Most of Manchester City key players
like De Bruyne, Gundogan, Akanji and Haaland have all played in the German league of which Liepzig belong to.
Provided Haaland and De bruyne are fit for the encounter. Manchester City will outscore Liepzig to progress to the quarter finals.
INTER vs PORTO
This is the last game in the series and it is taking place on the 22nd of feb, 2023.
Inter Milan have done well to qualify from the group stage ahead of Barcelona. Similarly, Fc Porto finish top of their own group.
So this encounter would be a tough one. I can't predict which team would qualify. Anything can happen.
CONCLUSION
Sports especially football is one event that bring fans from different walks of life together. The love for football is increasing over the years.
The UCL remains the most watched club based football competition across the globe. The date that I mentioned in the analysis is the date for the first leg. The second leg will likely take place two weeks from the date of first leg of each encounter.
We look forward to a mouth-watering encounter across all the fixtures in this season's UCL round of 16 games.