Champions League last-16 second legs football tips and predictions – Copybet
A place in the quarter-finals of Europe’s top club competition is up for grabs on Tuesday and Wednesday, with eight Champions League second-leg ties to look forward to.
None of the six Premier League teams have a lead going into the return fixtures, with the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham facing big mountains to climb in order to reach the quarter finals.
Liverpool will need to overturn a 1-0 deficit and keep their hopes of a seventh title on track, while Newcastle and Arsenal are all square after their first-leg meetings with Barcelona and Bayer Leverkusen respectively.
Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen will be frustrated not to take a lead to the Emirates Stadium, having been the better of the two sides in the opening clash.
A late penalty in Germany saw Arsenal level matters and the Gunners should be too strong on home soil, keeping alive their hopes of a quadruple.
They will not have it all their own way though against a Leverkusen team that has scored in their last five games - including the opener in the weekend 1-1 draw with Bayern Munich.
Christian Kofane was a real handful for the Arsenal backline in the first leg and with Patrik Schick back to full fitness, they will pose a threat to the Gunners.
Manchester City vs Real Madrid
Despite dominating for the opening 20 minutes last week, Manchester City left the Santiago Bernabeu with a 3-0 deficit to have to try and turn around in the second leg.
A hat-trick from Federico Valverde has put the Spanish giants in a very strong position, especially with City slipping up again domestically at the weekend.
A 1-1 draw with West Ham highlighted some issues still in the City camp and it will need one of the great all-time comebacks to have any chance of them reaching the quarters.
One area where they can have some success is down the left flank with Nico O’Reilly, who was denied a goal by a brilliant Thibault Courtois save in Madrid.
The England international has scored in his last two starts at the Etihad - against Newcastle and Fulham - and could be pushed further forward on Tuesday.
Barcelona vs Newcastle United
Newcastle United are another team who will feel hard done not to be in front after the first leg, having conceded a late penalty at St James’ Park.
The Magpies were the better team for the majority of that game, but now head to the Nou Camp facing a battle to reach the quarter-finals.
Barcelona have scored no fewer than 25 goals in their last seven home games, an average of 3.57 goals per game, and they come into this clash off the back of a 5-2 win over Sevilla on Sunday.
Bayern Munich vs Atalanta
A goalfest in Bergamo looks to have ended this tie as a contest, with Bayern Munich taking a 6-1 lead into the home leg against Atalanta on Wednesday.
Vincent Kompany may decide to rest some of his key players to help them fight for trophies on both fronts, but one key figure looks likely to start.
Luis Diaz was sent off in the weekend draw at Bayer Leverkusen, so with him suspended for the next Bundesliga game, it makes sense for him to be in the starting XI.
The former Liverpool man has 21 goals this season, three of those coming in the Champions League, and will fancy adding to that against an Atalanta team that has won just one of their last five away games in Serie A.