by The journey to European supremacy continues with the UEFA Champions League round of 16 starting this week. Tuesday will see Chelsea looking to turn things around Borussia Dortmund and Benfica aims to close the door against struggle Club Brugge. On Wednesday, PSG and Bayern Munich will face each other Lionel MessiKylian Mbappe and his company have their backs against the wall, trying to overcome a 1-0 deficit in Bavaria, and Tottenham welcome everyone AC Milan to London.
As always, CBS Sports and Paramount+ will be your home for all things UCL.
Here are our predictions for each game and more:
Tuesday broadcast schedule
(always US/East)
- UEFA Champions League Today, 2 pm, CBS and Paramount+
- Chelsea vs. Borussia Dortmund, 3 p.m., CBS and Paramount+
- Benfica vs. Club Brugge 3 pm, Paramount+
- UEFA Champions League post-match Display5 pm, CBS Sports Network and Paramount+
Wednesday’s broadcast schedule
(always US/East)
Coverage begins each day at 2 pm. with Champions League Today on CBS and Paramount+. Paramount+ will offer a multicast feature that will allow subscribers to watch two games simultaneously in a split-screen view. You can try one month free by using the code: ADVANCE.
Matching picks
Chelsea vs Borussia Dortmund
Featured Game | Chelsea vs Borussia Dortmund
One matchup to watch: At the time of writing Chelsea is optimistic that it will Reece James He will be back in time to take the field at Stamford Bridge but Graham Potter will need the all-important defender to be nearing strength if he is to match the game Marco Reus, assuming the Germans have the left wing as it did in the Dortmund victory RB Leipzig. Reus’s own fitness is often lacking but when he is available he is worth waiting for and has provided two goals and three assists. Similarly if James he can drive up the pitch, whether as a wing-back or a goalkeeper, he could force Reus to work more defensively than Edin Terzic would require.
Most likely to score a goal: Even if Chelsea as a team are starting to build more of an attacking threat it is difficult to find one particular name in their squad who looks convincing in front of goal. likes Kai Havertz and Raheem Sterling they often seem to be searching for newer and more imaginative ways to lose, even though the targets may ultimately turn out to be a madman who predicts their source. Dortmund tend to share the goals, their scorer could be anyone with just four in their last five Bundesliga games Julian Brandt like a tempting option.
Man of the Match Choice: With the excellent goalkeeper Gregor Kobel expect to lose, Dortmund’s defense will have to play well to defend Alexander Meyer even if the reserve made some smart saves against RB Leipzig. He was perhaps the best performer in that game Nico Schlotterbeck, whose sterling form was instrumental in Dortmund’s rise up the Bundesliga table.
Match prediction: Chelsea look set to dominate possession and territory and this could open the door for Borussia Dortmund to make counter-attacks pay, even without Karim Adeyemi. But the subzero Blues have to turn up the heat sooner or later in front of goal, why doesn’t Graham Potter need it the most? It might go all the way to extra time but I feel Chelsea could win 3-1 to progress.
–James Benge
Club Brugge vs Benfica
Featured Game | Benfica vs Club Brugge
One matchup to watch: The midfield battle. With Benfica already leading 2-0 going into the final at home, Florentino Luis and Fredrik Aursnes there will be a lot of the ball during the tie. If they can pick Brugge apart with a patient attack, it will be an easy win for Benfica but if Kamal Sowah and Brugge’s midfield can settle things, Benficia’s slower central pairing can benefit. It will certainly be a tall task for an overmatched and away Brugge team but the battle in midfield is the only way to win for Brugge even if they have a man advantage.
Most likely to score a goal: Goncalo Ramos. Benfica have a balanced attack but everything goes to Ramos at that point. With 21 goals in all competitions, including five in the Champions League, Ramos is someone Benfica can count on. Even when he is not scoring, Ramos is able to influence a game by keeping pressure on the defense, but he will have a good chance to hit Simon Mignolet in the connection.
Man of the Match Pick: Simon Mignolet. With Brugge under pressure throughout the game, Mignolet will do what he does best to keep a game that shouldn’t be close. Facing just four shots on target during the opening leg Belgiumhe will have more to do during an away trip in Libson.
Match prediction: Having already taken the lead in the second leg, Benfica will be able to take things at their pace going to another 2-0 win to echo the opening leg. Although Brugge will go out of the Champions League in their order of elimination at the knockout stage, it will prove to be a worthy opponent as Benfica are rapidly rising to the ranks of one of the best clubs on world.
-Chuck Booth
Paris Saint-Germain vs Bayern Munich
Featured Game | Bayern Munich vs Paris
One matchup to watch: Dayot Upamecano vs. Kylian Mbappe — Both France international teammates are likely to see a lot of each other on Wednesday. even though Matthijs de Ligt it could also be more central Benjamin Pavard on suspended, Mbappe is likely to favor going up against Upamecano whenever possible given his knowledge of his fellow Frenchman. The first leg was all about Mbappe and he didn’t come on as a substitute in the second half before joining Bayern with the help of Nuno Mendes. Expect 90 minutes of PSG trying to do that again here.
Most likely to score a goal: Mbappe – The first leg only really came to life when Mbappe came on and his introduction transformed PSG. With the French champions’ season effectively on the line here, expect Mbappe to at least have a say as Christophe Galtier’s men look to score their way to qualification. Given what we have seen from Les Parisiens against him Lille and Marseille at home, no Neymar in Bavaria could actually benefit PSG as it simplifies things in attack and maximizes the influence of Mbappe’s searing pace.
Man of the Match Choice: Nuno Mendes — The Portugal The international was crucial in the second half of the first leg and Galtier will look to replicate that performance as PSG really tested him Yann Sommer in Bayern’s goal. Whether it will be enough depends on how clinical Mbappe and Lionel Messi can be, but LOSC and OM’s displays are promising as far as goals are concerned. Perhaps the only concern for Mendes is his ability to reach the full 90 and possibly beyond given his recent peak against Lille.
Match prediction: Bayern 1-3 PSG (after extra time) – Such a result would see the Ligue 1 leaders out and the Bundesliga giants out. Julian Nagelsmann Men should have planted Galtier’s side in Paris when they had the chance. Counterattacking suits this PSG side and Mbappe in particular has already shown his ability to deliver at the Allianz Arena in recent years. Gianluigi Donnarumma The difference could be whether this one goes beyond 90 minutes, but don’t be surprised if PSG are flying out of the traps looking to erase Bayern’s advantage as soon as possible.
-Jonathan Johnson
Tottenham vs AC Milan
Featured Game | Tottenham Hotspur vs AC Milan
One matchup to watch: Harry Kane vs. Fikayo Tomori – Tottenham will certainly need to score early in the game if they are to have any chance of making it to the quarter-finals this season. Harry Kane will play against Fikayo Tomori in one of the most interesting duels of the game. Tomori is not playing very well this season and it comes off a big mistake which resulted in scoring the penalty Nico Gonzalez against Fiorentina Last Saturday.
Most likely to score a goal: Harry Kane – I expect Kane to score at least one goal against AC Milan. This will be a big chance for him and Spurs will be relying heavily on their club’s leading goalscorer against the Italian side. Antonio Conte’s side have won against Wolves and have to respond in the next Champions League game this Wednesday.
Man of the Match Choice: Rafael Leo – There are many rumors about his possible move to the Premier League in the future and this is a great opportunity for him to shine on such a big stage. The Rossoneri must have Leao at the heart of their project in the coming years, and are already in talks to extend his deal, with the current one expiring in the summer of 2024.
Match prediction: Tottenham 2, AC Milan 2. I expect this one to be a more exciting game compared to the first leg where AC Milan won thanks to an early goal scored by Brahim Diaz. Antonio Conte’s side need to score if they are to progress to the next round but are likely to expose themselves defensively. I expect the Italian side to go through.
– Francesco Porzio
