The Champions League draw has thrown up some mouthwatering encounters, with three Premier League sides in the knockout stages.
RB Leipzig VS Liverpool
After eliminating Manchester United, RB Leipzig will face Liverpool in the first knockout round. This game sets up a matchup between two generational German coaches in Julian Nagelsmann and Jurgen Klopp. A win against Klopp would be a real scalp for Nagelsmann in his budding top level career. If there is a time to beat Liverpool, it’s this season when their squad is ravaged by injuries. As well as that, Liverpool might not take the Champions League as seriously this year. The pandemic has intensified the pressure on them to retain the Premier League title. Playing in front of the Anfield faithful once again as champions has to be their main target. Klopp might sacrifice the Champions League in order to ensure this. Liverpool are 11/10 to win the first leg in Leipzig.
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Atletico Madrid VS Chelsea
This is perhaps the worst draw that Chelsea could have had. Win it, and they’ll have to be considered favorites to reach the final. However, winning it is no small task against Diego Simeone’s Atletico side. Chelsea have played themselves into Premier League title contention with a young, exciting side. Their youth and inexperience, though, will likely come unstuck against the gnarled, streetwise veterans of Atletico. In Luis Suarez and former Chelsea man Diego Costa, Atletico have genuine European pedigree. It’s difficult to see Chelsea winning over two legs. Atletico Madrid are 11/8 to win the first leg at Stamford Bridge.
Manchester City VS Borussia Monchengladbach
If there was a game for Pep Guardiola to get City firing in Europe, this is it. Gladbach’s European heyday was in the 1970’s.
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Now, they’re a side with no experience at this stage of the Champions League. On paper, this is an easy blues win, and City are 15/8 to win the first game in Germany. However, there is every chance that Guardiola suffers another implosion of overthinking. Such episodes have plagued him in the Champions League, and there is always a doubt over his teams in this competition. City are not the force they were a year or two ago, either.
