Champions League Playoff Round – 1st Leg Preview & Tips
This week sees the very first Champions League playoff round taking place since the competition was revamped for the start of this season.
After eight weeks of matches in the League Phase, the top eight teams in the 36-team league earned a place in the Round of 16, bypassing the playoff round. The teams ranked ninth to 24th earned a place in the playoff round.
Teams finishing 25th to 36th are now eliminated from all European competitions for this season.
Here’s who qualified outright for the Round of 16 who will await one of the winners from a Playoff round tie.
Champions League Round of 16 Qualifiers
The eight teams that are already qualified for the Round of 16 are as follows:
- Liverpool
- Barcelona
- Arsenal
- Inter Milan
- Atletico Madrid
- Bayer Leverkusen
- Lille
- Aston Villa
Champions League Playoff Round First Leg Matches
Matches kick off at 8 pm UK time on both dates this week unless otherwise stated.
Tuesday 11th February
Brest v Paris St Germain (5.45pm)
An all-French clash sees Champions League debutants Brest face mighty Paris St Germain. The teams have met once this season in Paris, with PSG winning 3-1 in the league. Brest will be desperate for something to hold onto to take into the second leg in Paris next week.
Tip – Ousmane Dembele (PSG) to score at any time – 13/8
Manchester City v Real Madrid
These two teams have met 12 times since September 2012 and the record is perfectly balanced with four wins apiece and four drawn games. They met in the quarterfinals last season, drawing 4-4 on aggregate, with Real Madrid progressing after a 4-3 win on penalties.
Tip – Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 Goals – 4/6
Juventus v PSV Eindhoven
Juventus host PSV in an intriguing clash in Turin. The Italian side have struggled for consistency in Serie A this season and face a PSV side who beat an under-strength Liverpool in their final Group Stage game. This could be a close call.
Tip – Draw – 5/2
Sporting Lisbon v Borussia Dortmund
Both these teams have hit a sticky run of form of late in the Champions League and domestically. Both have had new managers installed relatively recently and both will realise that this is a great chance to reach the last 16.
Tip – Under 2.5 Goals – 11/10
Wednesday 12th February
Club Brugge v Atalanta (5.45pm)
Club Brugge squeezed into the playoffs but Atalanta were unlucky to miss out on an automatic place in the Round of 16. The Italian side have been red-hot in Europe this season and they should earn a key win here.
Tip – Atalanta to win – Evens
AS Monaco v Benfica
Monaco began this tournament with a win over Barcelona, Benfica started slowly but then improved as time went on. This is a match between two well-matched teams who are usually solid defensively. As such goals may be at a premium here.
Tip – Under 2.5 Goals
Celtic v Bayern Munich
Celtic Park has seen some amazing European nights over the years, but this looks like being a tough ask for Celtic. They were thrashed by Borussia Dortmund in the league phase and they could be in for a very tough night here against Harry Kane and company.
Tip – Harry Kane to score at any time – 8/11
Feyenoord v AC Milan
The final game of the night is another Netherlands v Italy clash and these games usually prove to be spicy affairs. Rotterdam is a tough place to go to pick up a result, so I expect this one to be level heading into the second leg in Milan next week.
Tip – Draw – 13/5
Good luck if you are enjoying a bet on the Champions League action this week!
