Portuguese Super League giants Benfica
Two teams each from La Liga and the Portuguese Superliga are involved in this matchup, plus Serie A giants Inter Milan. According to probability analysis, the two La Liga teams and Inter Milan have the highest winning percentage of 18.53%, followed closely by Champions League qualifying newcomer Salzburg, while the Portuguese Premier League duo of Sporting Lisbon also have a decent chance of winning. Arguably, it's no surprise whichever team is drawn, with Benfica undoubtedly a challenging opponent. Both teams have many Portuguese-speaking players and have been frequently linked in the transfer market in recent years. City's current lineup of center back Dias, wingback Cancelo, starting goalkeeper Ederson, and midfielder Bernardo Silva have all played for Benfica. Of these, Ederson and Dias were both direct transfers to City, costing a massive €40 million and €71.6 million respectively. Dias was instrumental in City's return to the league title last season, while Silva, Ederson and Cancelo have each become indispensable national pillars of the team. On Benfica's side, there is also City's old acquaintance Otamendi, while the team also continues to emerge as a potential new star. Uruguayan shot-stopper Núñez, who scored three goals in the Champions League this season, has been on the radar of several giants, including Manchester City. Both teams have talented players on the attacking line, plus both have former veterans, which will surely make for an exciting matchup.
Liverpool-Inter Milan
Potential opponents: Paris Saint-Germain, Sporting Portugal, Inter Milan, Benfica, Villarreal, Red Bull Salzburg
Liverpool advanced two rounds ahead of schedule in the group stage with absolute strength, and scored 18 points to become the first team in the Premier League to win all six of its Champions League group stage matches, which epitomizes the constant highs and lows of Premier League teams in the Champions League in recent years. In the potential matchup, there are also Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan and La Liga powerhouse Villarreal, which are not to be underestimated in the top five leagues.
New Inter signing Dzeko quickly integrated into the team
Of these, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan will be more of a challenge for Liverpool, with Inter Milan a long-lost face compared to Paris Saint-Germain's sparkling clash. The previous encounter was in the 2007-08 season, when it was in the round of 16, but years later the two teams also experienced the same trough to the revival of the difficult journey. Liverpool and Inter Milan's forward lines are both very impressive, Liverpool's side of the Red Arrows naturally needless to say, bagging the team's 11 goals during the period. Inter Milan in the front line of the adjustment did not form the loss of strength, the arrival of Dzeko and Lautaro Martinez's gradual integration of molding and Sanchez's waiting for the goal scoring efficiency is also very efficient. In defense, Inter Milan and Liverpool are also solid, Van Dyke and Skriniar as the center of their respective team's defense to show leadership. Both teams have shown excellent defensive capabilities in the Champions League this season, ranking 3rd and 4th in goals conceded respectively. A meeting between these two well-balanced teams in the knockout rounds would provide fans with an exciting two-legged clash.
Ajax-Red Bull Salzburg
Potential opponents: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, Benfica, Villarreal, Red Bull Salzburg, Chelsea
Junior Kintetsu Ajax
Ajax finished the Champions League season with a perfect 6 wins in 6 matches, which was respectable on both offense and defense, and seemed to be even more insane than that incredible 2018-19 trip to the top 4. With only one Champions League representative from their home league, there aren't many restrictions in terms of group 2 avoidance, with all seven remaining group 2s being possible opponents, with the exception of fellow group 2 side Sporting Portugal.
Red Bull Salzburg Supernova
This includes a number of strong teams from the top five leagues, with Red Bull Salzburg, who are the least qualified, would be a welcome option for the Dutch giants. As the representative team of the OFC in recent years, Red Bull Salzburg has fallen to the Champions League play-offs for many years in a row, and as a result, the point coefficients at the UEFA Cup level tend to be the highest in the non-Big Five leagues. And it is also due to the fact that the Dutch Eredivisie's European points coefficient has been surpassed that Salzburg rounds off the Champions League proper in the 2019-20 season. Despite some twists and turns in an evenly matched group this season, a last-gasp win over Sevilla enabled them to break out of the group stage for the first time in their history, and both teams are known for their excellent youth production, with countless young talents in their squads. Ajax side Anthony, Gravenberg, Timberlake and other 19, 20-year-old young people have become the team's mainstay in major tournaments, while the front line Tadic, Alai also has a bright individual performance. Aly is a big four in a single game, after the group stage has scored 10 goals to occupy the top of the scoring list, Red Bull Salzburg also has new stars to pay attention to, such as Christensen on the back of the ground, Kamara in front of the field, and Adeyemi, who has long been a big hit. While UEFA is happy to see tough matches in the knockout rounds, this youthful storm is also a bright spot, and both sides see the promise of further progress.
Real Madrid-Chelsea
Potential opponents: Paris Saint-Germain, Sporting Portugal, Benfica, Red Bull Salzburg, Chelsea
This season Real Madrid in the Champions League in addition to the home with the new army Sharif was cold accidentally overturned, is still maintaining a strong enough competitiveness, in the group after the first line due to the only group 1 of the La Liga team. 16 through the avoidance of the guidelines only 5 teams left to choose from, which includes the probability of encountering Chelsea is undoubtedly the largest, to UEFA's has always been the modus operandi of the balance of each race! The advantages and disadvantages of the two super giants will often be presented between each other to kill, no doubt this group is typical.
Real Madrid-Chelsea face-off again?
Chelsea, last season's defending champions, had the 2nd best defense in the group stage, conceding only 4 goals in 6 matches, despite a 1-goal loss on Juve's home turf. Up front, Romelu Lukaku and Werner have combined for nearly 40% of the team's goals, and have been in good form since returning from injury. In the back line Silva is also a solid player, not only can he be relied on in defense, but also has his own attributes in attack, Christensen is maturing into the expected development. Rüdiger, despite some controversy over his contract extension, has been absolutely unbeatable in the field, and has become the team's offensive and defensive converter. Kante's ability to sweep and intercept in the midfield cannot be ignored, and despite the fact that injuries have begun to mount over the years, he's a headache for any opponent on the pitch. Real Madrid's side, Benzema's level of play is still amazing, and Kroos and Modric's midfield play a key role in the team's offensive and defensive finishing with their scheming, organizing, and leadership. Vinicius is moving forward at an alarming rate and is making strides to become the future leader of the team. The most recent meeting was in the semi-finals of last season, Chelsea beat Real Madrid in the final and then beat fellow countryman Manchester City to win the title, and for Real Madrid, who are in great shape this season, there is a chance of revenge if they meet again. Ancelotti and Hazard will also be facing their old masters again, which is also a highlight.
Bayern Munich - Paris Saint-Germain
Potential opponents: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Sporting Portugal, Inter Milan, Villarreal, Red Bull Salzburg, Chelsea
Bayern Munich once again replicated their six-game group stage winning streak from their 2019-20 title-winning season, with the same goal difference of +19, the best team in both offense and defense. They are unquestionably out of the tournament early, and their odds of meeting a strong team in the knockout rounds have skyrocketed. This includes Paris Saint-Germain being one of the best known and most highly anticipated powerhouses.
Paris Bayern meets than year?
Paris Saint-Germain is focused on realizing its title aspirations in the Champions League after getting Lionel Messi this season, and a heavyweight group stage clash with Manchester City helps to have a chance to compete with Europe's best outside of the already easy domestic league. It goes without saying that both teams have a luxury presence in their respective attacking lines, with Levine continuing his heroics, finishing the group stage in 2nd place with 9 goals, and Sane, who was brought in as a key addition to the squad, continuing to dispel doubts with his 5 goals in the Champions League. Paris Saint-Germain formation of the trident is naturally an important guarantee of the team's offensive firepower, Messi in the Champions League continued to be very hot athletic condition is the team's top scorer. Neymar due to injury will bring some impact, Bayern Munich part of the players due to epidemic prevention methods and infection of the new crown missed the recent games, but due to the relatively thick lineup will not cause major problems. The two teams in the last two years of the Champions League back-to-back also become a new enemy, Bayern Munich in the heyday of the season finals to extinguish the desire of the new king of Paris Saint-Germain ascension to the throne, and last week and met in the last eight, Paris Saint-Germain two rounds by away goal advantage eliminated Bayern Munich to complete the vengeance, the deepest impression is the end of the game Neymar some provocative with the shoulder bumped the kimmich. The Champions League has always presented some years of aesthetic fatigue: Real Madrid and Juve, Manchester City and Barcelona, Chelsea and Paris, etc. I do not know whether Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain will once again for the third time in the knockout rounds of the renewal of a new chapter, and at the same time, Levin and Lionel Messi's golden ball competition link is also the biggest selling point.
Manchester United-Atletico Madrid
Potential opponents: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Sporting Portugal, Inter Milan, Benfica, Red Bull Salzburg
United's trend in the Champions League is somewhat similar to that of the league, except that the reliance on Crowe is too strong. Three of the matches relied on Crowe's decisive goal after 80 minutes to get the crucial 7 points for the team, and the situation in the group is becoming clearer. The probability of meeting a strong team in the knockout stage is still very high. For Manchester United, Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are not easy to deal with, and the former is Crowe's city rival in La Liga.
Atletico's Champions League season was perhaps the most thrilling and even difficult since Simeone took charge. In the 2 back-to-back games with Liverpool, there were players who received red cards, and at home by Milan's shutout was once dropped to the bottom of the group. Good thing they finally resisted the pressure in the battle of life and death to complete a reversal of fortune 3:1 successful comeback, the road to promotion of the two teams are quite bumpy, so it is completely evenly matched against each other. At the same time both teams have the core of the Portuguese national team, Manchester United side Bruno Fernandes and Crow led, while Atletico Madrid is undoubtedly the young billion Mr. Felix. Crow and Felix as the old and the new generation is more like the future of the national team to pass the torch, Crow in the career of the line will usher in the age of 37 years old is still the soul of the club and the national team type of figure, the condition is maintained in a rather excellent. Felix as a new generation also has a lot of potential to be tapped, Atletico Madrid in the defense needs to remain stable, and in the front line Suarez, Griezmann's chemistry also needs to be manager Simeone efforts to deal with. But the most important thing is still Crow and Atletico's grudge, whether at Real Madrid for many years in the Madrid derby or transferred to Juve after being taunted by Atletico's fans after the fight to complete a hat-trick elimination of opponents have left too many memories. So again, this is a conversation to look forward to, and it will be interesting to see if we get a draw.
Other matchup predictions:
Juventus-Villarreal
Lille - Sporting Portugal
