The second part of the round of 16 of this season’s UEFA Champions League will hold on Tuesday and Wednesday.
LIVERPOOL VS BAYERN MUNICH
This encounter is one of, if not the most difficult round of 16 pairings. Liverpool will welcome German champions Bayern Munich to the Anfield determined not to walk alone.
The last time both sides met was the 2001 Super Cup and the Reds from England emerged victorious.
Recall that Liverpool’s manager, Jurgen Klopp was once in Germany, where he was in charge of Borussia Dortmund. In 29 matches his side played against Bayern Munich he won nine, drew four and lost 16.
Undoubtedly, Liverpool have an intimidating frontline of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Xandan Shaqiri and Sadio Mane. However, Bayern Munich will be coming with their hitman Robert Lewandowski, who is currently the top scorer in the competition with eight goals
Jurgen klopp has the opportunity to take his own pound of flesh from Bayern Munich, who defeated his then Dortmund side in the 2013 UEFA Champions League final.
LYON VS BARCELONA
Olympic Lyon of France will welcome Spanish champions, Barcelona in a clash that will see Barcelona’s Umtiti take on the club where he began his professional career.
Argentine maestro, Lionel Messi will be the tormentor in chief for the visitors. Messi has xcored three goals in four games against Lyon. When both teams met at this stage in 2009, Barcelona defeated Lyon 6-3 on aggregate.
SCHALKE VS MANCHESTER CITY
English champions, Manchester City will travel to Germany to keep a date with German side Schalke 04. It is always difficult to play against the Pep Guardiola coached side from England.
When both sides met in the 2008/09 UEFA Cup, Manchester City defeated the Germans by 2-0. Similarly in the 1970 Cup Winners Cup semi-finals, City emerged victorious.
Manchester City forward Roy Sane will be returning to Schalke, where he started his career while Schalke’s Nastasic will be takeing on his former club. He was at Manchester City from 2012 -2015.
ATLETICO MADRID VS JUVENTUS
Estadio Metropolitano will the battle field where home side Atletico Madrid will confront Cristiano Ronaldo led Juventus.
Though Atletico Madrid have never lost to an Italian side in nine previous outings, they have won seven and drawn two, they will be mindful of Ronaldo, who scored 22 goals in 31 games against them while he was playing for Real Madrid.
When both sides met in the group stages of the 2014/15 season Atletico won one and the other match ended in a draw.
The visitors will surely unleash Manzukic, who left Atletico Madrid for Juventus in 2015.
