The UEFA Champions League returns after the confirmation of the group stages and last-16 ties. Our soccer expert previews the best of the games including PSV, who host Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid travel to face Inter. 

 

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PSV vs Dortmund (Tuesday 20:00 UTC)

PSV Eindhoven welcomes Borussia Dortmund to the Philips Stadion, in what will be the Dutch side's first UCL knockout game for eight years. The hosts currently sit on top of the Eredivisie, while Dortmund fight to keep in the top four of the Bundesliga.

Having previously lost on three consecutive occasions in qualifying, PSV finally returned to Europe's centre stage and made a good show of themselves, finishing second in group B behind Arsenal. Triumphing over Lens ended the club's 15-game run without a win in the UCL group stage and draws to Sevilla and Arsenal allowed for an impressive undefeated streak at Philips Stadion and they have won six of their last eight European fixtures in Eindhoven.

Captain Luuk de Jong has an astounding 27 goals in 34 appearances for the club across all competitions, with seven of those being on the continental front where he has the most currently. His immaculate form has been critical for Peter Bosz's side that have yet to lose in 22 league matches this term, winning no fewer than 20 and complimented nicely by an astounding 60+ goal difference. Come what may European qualification is rightly assured. PSV Team Total - Match Over 1.5 at 1.98.

Emerging as leaders of Group F Borussia Dortmund, ahead of Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan and Newcastle United in what was rightly named the 'Group of Death' was no small feat for die Schwarzgelben. Bouncing back from a 2-0 bruising in Paris before a lacklustre goalless draw with Milan at home, their campaign was rekindled by trumping Newcastle twice, before providing the Coup d'état in their qualification story with a 3-1 win at the San Siro. Correct Score 2:2 at 14.43.

Edin Terzic currently commands a team that is out of the running in the Bundesliga, lagging far behind front-runners Leverkusen, however, there is cause for much optimism as they are unbeaten in their last nine games in all competitions. A keystone to their 23/24 season has been 27-year-old German international attacking midfielder Julian Brandt, who has contributed eight goals and nine assists across all competitions. Pivotally, he, Jadon Sancho and club legend Marco Reus are all set to start.

The Dutch Titans will meet BVB for the first time since the 2002-03 Champions League group stage, and we can well expect goals to abound in Eindhoven. The hosts have shown true grit when returning to the European stage and are proven in victory, though their opponents have a great track record on the road this season against stern opposition, so we'll be on for a close encounter.

 

1x2 2.17 3.78 3.15

 

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Inter vs Atletico Madrid (Tuesday 20:00 UTC)

Internazionale will host Los Colchoneros which many have dubbed the pick of the litter for this season's Round of 16 pairings. Football fans are on for a great show at the San Siro. Both sides surged into the knockout rounds with no losses to their name, with Inter placing 2nd in Group D behind Real Sociedad and Madrid championing Group E.

The Milanese team couldn't be in a better position to recommence their continental campaign, as they have blasted through any domestic opposition in 2024 thus far with eight wins on the trot. In peak form, they have proved once again that they are amongst the finest teams Europe has to offer. With a game in hand, nine points clear over Juventus and a sumptuous plus 47 goal difference the Scudetto is all but assured. Their latest scalping was over Salernitana last weekend 4-0, with their hitman Lauro Martinez once more on the scoreboard to make his league goal tally an enviable 20. Total - Match Over 2.5 at 2.19.

Nerazzurri have lost just one of their last 13 games in the UCL, with the singular defeat at the hands of the Citizens 1-0 in the 2023 final, possibly of more importance they have had no fewer than eight clean sheets in this process. All appears to be going well at home and abroad for Simone Inzaghi's men after they progressed into the knockout rounds with the only major setback being a nail-biting extra-time 2-1 loss to Bologna in the Coppa Italia knockout stages, quashing hopes of a treble. Though fans can take some comfort in that they accrued another Supercoppa Italiana, making it three in a row.

This match will mark only the second occasion that these sides have ever met competitively, with the first being back at the 2010 UEFA Super Cup, with the match won by Atlético thanks to goals from legends Sergio Aguero and Jose Antonio Reyes. The Spanish outfit has a great record against Italian clubs in European club competitions, boasting five wins from their six previous encounters. Critical to their outings this season on the continent has been the dangerous upfront duo of Álvaro Morata and Antoine Griezmann, who have five goals apiece in the competition. Both Teams to Score? Yes at 1.99.

The capital side currently lies in 4th place in La Liga with 51 points, after a bout of rocky form hampering any concrete title aspirations, their UCL qualification spot looks assured as they have a wholesome five points over 5th place Athletic Club. As with their future opposition, the side warmed up nicely for the trip to Milan with a 5-0 demolition of Las Palmas, which also put to bed a three-game winless streak. An important statistic in the battles to come is that they have an excellent string of results to showcase at the Civitas Metropolitan Stadium this season with 12 wins and one draw, justly the best home record in Spain's topflight this season.

Two rivals for European glory meet once more, in what is sure to be an explosive affair. Although the away side have great form at home this season, on the road they have only won four times in La Liga, so they will be sorely put to the test to triumph at the San Siro by an Inter team that are rarely beaten on their home turf. Either way, with attacking force in abundance, it'll be without a doubt a great show.

 

1x2 1.775 3.55 5.07

 

Champions League - Last 16 First Leg Fixtures (UTC)

Tuesday 20th February

PSV vs Borussia Dortmund (20:00)

Inter vs Atletico Madrid (20:00)

 

Wednesday 21st February

Porto vs Arsenal (20:00)

Napoli vs Barcelona (20:00)

 

**Odds are subject to change. Odds accurate as of 10:00 UTC Tuesday 20th February**

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