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 FC København against Manchester City and RB Leipzig hosting Real Madrid.

 

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FC København vs Manchester City (Tuesday 20:00 UTC)

Manchester City's Champions League crown defence commences this week, as the Citizens take a trip across the North Sea to play Copenhagen at Parken Stadium. Pep Guardiola's merry men cruised to the top of Group G with ease, while their hosts pulled a blinder to place in second place of Group A behind Bayern München.

Copenhagen gleaned one point from their opening three group bouts in 2023, though showing true grit they achieved an unforeseen three-match unbeaten run from November to December and a well-earned spot in the last 16 was earned by Jacob Neestrup's men. Slim successes over Man United and Galatasaray came either side of a respectable draw away in Germany with group winners Bayern. Lukas Lerager struck the only goal against Galatasaray, to seal advancement into the knockout stages of the competition. The Lions will miss Lerager this match after he was sent off in the game, he pivotally scored in.

This game will mark only the second time Byens Hold have competed in this leg, with the last being in 2011 when they fell afoul of Carlo Ancelotti Chelsea. An English club could well impede any further progression once more. The Scandinavian outfit has only recently come out of winter hibernation following the mid-season interval and will re-commence their Superliga challenge this weekend. They currently lie in 3rd position following two defeats before the break. Though will have shaken off the rust in the recent Atlantic Cup where they found some modicum of success. FC Copenhagen Handicap - Match +1.5 at 2.09.

The likes of RB Leipzig, Young Boys and Red Star Belgrade could do little to impede the Sky-Blue juggernaut in the group stages of Europe's premier competition, as the Manchester titans floated into the last 16 with a maximum total of 18 points on the board. Only 14-time winners Real Madrid have also progressed the last 16 without dropping a single point, with the string of victories moving to eight games, marking the longest streak for an English side in the tournament's history. It appears Man City have been rejuvenated going into 2024 with de Bruyne and Haaland returning to the front, and the side now boasts a 10-game winning run across all tournaments, nipping at table leaders Liverpool after a 2-0 win over Everton compliments of the aforementioned Norwegian snagging a brace. Manchester City Team Total - Match Over 2.5 at 2.10.

Not since 2016-17 have Man City crashed out of the last 16 of the Champions League, and with the 5-0 demolition of Copenhagen at the Etihad during the 2022-23 group stage still fresh in everyone's minds most would perceive the round as a speedbump, though with their last two visits to the Danish capitol both ending in a draw, perhaps the hosts can pull another surprise out of their hat yet.

1x2 11.33 6.13 1.251

 

 

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RB Leipzig vs Real Madrid (Tuesday 20:00 UTC)

Los Blancos travel to the Red Bull Arena boasting an unblemished record in the 2023-24 Champions League thus far. Real Madrid blew the competition out of the water to place first in Group C, while Marco Rose's Die Roten Bullen finished behind reigning champions Manchester City as they fended off Young Boys and Red Star Belgrade to take the runners-up position in Group G.

The hosts lost 3-1 at home and 3-2 at the Etihad to the current holders and although each of their other four Group G fixtures ended in victory it is felt by many that they were far from convincing. Indeed, the Sachsen club failed to keep a single clean sheet in the group phase and only managed marginal 2-1 successes over Red Star and Young Boys, so there are a few wrongs to right from last year. The side will head into the fixture following another missed opportunity in the Bundesliga, as they were held to a 2-2 draw away to Augsburg and now falter three points behind fourth-placed Borussia Dortmund. Critical to any offensive effort this season has been Belgian international forward Loïs Openda, who has an impressive 19 goals to his tally across all competitions. RB Leipzig to Score? 1st Half - Yes at 2.09.

Real came off the back of the weekend following a resounding victory over title rivals Girona 4-0. Blanquivermells travelled to the capitol just two points behind Carlo Ancelotti's after a remarkable season, however, they were completely outdone by a brace from Jude Bellingham and a goal apiece from Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo. This victory now means they have a comfortable five-point lead at the table's precipice along with an admirable +37 goal difference to boot, only an unforeseen cataclysm could undo them now. Bellingham now leads the La Liga with 16 goals. First Team to Score 1st Half - Real Madrid at 2.41.

Napoli, Braga and Union Berlin all succumbed to Los Blancos' superiority on both occasions, although Madrid conceded multiple goals in five of their last seven continental bouts away from the Bernabeu, conceding two against Napoli and Union Berlin during their Group C adventures. Though with such a potent attack force, these items can be only a footnote in wider affairs. Although the side has been knocked out of the Copa del Rey, a bigger catch awaits further down the stream.

Crucially since October 2020 RB have not managed to keep a clean sheet in a Champions League home fixture, thus there is cause for concern when they face the Galacticos and their world-class offensive strike trio. However, as Real have a rocky form on the road perhaps they can hold their opposition at home and hope to prevail in the second leg.

1x2 3.01 3.82 2.23

 

Champions League - Last 16 First Leg Fixtures (UTC)

Tuesday 13th February

FC København vs Manchester City (20:00)

RB Leipzig vs Real Madrid (20:00)

 

Wednesday 14th February

PSG vs Real Sociedad (20:00)

Lazio vs Bayern München (20:00)

 

Tuesday 20th February

PSV vs Borussia Dortmund (20:00)

Inter vs Atlético de Madrid (20:00)

 

Wednesday 21st February

Porto vs Arsenal 20:00 (20:00)

Napoli vs Barcelona (20:00) 

 

**Odds are subject to change. Odds accurate as of 10:00 UTC Tuesday 13th February**

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