Scholes: Manchester City will beat Barcelona

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes. PHOTO / COURTESY

Paul Scholes believes that Manchester City will beat Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League.

The Manchester United legend believes that City's clash with the Catalan giants is one of the most mouthwatering ties in the first knockout stage of the competition, which is due to get underway on Tuesday night.

But Scholes has tipped all three English teams remaining in the competition - City, Chelsea and Arsenal - to qualify for the quarter-finals.

And the former midfielder says that Chelsea, who visit Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, can go all the way and win the competition - despite the fact that Real Madrid are still the team to beat.

Speaking to ITV ahead of their coverage of the Champions League, Scholes opened up about the continent's senior competition, and declared his admiration for the quality of players at Juventus, Madrid and Bayern Munich.

Here is what Scholes told reporters ahead of the knockout stages...

Which do you think are the most exciting ties in this round, and why?

"Most exciting ties of Champions League for me are Barcelona v City and Dortmund v Juventus… I think City can beat them but big players like Toure and Aguero need to perform and they need to defend well.

"I think Juventus can beat Dortmund. Even though Dortmund are struggling in the league they have performed very well in Champions League, but I think Juve will be too strong with the quality of Pirlo, Pogba and Tevez."

Do you expect any of the three English teams to progress, and if so which ones and why?

"I think all three English teams will progress but City have the most difficult task."

How far do you think the English teams can go?

"I think Chelsea are the most likely team to go the furthest and possibly win it."

Which team has surprised you so far this season in the Champions League and why?

"Probably Juventus – I can see them posing a real threat to the teams who most would expect to win this year. They have experience in Pirlo and enough quality to be dangerous on their day."

Which team do you think will win the Champions League this year and why?

"Real Madrid are still the team to beat, even though their form has dipped recently, with Juventus and Chelsea the main threats to them."