Champions League: Quarter finals battle continues…

The UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg ended last night with Europe's top clubs battling to get to the quarter finals.

 

Manchester City's stunning comeback last night in Germany saw Pep Guardiola's side head into the second leg as favourites as they beat their hosts Schalke 3-2 at the Veltins Arena.

 

The Citizens, currently in top form are expected to floor their German counterparts in the second leg at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, March 12.

 

Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid will be travelling to Turin to face the Italian giants Juventus, who failed to score an away goal in Spain. It will be one of those matches where one opponent will look to attack while the other will be bent on defending. The Spaniards will enter the tie as quarter final favourites considering the fact they boast one of the best defences in Europe.

 

Five-time UCL champions Barcelona FC, are favourites in the second leg as they welcome French side Olympique Lyon to the Camp Nou next month. The Catalans will be enjoying home advantage and will seek to regain their goal-scoring touch after a goalless draw in Lyon on Tuesday.

 

German giants Bayern Munich held on for a barren draw with Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday. Jurgen Klopp's side now face a stern test in their campaign as they prepare to face the Bavarians at the Allianz Arena in Munich. Klopp, who is yet to lift his first trophy with the Reds, saw his side fumble to a 3-1 loss to Real Madrid in UCL finals last year.

 

French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain are expected to progress to the quarter finals after a convincing 2-0 win against three-time UCL champions Manchester united at Old Trafford last week. Red Devils' interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will have to change his tactics since his key midfielder Paul Pogba remains suspended for the tie.

 

Manchester United will also miss the services of Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard, Marcos Rojo and Antonio Valencia who are all sidelined with injuries. It will be a hurdle for Ole Gunnar as he seeks to evade embarrassment at the Parc des Princes.

 

Tottenham Hotspurs thrashed their visitors Borussia Dortmund 3-0 at the Wembley Stadium last Wednesday in the first leg. Even without their main striker Harry Kane, Spurs outclassed the German side to get one foot into the quarter finals.

 

13-time UCL champions Real Madrid won 2-1 away to Ajax are now favourites as they welcome the Dutch side to the Santiago Bernabeu.

 

AS Roma had a fairly fine first leg as they won at home 2-1 against FC Porto on Tuesday. Eusebio Di Francesco's side are expected to be quarter final favourites as they visit the Estádio do Dragão.

Who do you think is best poised to progress to the Champions League quarter finals? Give Game Yetu your thoughts…?