TUESDAY:
CHELSEA V LILLE
Chelsea had to be patient in their win over Crystal Palace on Saturday but they got the win in the end which is all that matters to them. They did look a bit leggy on the day with Thomas Tuchel saying that his players were exhausted but they got the result they wanted and it will give them confidence going into this game.
The Blues may rest a few players in this one with their Carabao Cup final against Liverpool on Sunday in mind. But as they're the holders of the competition, Tuchel may want to field a strong team as he'll want his side to go far in the competition again. Especially with this first leg tie being a home tie for them.
Lille have had a disastrous title defence in Ligue 1 this season as they're 11th in the league and 9 points outside the Champions League places. They probably weren't expecting to retain the title as PSG were always going to strengthen but they still should've been in around the top three after winning the title last season.
They may be having a poor season domestically, but the French champions did finish top of their group even though it was arguably the weakest group in the competition. Them finishing top of their group will give them confidence going into this tie but they'll still be underdogs as their team is not of the quality of Chelsea's.
PREDICTION: 2-0
I'm going for Chelsea to go ahead in this tie because I think they'll have enough quality to win this first leg. They may make changes with the Carabao Cup final coming up on Sunday but the blues should still have enough to win this game.
VILLARREAL V JUVENTUS
Villarreal are having a good season season in La Liga this season as they're 6th in the league and 3 points outside the Champions League places. They finished 7th last season and qualified for this competition by winning the Europa League having already qualified for the Europa Conference League.
Unai Emery has done a good job since he's been with the Yellow Submarine as he's built on the good work he did last season by getting his side to push for a top four finish. He also got his side out of a tough group earlier in the season and his sides' performances during that stage will give them confidence going into this one.
Juventus aren't having the season they wanted this season as they're 4th in Serie A and 9 points behind leaders AC Milan. It was never going to be easy for returning boss Massimiliano Allegri as they had a poor season last year and lost Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer. Ronaldo carried the team for much of last season and since he left they've lacked that 15-20 goal a season striker.
They'll be hoping that Dusan Vlahovic can be the player to sort their goal scoring issues out after scoring a lot of goals during his time at Fiorentina. If they can give him the service he needs, he'll be a key player for them between now and the end of the season as well as in this tie.
PREDICTION: 1-1
This first leg will be closer on the pitch than it is on paper as they're both very strong defensively and have good players going forward. With how well organised they both are, I'm going for a draw here as I can see them both match each other.
WEDNESDAY:
ATLETICO MADRID V MAN UNITED
Atletico Madrid have had a tough title defence this season as they're 5th in La Liga and a whopping 15 points behind leaders Real Madrid. They are level with 4th placed Barcelona which keeps them in the hunt for a top four finish but they're still having a disappointing season as we're used to seeing in them in that top three.
They'll be a tough match for United because of how organised and solid they can be defensively. They frustrated Liverpool at this stage of the competition a couple of seasons ago and will definitely be looking to do the same in this one against United. Especially with a manager like Simeone in charge.
This competition is Man United's last chance of ending the season with a trophy which to be realistic looks very unlikely. There are other teams with a better chance of winning it than them plus their current squad is not on the level of those other teams. They do have a very good squad on paper but its on the same level as the likes of PSG and Man City.
They'll be expecting a very different game here compared to the one against Leeds on Sunday as they'll be up against a more defensive side in Atletico. They have struggled against sides who defend deep at times this season and Atletico are one of those sides.
PREDICTION: 1-0
I'm going for an Atletico Madrid win here because I can see them frustrate United defensively like they have done to other teams in the past. They've been a tough team to play against ever since Simeone has been in charge and with some good strikers in their side in Suarez and Griezmann, I think they'll edge this one.
BENFICA V AJAX
Benfica got out of a tough group that had both Bayern Munich and Barcelona in which deserves a lot of credit. They beat Barcelona at home where they proved that they can beat anyone and that kind of result will give them confidence going into this game.
They've scored more goals than any other side in the Portuguese Primeira Liga this season but are somehow not top of the league. They're 3rd in the league and 12 points behind leaders Porto who are unbeaten. One reason why they're that far behind could be because they're not as solid defensively with the sides above them in Porto and Sporting Lisbon conceding fewer goals than them.
Ajax reached the semi finals back in 2019 but haven't gone very far in this competition ever since. They didn't make it past the group stages last season or the season before making this season the time they've reached the knockout stages since that incredible season three years ago. This tie represents another opportunity to reach those heights again.
The Dutch champions will the favourites in this tie as they have more in quality than their Portuguese opponents. Sebastian Haller will be their go to man as he's their main goal threat having netted 28 goals in all competitions so far this season. Dusan Tadic will also be a player to watch but Haller will be their go to man for goals.
PREDICTION: 1-2
I'm backing Ajax to edge this one as they have a bit more in quality. Both sides do have goals in them and a lot of them but I think Ajax will have enough in them to gain the upper hand in this tie.
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