TUESDAY:
CHELSEA V REAL MADRID
Chelsea were poor against Brighton at the weekend and were lucky not to have lost by more. They were second best throughout the entire contest and Frank Lampard will surely want his side to put in a better performance here because he certainly wasn't happy after listening to what he said after the game.
They'll need a miracle here if they're to stand a chance of getting something because they've got it all to do. They're 2-0 down in the tie and are currently a side who are very low on confidence.
Real Madrid showed their class in the first leg which was an all round solid performance. They were tested defensively on some occasions but they still looked solid in that department and did enough to keep Chelsea at bay.
Karim Benzema netted a hat trick in this fixture last season and scored the opening goal in the first leg. He'll be hungry for another goal or two here with the form he's in and the record he has against English teams. He has 11 goals in his last 8 games against English opposition.
PREDICTION: 0-3
I've got to back Madrid here because they have more quality and are a side with more confidence on board. With the class of Modric and Kroos in midfield and the threat of Benzema and Vinicius Jr in attack, this should be another comfortable win for Carlo Ancelotti's side.
NAPOLI V AC MILAN
Napoli will be glad to have Victor Oshimen available for this one as he was a big miss for them in the first leg. They lacked that focal point and goal threat up top last week and having him back for the return leg is a massive boost to their chances of turning this tie around.
They will however be without Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa who will be suspended following his red card in the first leg. He's been a key player for Luciano Spaletti's side this season and his absence is a big blow for them because of what he brings to the team.
AC Milan only need a draw to set themselves up for a potential semi final against rivals Inter as they're currently leading the tie by a single goal. Their lead will give them confidence heading into this 2nd leg as will the performance from their last game at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium where they won 4-0 just a few weeks ago.
PREDICTION: 3-1
I'm going for Napoli to turn it around because they have Oshimen back and I can see him being the difference for them in this game. He was a big miss for them in the first leg and with him back I think Napoli will see themselves through here.
WEDNESDAY:
BAYERN MUNICH V MAN CITY
Bayern Munich were all over the place defensively in the first leg where they also didn't offer much going forward. Things were arguably as bad or worse in the dressing room following the incident between Sadio Mane and Leroy Sane which has been dealt with.
They have it all to do in this leg and their chances of turning this tie around look very slim considering the margin they have to overcome and the form City are in right now. They're also without a no.9 who can regularly score goals and Thomas Tuchel will be looking to address that this summer. He has to.
Man City won the first leg pretty comfortably as they caused Bayern all sorts of problems and put in a very convincing performance. They showed why they're serious contenders to win this competition and their performance sent out a message to the other teams left in this competition.
They're the favourites to win this competition pretty much every season and their current form will certainly make them favourites this season. They've won 10 games in a row in all competitions which is the kind of form you want to be in at this stage of the season. They're been these kind of runs in the past and especially at this stage of a season.
PREDICTION: 0-2
I'm backing City to see themselves through here but I don't see them winning it as comfortably as they won the first leg. Bayern will show some fight as they're the home team but City should still have the quality to win the tie and see themselves through to the next round.
INTER MILAN V BENFICA
Inter Milan have fared better in the cup competitions than they have in Serie A this season and a good run in either of them could give them the confidence to kick start their season. They haven't won any of their last five games in Serie A and currently sitting outside the Champions League spots in 5th.
They had to be patient in the first leg as Benfica had the majority of the chances in the first half. But that patience paid off and their first goal gave them the confidence to go on and win the game.
Benfica wasted a number of good chances in the first leg and those missed chances could come back to bite them here. They were the team on top for the majority of the first half with the chances they had but they weren't able to take any of them and they were surely kicking themselves for it.
They've got it all to do here and they need a fast start if they're to stand any chance of making it through to the semi finals. They're 2-0 down in the tie and overcoming that deficit is always tough away from home and especially at a ground like the San Siro which is always rocking on European nights.
PREDICTION: 2-0
I'm backing Inter to see themselves through here because they have the quality to do so. They aren't having their best season by their own high standards but but with the quality they have in forward areas especially, they should have enough to see themselves through to the next round.
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