2024/25 UEFA Champions League Preview: Last 16, Leg 1

Club Brugge VS Aston Villa

The first game of the Last 16 of this year’s UEFA Champions League sees Club Brugge host Aston Villa! Club Brugge are coming into this game off the back of a 1-1 draw at Gent and they currently find themselves second in the Belgian First Division! When it comes to Aston Villa, they enter this game off the back of a 2-0 win over Cardiff and they currently sit 10th in the Premier League! So far, Club Brugge stunned Atalanta in the Playoff Phase whilst Aston Villa advanced as the Number 8 seed! Their most recent meeting actually game during this season’s competition, with Club Brugge winning 1-0! Overall, whilst Aston Villa should be winning here, Club Brugge have proven to be a really difficult team to beat!

My Prediction: 1-1

Borussia Dortmund VS Lille

Borussia Dortmund host Lille in the first of what could be 2 intriguing legs! Borussia Dortmund are coming into this game off the back of a 2-0 win at St. Pauli and they currently sit 10th in the Bundesliga! When it comes to Lille, they enter this game off the back of a 4-1 thrashing by PSG and they currently find themselves 5th in Ligue 1! So far, Dortmund breezed past Sporting CP in the last round whilst Lille did amazingly well to finish 7th in the League Phase! Overall, I’d expect Borussia Dortmund to win here, but Lille have been impressive so far!

My Prediction: 3-1

PSV Eindhoven VS Arsenal

PSV Eindhoven host Arsenal in this week’s Amazon Prime game (in the UK)! PSV Eindhoven are coming into this game off the back of a 3-2 loss at Go Ahead Eagles and they currently sit second in the Eredivisie! When it comes to Arsenal, they enter this game off the back of a 0-0 draw away at Nottingham Forest and they currently find themselves second in the Premier League! So far, PSV were able to knock out big-hitters Juventus whilst Arsenal came home third in the League Phase! In their previous 4 meetings, PSV have won once whilst Arsenal have won twice! Overall, PSV have to get a result here!

My Prediction: 1-0

Real Madrid VS Atletico Madrid

The Last 16 of this year’s UEFA Champions League plays host to a Madrid Derby as Real host Atletico! Real Madrid are coming into this game off the back of a 2-1 loss at Real Betis and they currently sit third in LaLiga! When it comes to Atletico Madrid, they enter this game off the back of a 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao and they currently find themselves second in LaLiga! So far, Real Madrid managed to breeze past Manchester City in the Playoff Round whilst Atletico Madrid did brilliantly to finish 5th! In their previous 51 meetings, Real have won 21 games whilst Atletico have won 13! Overall, this is not to be missed!

My Prediction: 3-2

Feyenoord VS Inter Milan

Feyenoord welcome Inter Milan to De Kuip for a game that I’m particularly interested about! Feyenoord are coming into this game off the back of a 0-0 draw with NEC Nijmegen and they currently sit 4th in the Eredivisie! When it comes to Inter Milan, they enter this game off the back of a 1-1 draw away at Napoli and they currently lead Serie A! So far, Feyenoord were able to stun A.C. Milan in the Playoff Round whilst Inter finished 4th in the League Phase! Overall, Feyenoord have already managed to beat one Milan team this season, but I’d argue that Inter are a different challenge entirely!

My Prediction: 0-1

Bayern Munich VS Bayer Leverkusen

Bayern Munich host Bayer Leverkusen in a huge all-German tie! Bayern Munich are coming into this game off the back of a 3-1 win at VfB Stuttgart and they currently lead the Bundesliga! When it comes to Bayer Leverkusen, they enter this game off the back of a 4-1 thrashing over Frankfurt and they currently sit second in the Bundesliga! So far, Bayern were just about able to edge past Celtic in the last round whilst Bayer were Germany’s best in the League Phase! In their previous 34 meetings, Munich have won 17 times whilst Leverkusen have won 8 times! Overall, this should be a great game, and this is a massive opportunity for both sides!

My Prediction: 2-1

Benfica VS Barcelona

Benfica host Barcelona in another Champions League tie! Benfica are coming into this game off the back of a 1-0 win over Braga and they currently sit second in Liga Portugal! When it comes to Barcelona, they enter this game off the back of a 4-0 win over Real Sociedad and they currently lead LaLiga! So far, Benfica were able to edge past Monaco in the Playoff Round whilst Barcelona ended the League Phase in 2nd! In their previous 5 meetings, SLB have won once whilst Barca have won twice! One of those games was that crazy 5-4 game that Barca won back in January! Overall, Barcelona are definitely the favourites here, and Benfica have to get a result here in order to have any chance heading into the Second Leg!

My Prediction: 1-2

PSG VS Liverpool

In another heavyweight clash, Paris Saint-Germain welcome Liverpool to the Parc des Princes! PSG are coming into this game off the back of a 4-1 thumping of Lille and the currently lead Ligue 1! When it comes to Liverpool, they enter this game off the back of a 2-0 win over Newcastle and they are currently first in the Premier League! So far, PSG managed to decimate Brest 10-0 in the last round whilst Liverpool were the Number 1 team in the League Phase! In their previous 2 meetings, both sides have won once! Overall, both teams are playing some good stuff, so this really could go either way!

My Prediction: 2-2