The last returns in the eighth-finals of the UEFA Champions League take place this week. Among others, defending champion Bayern Munich comes into action. The Germans play at home against Lazio Roma, where Wesley Hoedt plays in defence. Also, teams such as Manchester City, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea and Atalanta Bergamo play their return matches this week.
UEFA Champions League 2020 – 2021
Before the winter break, the group stage of the UEFA Champions League was completed. Ajax stranded in this because they lost to both Liverpool and Atalanta Bergamo. Last week, the first returns in the eighth-finals were completed. There are also many surprises in it. FC Barcelona (with Messi, Frenkie de Jong and Ronald Koeman) flew out. And Juventus (with Ronaldo and Matthijs de Ligt) also found their Waterloo. So it’s time for new heroes: at PSG, but also at Manchester City, Bayern and Chelsea.
Favourites
Manchester City starts its home game against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Tuesday with a 2-0 lead from the first game. Manchester city is, therefore, the big favourite to advance to the quarter-finals.
The cards have not yet been shuffled in the Tuesday game between Real Madrid and Atalanta Bergamo. Real won 0-1 in Italy, but Atalanta has shown that it can strike in away matches before. It also defeated Ajax in the Johan Cruijff Arena (0-1). Still, Real is the favourite in advance.
Then Bayern Munich. The defending champion will play Lazio Roma at home on Wednesday. The team from Rome is facing a 4-1 deficit. The section where Wesley Hoedt plays must therefore make up for three goals in Munich. That will be a hell of a job, and so Bayern is a favourite of all experts.
The last CL match of this week is the one between Chelsea and Atletico Madrid. Does Hakim Ziyech play with the London team, and how good is Suarez this time? Atletico is 1-0 behind and therefore has to work. Chelsea is, therefore, currently the favourite to continue in the UEFA Champions League tournament 2020-2021.
Who will be this year’s hero?
So far, Kylian Mbappé (PSG) is the player most likely to succeed Messi and Ronaldo. But a whole new generation is knocking on the door. Of course, there is also Erling Haaland at Borussia Dortmund. This young Norse god has the potential to become a hero. And what about, for example, Vinicius Junior at Real Madrid? Perhaps the football idol is at Atalanta Bergamo, and does it listen to the name Duván Zapata?
But then you also have veterans like Robert Lewandowski (Bayern), Karin Benzema (Real Madrid, Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City) and Luis Suarez (Atletico Madrid). Saint Germain).
Many of these players will be playing in the UEFA Champions League tournament this week. Follow it from the Sports Stand: watch the old and new heroes in the world of football. Follow all the football news, our previews and beat the odds articles to keep up to date.
Schedule UEFA Champions League eighth-finals (returns):
Manchester City v Borussia Mönchengladbach (March 16)
Real Madrid – Atalanta (March 16)
Bayern Munich – Lazio Roma (March 17)
Chelsea v Atlético Madrid (March 17)
All duels start at 9:00 PM. If both teams are on the same level after two games, there will be an extension to determine a winner. If no decisive difference is made, penalties will follow.
