The second legs of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 take place on Wednesday, with four teams competing for quarterfinal spots. Tuesday’s matches set the stage, and now the remaining games will determine which teams continue in the Champions League this spring.
Newcastle at FC Barcelona
(1‑1 aggregate)
Newcastle’s first leg ended in a 1‑1 draw at St. James’ Park, keeping the tie evenly matched. Barcelona feels they have the stronger team but struggled to take control in the first match. Both teams scored late goals, granting Newcastle confidence. Barcelona had a strong offensive showing against Sevilla, winning 5-2, while Newcastle surprised Chelsea. They are known for their solid defense, but finding the net could be challenging.
Barcelona’s injury list includes Alejandro Balde, Jules Kounde, and Frenkie de Jong. Newcastle are still without Fabian Schar and Bruno Guimaraes, but Anthony Gordon is returning to help their attack. Barcelona is favored, but the match won’t be straightforward.
Prediction: FC Barcelona 3‑2 Newcastle United (Barcelona advances 4‑3 aggregate)
Atletico Madrid at Tottenham Hotspur
(5-2 Atletico Madrid on aggregate)
Last week’s match was painful for Tottenham and their young goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, who was substituted after just 16 minutes with Atletico Madrid leading 3-0, partly due to his mistakes. New Tottenham manager Igor Tudor received criticism for his approach. He did manage to secure a point against Liverpool thanks to Richarlison’s effort, but Tottenham faces a tough upcoming match against Nottingham Forest. It’s hard to see them overcoming a three-goal deficit at home, especially given their struggles this season.
Atletico Madrid under Diego Simeone is experienced in defending and they only need to hold their lead. Tottenham’s injury concerns include several key players, with Richarlison suspended and others possibly missing the game. Xavi Simons is expected to start.
Atletico Madrid will have Juan Musso in goal and is generally fit, with Antoine Griezmann ready to score an early goal. Tottenham might avoid defeat, but that’s not enough for them to progress. Prediction: 1-1 Draw (Atletico Madrid wins 6-3 on aggregate)
Galatasaray at Liverpool
(Galatasaray 1-0 on aggregate)
Liverpool’s recent draw with Tottenham was a disappointment for the team that has invested heavily. They could miss a spot in the Champions League depending on the Premier League final standings. Galatasaray, leading 1-0 from the first leg, will need to perform strongly at Anfield. They often give up chances, so Liverpool must capitalize against a team on a five-match winning streak.
Liverpool is likely to feature Mo Salah, alongside Hugo Ekitike and Dominik Szoboszlai. For Galatasaray, Davison Sanchez is suspended, creating a gap in defense for Liverpool to exploit. Gabriel Sara, a new Brazilian international, will start for Galatasaray. This match is expected to be close and might even end in penalties. Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 (Liverpool advances on penalties)
Atalanta at Bayern Munich
(Bayern Munich 6-1 on aggregate)
There’s little tension for Bayern, except for whether they will field a 16-year-old American goalkeeper due to injuries. Bayern’s attack remains strong, having previously dominated Atalanta 6-1 in Italy. Atalanta managed a 1-1 draw against Inter Milan recently, but they may enter this match with a defensive approach.
The major question is whether teenager Leonard Prescott will be Bayern’s goalkeeper due to ongoing injuries. Joshua Kimmich and Michael Olise are out due to suspensions. Harry Kane may or may not start depending on the situation. Giacomo Raspadori will miss the match for Atalanta. Prediction: Bayern Munich 4-2 (Bayern Munich 10-3 on aggregate)