The UEFA Champions League continues this week with the final first leg matches from the Round of 16.
Here’s what you need to know ahead of Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s games.
THE BIG MATCH
Chelsea vs. FC Barcelona: These teams have produced some memorable matches and moments – remember Ronaldinho’s stunning goal at Stamford Bridge in 2005? – but it’s been six years since they last squared off in the Champions League. They’ll renew their classic rivalry on Tuesday night in London.
Chelsea has rebounded from successive defeats earlier this month to Bournemouth and Watford with wins over West Bromwich Albion and Hull City in the FA Cup last week. Barca, however, will be a much tougher nut to crack. The Catalan club is the best team in the world at the moment, having only suffered one loss in 38 games in all competitions in 2017-18 since coming up short against Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final last August.
Philippe Coutinho is ineligible for Barcelona following his winter transfer move from Liverpool – he is cup tied after playing for the Reds in the group stage. David Luiz and Tiemoue Bakayoko are dealing with injuries and are questionable for Chelsea. Ross Barkley (hamstring) is out.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Lionel Messi, FC Barcelona: Although Messi has faced Chelsea plenty of times, he’s never scored against the London club. Incredibly, the Argentine wizard has been kept off the score sheet in each of his eight Champions League appearances against Chelsea. Messi has bagged 27 goals in all competitions this season, and helped set up both goals in Barca’s 2-0 win at Eibar in La Liga on the weekend. The Catalan club has been humming along, so you have to figure Messi will end his goal drought against Chelsea on Tuesday.
BAYERN MUNICH-BESIKTAS
On paper, Bayern Munich has to be considered the favourite in this one. The Bavarians have won 21 out of 22 games since Jupp Heynckes returned as manager in October, and are running away with the league title in the Bundesliga. Besiktas currently sits fourth in the Turkish league, but advanced from a difficult opening-round group that included AS Monaco, RB Leipzig and FC Porto. It’ll also be interesting to see what role, if any, Besiktas’ two Canadians – midfielder Atiba Hutchinson and new striker Cyle Larin – play in Tuesday’s tilt in Germany.
SEVILLA-MANCHESTER UNITED
The Paul Pogba soap opera continues. The Frenchman trained with Manchester United on Tuesday ahead of the English club’s visit to Sevilla later in the week. This after he missed out Saturday’s FA Cup win over Huddersfield Town due to illness. Jose Mourinho declined to disclose the nature of the illness, a move that fueled already rowing speculation that he and Pogba are at odds behind the scenes over him being played out of position. Be that as it may, it appears as though Pogba is in line to return to the Red Devils for Wednesday’s match in Spain.
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SHAKHTAR DONETSK-AS ROMA
Keep an eye on Cengiz Under during Wednesday’s game in Ukraine. The 20-year-old Turkish winger joined Roma from Udinese last summer, but failed to make an early impression. In the last month, though, he’s been sensational. Under scored his fourth goal in three matches on Saturday to help Roma earn a 2-0 win over Udinese in Serie A. The Turkish terror will be front and centre for the Italian club as they look to take a first-leg lead in this Round of 16 series and try to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time in a decade.
INTERESTING STAT
Besiktas will no doubt have their hands full with Bayern’s litany of stars, including Polish striker Robert Lewandowski. But they shouldn’t overlook Sandro Wagner, who only joined the Bavarian club last month. Wagner may not be as flashy as Lewandowski, but he poses a serious aerial threat.
HE SAID IT
“We must have great respect but at the same time we must be excited to play this type of game and take on this type of challenge. It won’t be easy because we know very well this player, we are talking about one of the best in the world.” – Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, on trying to shut out Lionel Messi again this week.
