There are four games this week in the Champions League, but only one of them is really drawing any attention at this point. In the other three games being played of the week the home teams are all favored to move on to the quarterfinals, but it's all about the other game, Manchester United vs. Real Madrid.
The games being played this week and next are the second legs of the round of 16. The winners of this round will advance on to the quarterfinals in the first week of April. As bad as I am at picking almost every other sport, I'm currently ranked 84th on ESPN's Champions League pick'em so I'm hoping my picks continue to go in that direction.
Tuesday's Games:
Real Madrid @ Manchester United (Aggregate: Draw 1-1)
While watching the first leg a couple of weeks ago all I could keep thinking was, how many goals will each of these teams end up with? At the end there was only two goals scored in the entire 90 minutes with each team scoring one apiece. The amount of great looks that each team had I was in disbelief that the game ended with such a low score.
My player to watch in this game has to be Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo is making his return to Old Trafford as the enemy for the first time since leaving the Red Devils in 2009. In the first leg Ronaldo was successful in scoring and did so without celebrating afterwards in a show of respect to his former club. His goal helped tie the game up for Madrid after Danny Welbeck's goal 10 minutes earlier. The final 60 minutes of the game went goalless as both teams goalkeepers and defense kept either team from getting a real clean look.
With the aggregate currently tied at 1:1 I am expecting a very similar game to the first one, just with more goals. I could see Manchester United playing a more defensive game with Real Madrid playing a more offensive game in this one. Man U already have the one away goal and if they were able to keep Madrid scoreless would advance to the next round. If Madrid are able to score two-plus goals, chances are that they will be the team moving on.
My prediction: Madrid win 3-2 (AGG: Madrid 4-3)
Shakhtar Donetsk @ Borussia Dortmund (Aggregate: Draw 2-2)
The first game between these two teams had four goals scored between the two teams evenly with two apiece. Robert Lewandowski and Mats Hummels did the scoring for Dortmund with Darijo Srna and Douglas Costa adding the goals for Shakhtar.
With Dortmund returning home for the second leg they are the favorites to win this game. I think they will be able to score multiples goals and keep Shakhtar scoreless. Marco Reus and Mario Gotze both were goalless for Dortmund in the first leg and I doubt they will both remain scoreless in this one. Gotze is my player to watch in this game as he could be using this stage to get his name out there even more with the possibility of a potential move to a bigger club during the summer.
My prediction: Dortmund win 2-0 (AGG: Dortmund 4-2)
Wednesday's Games:
Valencia @ Paris Saint-Germain (Aggregate: PSG 2-1)
With Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo getting all of the love for being the best players in the world Zlatan Ibrahimovic is currently showing France and the rest of the world why PSG was so smart to buy him from AC Milan over the summer. In 33 games this year Ibrahimovic has managed to score 28 goals while playing for a new team in a country he had never played in before. Ibrahimovic will not be playing in this game for PSG, however as he was sent off at the end of the game with a red card.
While Ibrahimovic is such an important player for PSG, I just don't think Valencia will be able to beat them even without Ibrahimovic on the pitch. The first leg saw goals come from Ezequiel Lavezzi and Javier Pastore for PSG with Adil Rami adding one for Valencia.
I wouldn't be surprised if PSG played David Beckham in this game. Beckham's experience in big games could be a huge help to the French side and without Zlatan up front they could probably use the leadership that Beck would bring. My player to watch in this game is Lucas Moura. Lucas has recently joined PSG during the winter transfer session and will likely give Valencia fits all evening. I'm expecting the same score as the first leg in this one.
My prediction: PSG win 2-1 (AGG: PSG 4-2)
Celtic @ Juventus (Aggregate: Juventus 3-0)
This game couldn't be any more over before it started than it already is. Juventus managed to score three goals in the first game on the road and would have been the favorite when returning home for the second leg anyways. Alessandro Matri, Claudio Marchisio and Mirko Vucinic did the scoring for the Italian side the first time around which leaves this game almost 100 percent out of reach for Celtic.
I'm guessing that Juventus won't put their best team on the pitch tomorrow because they are almost guaranteed to be moving on to the next round at this point so I'm expecting this game to be much closer than the first. I actually wouldn't be surprised if Celtic came out and drew Juventus or even won the game, but I still think Juventus will manage to win this game no matter who they put on the field. My player to watch is Gianluigi Buffon. Buffon will likely be in goal and as long as he doesn't have the worst game of his career come Wednesday his side should move on.
My prediction: Juventus win 2-1 (AGG: Juventus 5-1)
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