Tuesday’s Champions League Ties Present Big Challenges | OneFootball

The second leg of the Champions League Round of 16 will play out today, and three of the competing sides face a long, hard, uphill slog to advancement.

Sporting CP vs. Bodø/Glimt

Bodø leads 3-0 on aggregateIt would unfair to Bodø to suggest Sporting had a bad night last Wednesday in the Arctic Circle. The weather wasn’t even that bad by local standards, and Sporting has played European matches in worse conditions.

Sporting’s problem was that Bodø were simply the better team.

Hooligan contributor Genius Manager wrote a fantastic analysis of Bodø’s tactics that produced four consecutive wins over Manchester City, Atlético Madrid and Inter Milan. And that same playbook proved effective against the Portuguese side.

There’s still a chance that Sporting can turn this around, but as good as Bodø has played in Norway, they’re AS GOOD on the road, at least in Champions League. They’ve earned 8 points from 2W, 2D, 1L and have a shockingly high 61% on frame shooting.

Sporting’s weekend match against Tondela was postponed, so they’ll be as rested as the visitors come kickoff.

Chelsea vs. Paris Saint-Germain

Paris Saint-Germain leads 5-2 on aggregateEven Stamford Bridge won’t be able to save Chelsea. Booed off the pitch after losing to Newcastle United 1-0 on Saturday, it’s been a poor stretch for the defending World Club Champions. Chelsea were well and truly in last week’s match against PSG until their late collapse.

Adding insult to injury is the loss of captain Reece James, further depleting a backline that conceded three in the closing 25 minutes.

I’d like to think that the home supporters won’t be so hostile, but you never know. Optimistic Blues fans might hope for a miracle, but unless Chelsea get up early, cheers might be replaced by jeers.

Manchester City vs. Real Madrid

Real Madrid leads 3-0 on aggregateIn what has become the most played fixture in modern Champions League history, it’s déjà vu all over again. Blue vs white, and the only thing to see is how much blood is left on the pitch. Figuratively, of course, nobody wants to see the real thing.

Federico Valverde won’t get another first half hat-trick, but Real Madrid have plenty of weapons despite their long list of injuries. Look to Vini Jr. or Arda Güler to step up. I can see City winning the match, but winning by enough margin to move on? No. Not today.

Arsenal vs. Bayer Leverkusen

Series tied at 1-1Arsenal’s draw was lumped into the general hand-wringing around English clubs’ European performance last week, but frankly they’re lucky to not be down. Too many players put in tepid performances. Mandueke’s penalty was softer than a baby’s cheek, and coming mere seconds before the final whistle was a gift from on high.

All the same, beating Arsenal will be a tall ask for Leverkusen. At best, they are a slightly-above-mediocre squad, and in the hostile environment of the Emirates I don’t expect them to be at their best. The Gunners should waltz through this fixture.

If they don’t, the hand-wringing will turn into middle-finger raising rage.