Champions League preview: PSG and Real Madrid set to light up round of 16

The Champions League returns for the first time in 2022, and there are no ties this week as big as the showdown between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid on Tuesday night.

We also see Manchester City on the road with a potentially tricky showdown against Portuguese dark horses Sporting Lisbon, while Liverpool travel to Milan for the second time this year.

We’ve previewed those key three games for you below.

Paris Saint-Germain v Real Madrid

Two European heavyweights meet in what is the game of the week as 13-time champions Real Madrid take on a star-studded Paris Saint-Germain side, who are still searching for their elusive first European crown.

PSG may be running away with things domestically, but they are still looking to find a style of play that leads to them dominating matches in Europe.

Los Blancos are built for occasions like this and will back themselves to cause Mauricio Pochettino’s side problems.

However, with the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Real Madrid-tormentor Lionel Messi in their ranks, PSG should have more than enough firepower to really ignite their European title charge.

We’ve enhanced odds for Mbappe (4/1 from 7/2) to open the scoring, you can also find Messi to score and PSG to win at 5/2 from 2/1.

Paris are EVS to win, with Real Madrid 13/5 but don’t be surprise to see honours even come the final whistle, also at 13/5.

Sporting Lisbon v Manchester City

This is a meeting between the two leakiest defences in the group stage, which is particularly surprising in Man City’s case, given that they have been so solid domestically.

Pep Guardiola will want to see improvement in that area here, but he will have no qualms over their attacking output, and it would be no surprise to see them build a healthy lead over the Portuguese side in this first leg.

The visitors are the 2/7 favourites, but  backing both teams to score in the first half represents good value at 9/2 (was 15/4). especially given the fact that Sporting haven’t failed to score at home in any competition since July 2020.

Find Sporting Lisbon to win at 10/1, with the draw at 9/2.

Inter Milan v Liverpool

Inter return to the Champions League knockout stages for the first time in ten years and they face one of the toughest possible assignments in the round of 16.

Liverpool cantered through a tricky-looking group stage by winning all six of their games and they come into this contest having won their last six games in all competitions.

With Sadio Mane and Mo Salah back from Africa Cup of Nations duty and very few injuries in the camp, Jurgen Klopp’s men are looking primed for another tilt at the Champions League trophy, and it is difficult to looks past them in this tie.

Inter have some dangermen of their own and are 12/5 for the win but they should struggle to contain the visitors on current form, Liverpool are the 11/10 favourites to win in the San Siro, while they are just 2/9 to qualify for the next round.

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