Champions League preview: Chelsea resume their title defence

The knockout phase of the Champions League is well under way with Lille facing Chelsea at their fortress and Manchester United attempting to take advantage of Atletico Madrid’s defensive lapses.

We’ve previewed the Chelsea/Lille and Atletico/Man United games for you below.

Chelsea v Lille

The defending champions look to create a new habit of making it through the round of 16 as they take on Lille, who are struggling with consistency.

Chelsea bagged their first Club World Cup title earlier this month and are going into the game off the back of an away victory against Crystal Palace at the weekend, thanks to Hakim Ziyech’s last minute volley.

Jocelyn Gourvennec’s Lille side are currently struggling to defend their league title in France all the way down at 11th in the table.

The Blues have won their last four Champions League games on home soil without conceding a goal and have not lost at Stamford Bridge since September, so it would be no surprise to see them take the lead over the French side.

This is the first time the Les Dogues have reached the last-16 of the Champions League in over 15 years and although they finished top of Group G, they have only won two of their last seven games in all competitions.

We’ve enhanced odds on Hakim Ziyech (13/2 from 5/1) to open scoring and you’ll find Jonathan David to score anytime at 4/1 from 16/5. The European champions are the 3/10 favourites.

Find Lille to win at 10/1, with the draw at 4/1.

Atletico Madrid v Manchester United

Neither of these two European powerhouses are playing at their optimum, so this game is expected to be one of the closest match ups in this season’s last-16.

This will be the first meeting between the two sides in over 30 years.

Despite a win away at the weekend, Atleti have clearly been struggling to reach the same level they were at when they ruled Europe. Diego Simeone is missing several important players and it is showing in their uncharacteristically leaky defence.

Man United are having an unconvincing season but will be looking to build on their big win against Leeds at the weekend. The Red Devils are also suffering defensively, so goals can be expected at the Wanda Metropolitan.

Los Rojiblancos are currently fifth in La Liga and their recent results at home have been average with only five wins in the last 10 games.

Ralf Rangnick’s side have been extremely inconsistent this season and are fourth in the Premier League.

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored seven goals in 10 European meetings with Atletico, so backing him to score first looks good value at 6/1.

Atletico are 11/8 for the win, with the visitors at 21/10.

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