Champions League – Unbiased picks for the Round of 16

After failing to qualify for the Champions League and the ignominious departure from the Europa Conference League, most Spurs fans might think the less said the better where Europe is concerned. However, there’s definitely a positive side to not having a horse in the race, and just being able to settle back and watch things unfold. The round of 16 is always a great source of banana skins for the favourites, so pull up a chair, peel a banana and let’s sit back and soak up the fun. Here are some match-ups worth watching. 

Benfica vs Ajax 

It’s not the highest profile game, in fact it is the sort of fixture that you’d tend to scroll on past, but… There’s something about this one that keeps pulling our eyes back to it. Here’s the thing – Ajax is one of those teams that is always fancied at decent football odds as a dark horse for the tournament. They will be pleased to have drawn Benfica, but by the same token, Benfica will also be absolutely delighted not to be up against PSG or Man City. 

After the way they blew Barcelona out of the water in the group stages, Benfica will go into the knockout stages brimming with confidence and thinking about nothing but a win against Ajax. The men from Amsterdam will be in for a sharp awakening if they think Benfica are going to be an easy touch and will have to bring their A game. 

Inter vs Liverpool 

This is a fixture that is getting plenty of attention in the press. Inter is the last Italian team still standing in the Champions League, and so goes into this fixture with the expectations of a nation on its collective shoulders. Liverpool will be the favourite with the bookies, having comfortably come through the group stage undefeated, despite the stern opposition of Atletico Madrid, AC Milan and Porto. 

Inter is a team that has looked composed and business-like throughout the campaign, however. More importantly, they’ve looked better and better with every passing game. Yes, Liverpool will probably edge it over the two legs, but take nothing for granted, it’s going to be a tight one.  

Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United 

Inter and Liverpool might be the biggest collective names in any one fixture, but for us, the most mouth-watering encounter is going to be Manchester United and Atletico – or more precisely, Cristiano Ronaldo and Diego Simeone. The duo have previous, from Ronaldo’s shameless trolling in 2019 to Simeone’s alleged rejection of CR7 when he was offered to Atletico before signing for Manchester United last year. 

Will Ronaldo stick the knife in yet again or is Simeon finally going to get the upper hand? These are the kinds of back stories that make a match all the juicier to watch, and they will make the Champions League round of 16 a compelling and most of all a fun spectacle for those of us who are tuning in just for the entertainment.