Champions League round of 16 preview: First-leg predictions & odds
Ahead of the Champions League round of 16, Ladbrokes shares its predictions for the first leg of every single tie, with a number of unmissable games set to entertain.
The action kicks off on Tuesday night as Premier League champions Liverpool take on Galatasaray in Istanbul, before Atletico Madrid host Tottenham, Newcastle face Barcelona, and Atalanta welcome Bayern Munich to Bergamo at 8pm GMT.
Wednesday night then sees Arsenal face Bayer Leverkusen in Germany, before Chelsea look to upset the odds against last year's Champions League winners, PSG.
Real Madrid and Manchester City also renew acquaintances on Wednesday night, with the heavyweights clashing at the Bernabeu, while Bodo/Glimt host Sporting CP in Norway to round off the week's action.
Champions League round of 16 preview: First-leg predictions & odds
Galatasaray SK vs Liverpool
Prediction: Galatasaray 2-2 Liverpool
Liverpool have already lost in Istanbul once this season, with Galatasaray beating Arne Slot's side 1-0 in the league phase back in September, but we're backing the Reds to put up more of a fight here. On a night where avoiding defeat is the only real aim for Liverpool, we think this one will end all square, with the English champions showing grit in a hostile environment.
Atalanta vs Bayern Munich
Prediction: Atalanta 2-3 Bayern Munich
After thumping Borussia Dortmund 4-1 to reach the last 16, Atalanta will be full of confidence as they welcome another German side to the New Balance Arena - but Bayern Munich should be far too strong. The German champions' only defeat in the UCL so far came at Arsenal, and with 17 wins from the 20 matches following that loss in London, Vincent Kompany's side arrive as clear favourites.
Atletico Madrid vs Tottenham Hotspur
Prediction: Atletico Madrid 3-1 Tottenham
With Spurs facing a serious relegation scrap in the Premier League, confidence at the club could hardly be lower, and we're predicting a sixth straight defeat for the Londoners when they face Atletico Madrid. Diego Simeone's side are scoring goals for fun at home, and despite Tottenham only losing one game in the UCL league phase, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Atletico win this one at something of a canter.
Newcastle United vs FC Barcelona
Prediction: Newcastle United 1-2 Barcelona
Another tie that we've already seen in the Champions League once this season is Newcastle vs Barcelona, and we're predicting a carbon copy of September's clash, with the La Liga leaders winning 2-1 at St. James' Park. Newcastle's home form has been pretty strong in Europe, with four wins from five in front of their own fans, but with the outrageous quality at Hansi Flick's disposal, we're backing Barca to gain a first-leg advantage.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal
Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal bet builder tips
Prediction: Bayer Leverkusen 0-2 Arsenal
Champions League favourites Arsenal set the perfect example in the UCL league phase, winning eight from eight and only conceding four goals in the process - and we're expecting a similar story in Leverkusen. Kasper Hjulmand's side did beat Man City back in November, but with the Gunners striving to win Europe's elite competition for the very first time, we're anticipating a typically professional away win for Mikel Arteta's men.
Bodo/Glimt vs Sporting Lisbon
Prediction: Bodo/Glimt 2-1 Sporting CP
Eye-catching wins over Man City and Atletico Madrid earned Bodo/Glimt their spot in the Champions League play-offs, and after beating Inter Milan home and away to reach the last 16, we're predicting another famous night in Norway. Sporting have only lost two games in this year's UCL, but with Bodo/Glimt making a habit of upsetting the odds, we're backing the competition's surprise package to take a slender lead into the second leg.
Paris Saint-Germain vs Chelsea
PSG vs Chelsea bet builder tips
Prediction: PSG 2-1 Chelsea
Champions League holders PSG weren't at their blistering best in this year's league phase, only winning half of their games, but our experts are backing them to get the better of a young Chelsea side at the Parc des Princes. The French champions knocked out three Premier League teams on the way to glory last season, and with Chelsea struggling to string too many wins together at the moment, the Blues could have a tough time containing PSG's array of attacking talent.
Real Madrid vs Manchester City
Prediction: Real Madrid 1-1 Manchester City
For the sixth time in six years, Manchester City head to the Bernabeu to take on 15-time UCL winners Real Madrid, and we're predicting an entertaining clash between two of European football's heavyweights to end all square. City snatched a 2-1 win in this exact fixture back in December, but with Madrid knocking Pep Guardiola's side out in each of the last two seasons, taking a result back to the Etihad would be huge for the Premier League title chasers.
Champions League round-of-16 accumulator
Putting all of our predictions together, here is our full Champions League round-of-16 acca for this week's opening legs.
Loading...
How can I watch the Champions League?
When is the Champions League final?
Can you bet on the Champions League?
Check out the latest betting promotions from Ladbrokes to enhance your betting experience.
All odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.
