Thomas Tuchel starts a new challenge at Chelsea by taking on Atlético de Simeone, Robert Lewandowski meets his nemesis last season’s goalscorer, while Real Madrid and Manchester City face new tests.
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Matches (click on each one to access live coverage)
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Tuesday February 23
Atlético – Chelsea
Lazio – Bayern
Wednesday February 24
Atalanta – Real Madrid
Mönchengladbach – Man. City
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Atlético’s strength awaits Tuchel’s Chelsea
Thomas Tuchel played the group stage with Paris, but reaches these round of 16 as Chelsea coach to play a high-level tie against Atlético. Diego Simeone’s team is still very powerful at home, having only lost one of their last 29 European games in their fiefdom. Although that defeat was precisely against Chelsea in the 2017/18 group stage (1-2). The Londoners beat Sevilla 0-4 on their last visit to Spain. Will it bode well for your new coach or will Simeone’s block prevail?
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Property contra Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski won almost everything last season, except the ESM Golden Boot, an award that honors the top European scorer in the major leagues. Now he will face the man who denied him that honor, the Italian Ciro Immobile. The Lazio footballer is struggling to keep up with Lewandowski’s league rhythm this season, but beats him 5-3 if you only look at this group stage. Will these forwards be the ones to solve the tie?
Can Atalanta with the great Real Madrid?
On paper there is no competition: Atalanta is playing in the UEFA Champions League for the second time, taking on the 13-time European champion. However, La Déa stands out for knowing how to hurt the greats: they won 0-2 at Liverpool in the group stage and eliminated Valencia, another Spanish team, in the round of 16 last season. “We know what kind of team it is,” said Madrid coach Zinédine Zidane. “I have the utmost respect for them.” The most awarded club in the history of the competition wants to repeat dream nights.
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Gladbach wants to break the curse of City
Borussia Mönchengladbach have failed to win in their four meetings with City in the group stage in recent seasons (one draw and three losses), but they are looking to rejoice in their first match in a UEFA Champions League tie. Looking back, the Germans eliminated City in a 1978/79 UEFA Cup that they ended up winning. City are fearsome opponents, but local coach Marco Rose on still gives up: “It’s a great challenge, of course, but we’re very excited.”
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