It’s do or die as we head into the second leg of the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday evening.
In the four matches slated for Tuesday, only game produced a stalemate from the first leg. This sets the Tuesday night round of matches to be thrilling encounters as different teams seek qualification to the quarterfinals.
Arsenal, who finished top of the group phase, were held 1-1 by Bayer Leverkusen last Wednesday and are looking to better that performance to keep their chances of an unprecedented quadruple alive.
Record winners Real Madrid and PSG carry respectable leads into their respective second legs against English sides Manchester City and Chelsea respectively.
Here we have a look at all four games and offer our predicted outcome.
Sporting vs Bodo/Glimt – Tuesday, 8:45PM
The Norwegian dark horses continue their remarkable run in the competition, carrying a commanding 3-0 advantage from the first leg. Bodo are aiming to become the first Norwegian side in 30 years to qualify for the quarterfinals.
Neither side have played a game since they squared off in Norway last week, with the visitors looking to equal the record for most away CL wins for a team outside Europes top five leagues.
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Sporting were limited in attack in the humiliating defeat and will need to bring out a different strategy when they host the second leg.
If their home form is anything to go by, they will be confident of a win here. Sporting have lost just once in their last 19 home games in all competitions.
Prediction – Sporting to win – CLICK HERE TO PLACE YOUR BET ON THIS GAME!
Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen – Tuesday, 11PM
The Gunners are favorites to get a win here and qualify for the quarters, as they continue their hunt for a quadruple this season. An 89th minute Kai Havertz penalty secured a point in a 1-1 first leg draw.
Robert Andrich had put Leverkusen ahead but the Germans could not hold out for a win. They followed that up with a similar 1-1 draw against Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich over the weekend.
Meanwhile, Arsenal returned to winning ways with a crucial 2-0 win against Everton on Saturday. Once again they had to wait for a couple of late goals from Viktor Gyokeres and teenage sensation Max Dowman.
Having never lost to Leverkusen, the hosts are tipped as favorites to grind out a victory here and take the next step toward a historic quadruple.
Prediction – Arsenal to win – CLICK HERE TO PLACE YOUR BET ON THIS GAME!
Chelsea vs PSG – Tuesday, 11PM
Liam Rosenior’s side need a miracle if they are to overturn an embarrassing 5-2 first leg defeat in Paris last week. Kvicha Kvaratshkelia came off the bench to score a brace, inspiring the vital home win.
Chelsea have now lost three of their last five games in all competitions and are staring an exit in the face. The Blues lost 1-0 at home to Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday as they look to avoid a third consecutive defeat here.
The perennial French champions have had time to recoup after the first leg, with no Ligue 1 match over the weekend. The last time these two sides met at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League, PSG were 2-1 winners in 2016.
Chelsea’s 3-0 victory against PSG in last year’s Club World Cup final seems like a lifetime ago now, with the Premier League side desperate to turn things around here. Despite it being tough, we have seen more improbable comebacks in the competition and we could be in for another here.
Prediction – Chelsea to win – CLICK HERE TO PLACE YOUR BET ON THIS GAME!
Manchester City vs Real Madrid – Tuesday, 11PM
Record Champions League winners Madrid cruised to a comfortable 3-0 victory in the first leg and seem favorites to qualify for the quarters. However, they are up against very capable opposition in a City side who have turned around a three-goal deficit before.
A first half Federico Valverde hat-trick was enough for Alvaro Arbeloa’s charges to secure the all important win. Madrid made it three wins in a row as they demolished Elche 4-1 at the Bernabeau on Saturday.
City could not bounce back over the weekend as they were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw away at West Ham in the Premier League. They only have two wins from their last five games in all competitions and are at risk of yet another knockout stage exit.
Last week’s victory means Madrid have won four of the last five games they have played against Pep Guardiola’s City. The Spanish giants beat City 6-3 on aggregate last season to knock them out of the competition.
Prediction – Over 2.5 goals – CLICK HERE TO PLACE YOUR BET ON THIS GAME!