The Champions League last 16 got off to a faltering start last week. Despite late drama in Paris and Milan, the games themselves were hardly the most enthralling. This week's games present a mouthwatering set of clashes, with closely matched ties across the week.
We've taken a look at the form of the four teams in action in Tuesday night's Champions League last-16 games, ahead of what is set up to be a brilliant week of football.
Champions League last-16 form guide
LOSC v Chelsea
LOSC: Champions League group G winners
Lille OSC dramatically denied PSG the Ligue 1 title last season, in one of the great surprise results of the recent years. They ground out their triumph by just one point over the dominant Parisians.
Their form in the group stage of the Champions League this season was equally impressive, beating out RB Salzburg, Sevilla, and Wolfsburg, to top their group. Their domestic form this season, though, has seen a dramatic downturn.
They sit in 10th as of the time of writing (with Montpellier poised to knock them down to 11th), and have just two wins from their last six games. The prospect of facing the European and world champions will be daunting, though they have no injuries to concern them.
Chelsea: Champions League group H runners-up, 2021 Champions League winners
Chelsea have had a fairly successful month. Question marks had been raised of manager Thomas Tuchel's tactics but, in recent weeks, their form has lifted.
Domestically, a lot of that has been down to the brilliance of the rejuvenated Hakim Ziyech. The highlight of 2022 so far, however, is undoubtedly the Club World Cup win in Abu Dhabi earlier in February. Chelsea have now won their last five games - across three different competitions - and will feel confident of their chances.
PREDICTION: LOSC 0-2 Chelsea
Villarreal v Juventus
Villarreal: Champions League group F runners-up, 2021 Europa League winners
The real dark horses of the last-16. Villarreal were full worth for their Europa League triumph last year, which qualified them for the Champions League. They may have felt out of place given their seventh-place finish in La Liga last season, but they have made the most of their place at Europe's top table.
They could well have had two wins over Manchester United in the group stages if they had been more clinical. With that in mind, the likely absence of Paco Alcacer through injury will be a major blow for the Yellow Submarine.
Nonetheless, their domestic form has improved since last season. Villarreal are locked in a battle for Champions League qualification with Barcelona, Real Betis, and Atletico Madrid. They haven't lost in four, including a win over top four rivals Real Betis, and a draw against Real Madrid.
There could be a surprise in store here.
Juventus: Champions League group H winners
Given their poor domestic form, Juventus' form in the group stage of the Champions League reads as somewhat surprising. They managed to take four points from their two games against Chelsea, and topped the group.
However, Juventus are no longer the fearful prospect they were in reaching Champions League finals in 2015 and 2017. Their vice-like grip on the Italian league was relinquished last year, and they sit fourth in the Serie A table, nine points off leaders Milan.
They are ravaged by injuries, with Giorgio Chiellini, Federicos Chiesa and Bernardeschi, Leonardo Bonucci, and Paulo Dybala all expected to miss the first-leg. Against such a rejuvenated Villarreal, with nearly all of Juventus' star players out, this may be the tie that produces an upset.
That being said, they are in excellent form, with only one loss in all competitions in 2022, against Inter in the Supercoppa Italia. The impact of Juventus' absent players on the biggest stage will be the deciding factor here.
PREDICTION: Villarreal 1-0 Juventus
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