Wednesday night presents two of the most enticing ties of the Champions League last 16, as Atletico Madrid host Manchester United, and Ajax make the trip to Lisbon to face Benfica.
After last week's games saw late drama salvage otherwise forgettable games, we're hoping that this week's games will be better watches. We have the form guide here for you for Wednesday night's Champions League ties.
Champions League last-16 form guide
Atletico Madrid v Manchester United
Atletico Madrid: Champions League group B runners-up
Spanish champions Atletico Madrid are having a slightly tougher time of things this season than last. They sit outside the top four as it stands, trailing Barcelona and Real Betis. Their form has been erratic in 2022, with five wins, one draw, and four losses since New Year's Day.
They did claim a revitalising 3-0 win away to Osasuna on Saturday, thanks in part to a wonder goal from Luis Suarez. But Diego Simeone's side look a shadow of that one which claimed the La Liga title last season.
They were fortunate to qualify from their Champions League group, as the lowest points-scoring runners-up with just seven points from six games. Though they will likely be thinking similar of their English opponents, it certainly seems like a good time to be facing Atletico Madrid.
Manchester United: Champions League group F winners, 2021 Europa League runners-up
Manchester United. The gift that keep on giving. Games involving United are nothing if not entertaining at the minute, and they do seem to epitomise the old adage of "you just don't know which team is going to show up."
They currently sit in the top four of the Premier League, though Arsenal and Spurs will both overtake them if they win their multiple games in hand.
There has been something strange about United's form in recent weeks - they have not lost a game in 90 minutes since January 3rd, yet a littany of draws and an FA Cup exit on penalties to Middlesbrough rightly have alarm bells ringing.
They have played well in recent weeks, but any sign of pressure appears to cause the team to wilt. They weathered a major storm - both literally and metaphorically - at Leeds on Sunday, in what they will hope is a confidence booster. They've now won two on the bounce and, if they can rediscover the glimpses of form they showed in the Champions League group stage, they should be able to see this through.
PREDICTION: Atletico Madrid 1-2 Manchester United
Read our form guide for Tuesday's last-16 ties here.
SL Benfica v Ajax
SL Benfica: Champions League group E runners-up
Akin to Villarreal in Tuesday night's games, Benfica are one of the true dark horses of the Champions League knockouts.
Though they were beaten to the Portuguese title by Sporting last year, they have kicked on in 2021-22, and impressively finished ahead of Barcelona in their group. They embarrassed La Blaugrana with a 3-0 thumping early in the group stages, and they were a comfortable second in their group behind Bayern.
Domestically, they aren't as well off, languishing in third - nine points off leaders Porto, and with their city rivals Sporting ahead of them in the table. Nonetheless, they are among the strongest of the batch of group runners-up, and this should be a closely matched game.
Ajax: Champions League group C winners
Ajax were among the most impressive performers of the group stage. They won all six games, with a positive goal difference of 15, and claimed an aggregate score of 7-1 against Borussia Dortmund - no mean feat, given the Black and Yellow are contending in Germany once again this year.
Domestically, they are comfortably in the ascendancy in the Eredivisie, and it will take a minor miracle to deny them a third title in four years come the end of the season.
There are shades to the 2019 Ajax side in this team, and the expectation is beginning to build that they will be able to scale the same lofty heights of the semi-finals - or even better. They have yet to come under the pressure of an away knockout game, and so the trip to Lisbon will be a major test.
If Erik Ten Hag can get his team flowing as we know they can, it's hard to see Benfica resisting the magic of Ajax's style of play.
PREDICTION: Benfica 0-2 Ajax
SEE ALSO: David O'Leary Remembers Leeds United's Magical 2001 Champions League Campaign
