The Champions League is back tonight and here is everything you should know about the knockout stages.
PSG v Bayern Munich (at Parc des Princes, Paris; 8pm kickoff time)
Paris Saint-Germain
Place in domestic league: 1st
Last three results: L W W
The team of Christophe Galtier finished second in the group stages with the same amount of points and goal difference as Benfica. Away goals scored determined that Benfica topped the group. Nevertheless Paris finished their group stage campaign with no defeats. Looking like strong favourites for the French league title, PSG haven't started 2023 well, and have lost three games since the first of January. They've allowed clubs like Lens, Monaco and Marseille to make up ground in Ligue 1. PSG also got knocked out unexpectedly of the French Cup, with a defeat to Marseille in the round of 16.
On the injury list, Nordi Mukiele and Renato Sanches will not be part of the squad to play Bayern this evening. Lionel Messi, Kyllian Mbappe and Fabian Ruiz were named in Galtier's squad but there are doubts over their fitness. However Galtier says that "if Mbappe is on the teamsheet, he will be here to play".
While key players like Mbappe and Messi potentially not starting this evening might turn out to be a big blow for the Paris team. Galtier comes into this game with a very optimistic vision and isn't worried about their recent results and he is sure they will raise their level to give the German side a tough game.
🎙 Christophe Galtier: "My players are used to these matches. They know how to increase their level of play."#PSGFCB I #PSGLive I #UCL pic.twitter.com/yDuHQ2ufiG
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) February 13, 2023
Bayern Munich
Place in domestic league: 1st
Last three results: W W D
The Bavarian side did the perfect group stage performance expected. They won all their games finishing top of their group with 18 points won out of the 18 points possible. They impressed everyone and are part of the big favourites to win this year's Champions League trophy. Bayern are still undefeated in 2023 and are sitting top of the domestic league, two points ahead of Union Berlin.
A look back at our #UCL results so far this season 👀#packmas pic.twitter.com/n2vtsb9FgP
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) February 13, 2023
Star players like Sadio Mané, Lucas Hernandez and Manuel Neuer are out injured for this game. Moroccan fullback Noussair Mazraoui and Dutch midfielder Ryan Gravenberch are also part of Bayern's injury list. Munich's coach stated that the "PSG result (against Monaco) has no influence on the champions League match" and that it is a match in between "two of the biggest clubs in Europe ".
With both teams potentially playing without their main key players this game is pretty unpredictable and we are set to have a brilliant match of football ahead of us.
AC Milan v Tottenham Hotspur (San Siro, Milan, 8pm Kickoff Time)
AC Milan
Place in domestic league: 5th
Last three results: W L L
The Rossoneri finished second of Group E, three points behind Chelsea. Despite two defeats against Chelsea and a draw at home to Salzburg, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and his teammates got three victories that allowed them to advance to the knockout stages. In the Serie A, their form is not outstanding with only one victory in the last six league games. However they are still in a very tight European battle as they are in sixth place with only four points behind second place Inter Milan after gameweek 21. Everything is possible for Stefano Pioli's men as they could finish the season in a Champions League spot or either end up playing next year's Europa Conference League qualifiers.
It's @en_sscnapoli leading the pack in #SerieA💎 pic.twitter.com/nqijWo5nPN
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) February 7, 2023
Milan's injury list is full of key talented players such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ismaël Bennacer, Fikayo Tomori, Sergi Dest and Alessandro Florenzi. The most important absentee for this game is French goalkeeper Mike Maignan. Without a real number one goalkeeper, AC Milan will play with backup Romanian goalkeeper Ciprian Tatarusanu. The keeper's issue could be the major problem facing this home side against Tottenham tonight.
Milan's coach Stefano Pioli is aware of how hard and demanding the Champions League is. He continued by admitting that his side will have to step up their level in order to qualify:
We have to raise our game because the Champions League is more demanding and Tottenham is a strong team. It will be tough but it comes at the right time for us.
There is also a lot of respect between both coaches as Tottenham's coach Antonio Conte used to be the manager of AC Milan biggest rivals, Inter Milan. Despite the rivalry both managers admire and support each other.
"Conte was one of the few to call me and congratulate me on winning the Scudetto.
5 managers out of 16 in the UCL round of 16 are Italian. I would say we have a good coaching school."
🗣️ Stefano Pioli via presser 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/2iMQDQbJnR— Italian Football TV (@IFTVofficial) February 13, 2023
Tottenham Hotspur
Place in domestic league: 5th
Last three results: L W W
Tottenham finished top of their very tight group in the group stages. In the Premier League, Antonio Conte's team is sitting fifth, only five points ahead of eight place Brentford and three points behind fourth place Newcastle. Their form is very inconsistent as they managed to beat Manchester Vity but then get badly beaten by Leicester the next week. However, Conte's record in the San Siro could be a reassuring statistic for them.
Antonio Conte's San Siro record is a strong one 💪
He'll be hoping for another positive outcome when Spurs face AC Milan on Tuesday 🏟#UCL pic.twitter.com/OAw6txPBWh— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 13, 2023
Just like AC Milan, Tottenham's goalkeeper and captain Hugo Lloris has been ruled out for the game against this Italian side. This means that substitute goalie Fraser Forster will play in San Siro tonight. Other injuries for Spurs include Ryan Sessegnon, Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur. Danish midfielder Piere-Emile Hojberg will miss this first tie of the Round of 16 because of a suspension due to an accumulation of yellow cards. With many important players not playing for Conte's team tonight, this could either go badly for them or it will give the chance for young talents to shine in one of the most important games of the season. Tottenham's coach stated:
The solution we have in our house with the two young players, Skippy and Pape Sarr. They are the first game in the Champions League. They are really young, 20 and 22-years-old, but we have to be good to help them overcome the emotion, but we trust them.
❌ No Lloris
❌ No Bentancur
❌ No Højbjerg
❌ No Bissouma
💭 Tottenham faces Milan in Italy tonight and a massive moment for Pape Matar Sarr, who is expected to start alongside Oliver Skipp. He has a real chance to announce himself given #THFC's injury list. pic.twitter.com/iQFYlQB3lY— OddAlerts.com (@OddAlerts) February 14, 2023
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