The long wait is almost over for football fans across the globe. We’ve officially reached the knockout stages of the 2021-22 Champions League tournament. There are some juicy matchups, of course including the one between Real Madrid and PSG. In this article, we have Champions League picks for Round of 16 first leg games that people can’t wait for. Who will end up coming out on top?
Real Madrid vs PSG should be a thrilling contest
• What: Champions League Round of 16 • When: Tuesday, Feb. 15 • Who: PSG vs. Real Madrid • Where: Paris, France
It goes without saying, but one of the best games on the schedule is the one between Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain. Real Madrid vs PSG should be a thrilling contest and countless folks can’t wait for this one to arrive. This game will be played in Paris, which of course will give the La Liga side a bit of an advantage. Los Blancos won’t care about that, though, as Real Madrid will have an upset on its mind.
For PSG, the team is riding high right now and there’s no denying they have one of the most lethal attacks in the word. When you’ve got Neymar Jr., Kylian Mbappe, and Lionel Messi all on the pitch at the same time, it’s going to provide plenty of headaches for opposing defenses. Real Madrid will surely have its hands full trying to contain that attack.
Meanwhile, for Real Madrid, all eyes will be on Karim Benzema to see if he’ll be able to keep going with his strong play. Benzema was born to score goals and the hope from RM fans is that he’ll be able to surprise PSG’s defense early on in this one. That won’t be an easy task, especially with the game being a road one for Madrid, but you can never doubt Benzema.
According to the best-rated online sportsbooks, PSG has been given -105 soccer Las Vegas odds for this Round of 16 matchups. Real Madrid indeed is a bit of an underdog in this one, as they’ve been placed at +250. The odds for a draw are +280. While Real Madrid is a talented team, we think that PSG will be able to come away with the victory. PSG is our pick to win. Agree? Check out our soccer betting sites to place your wager.
Will Liverpool be able to pull off a road win against Inter Milan?
• What: Champions League Round of 16 • When: Tuesday, Feb. 15 • Who: Liverpool vs. Inter Milan • Where: Milan, Italy
In another massive meeting, folks want to know will Liverpool be able to pull off a road win against Inter Milan? These two giants are ready to face off at the San Siro, one of the most historic venues in the game. For Inter Milan, this team will be ready to try and pull off a big win in front of their home fans. That won’t be easy, though, as Liverpool continues to look like one of the best teams in the world.
Jurgen Klopp’s men may be on the outside looking in for the EPL title thanks to Manchester City, but the Reds are flying high and they’re looking to win a mind-blowing seventh Champions League title. In order for that to happen, they’ll need to get past Inter Milan first and then await their opponents in the quarterfinals. In this game at the San Siro, LFC has what it takes to dominate.
This team is best known for its attack, with Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, and Diogo Jota leading the way. Defensively, though, guys like Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, and Trent Alexander-Arnold are fantastic as well. Liverpool is just lethal from top to bottom with its lineup. They can hurt you in the blink of an eye, so the Milan defense must be ready.
Per the oddsmakers, Liverpool has been given +100 odds, while Inter Milan is at +240. We think this could prove to be a long day for the Inter Milan defense, with Salah likely finding the back of the net first. Yup, we’re going with Liverpool to come away with a road win in this case.
Manchester United and Atletico Madrid will be a back-and-forth affair
What: Champions League Round of 16 When: Wednesday, Feb. 23 Who: Manchester United vs. Atletico Madrid Where: Madrid, Spain
Elsewhere, Manchester United and Atletico Madrid will be a back-and-forth affair when these two teams meet over in Spain. For Atletico Madrid, all eyes will be on Luis Suarez to see if the Uruguayan can score against Manchester United. He’s quite familiar with the team, as Suarez used to play for Liverpool and he was thrown into the rivalry there.
Meanwhile for United, there’s been plenty of drama surrounding the team with Mason Greenwood’s arrest on sexual assault. He of course won’t be playing in the Round of 16 against Madrid. While that will hurt the team, guys like Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and others will be ready to step up. While Madrid is the favorite for this one, we think that this game will end in a draw. We’re going with a tie as our pick here between the two giants.
Manchester United and Atletico Madridto end in a draw
With a background as a writer, Rodrigo has managed to bring together his hobbies and education writing sports content for various top-tier sites around the world.