After seven entertaining matchdays, the UEFA Champions League’s league section involves a dramatic shut on Wednesday with 13 simultaneous video games, every of them bearing some significance because the highway to subsequent spring’s closing turns into clearer.
Whereas Arsenal and Bayern Munich are already via to the spherical of 16 and a handful are assured at the least a berth within the knockout section playoffs, there may be a lot to play for — and loads of questions for Europe’s elites to reply. Can Manchester Metropolis finish their league section marketing campaign on a excessive after final week’s shock defeat at Bodo/Glimt? Will Inter remind onlookers of their credentials as a regional heavyweight with a win towards Borussia Dortmund? Are Napoli in hassle? Are Tottenham Hotspur about to overperform?
The CBS Sports activities staff takes their greatest shot at answering these questions and predicting how precisely Matchday 8 — and the remainder of the Champions League season will play out.
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Champions League matches
Shock elimination
James Benge: Monaco — At the moment fairly properly positioned in twenty first and rounding the competitors off at dwelling, it’s Monaco’s misfortune that they’re working right into a Juventus staff which might be beginning to discover a little bit of verve below Luciano Spalletti. Although they’re hardly the kind of superpower who needs to be competing for prime eight spots there actually is sufficient expertise on this staff to have been properly within the prime 24. You concern that their lack of ability to beat Pafos away and Tottenham at dwelling would possibly significantly hurt Sebastien Pocognoli’s males.
Pardeep Cattry: Napoli — When Antonio Conte begins complaining publicly, the top is normally close to. The vibes aren’t so nice for Napoli after a 3-0 pounding by Juventus over the weekend, seemingly placing them out of attain within the Serie A title race and guaranteeing the vibes will not be all that nice heading into Matchday 8 within the Champions League. Mix that with the truth that Chelsea, regardless of a chaotic season, are doing fairly properly in Europe, Napoli could crumble below the strain on Wednesday and see their hopes of advancing on this competitors dashed, too.
Francesco Porzio: Napoli — I do not actually know if it could depend as a shock or not however I do not see Antonio Conte’s staff advancing to the playoffs. The Azzurri are deeply affected by accidents and the Italian coach confirmed his disappointment concerning the present state of affairs many occasions over the previous few weeks. With two wins, two attracts and three defeats together with the 6-2 loss to PSV, Napoli may be already thought-about as one of many largest disappointments of the Champions League season.
Chuck Sales space: Monaco — Regardless of having some good wins throughout the league section thus far, taking out Galatasaray and Bodo/Glimt whereas taking some extent off of Manchester Metropolis, the French facet are a fantastic instance of a staff that did not do sufficient towards groups round them. Defeat Pafos and issues could be fairly differnet however dealing with Juventus on the ultimate day with so many groups in a position to surpass them units Monaco up for disappointment at dwelling.
Shock prime eight finisher
James Benge: Chelsea — Holding onto eighth place because it stands, Chelsea have one of many harder assignments on paper of the groups on 13 factors. On paper is likely to be the operative phrase although given Napoli’s faltering type in Serie A and the Champions League. If there’s a staff who’ve a tactical model to take the air out of massive video games like this it’s in all probability Liam Rosenior’s, whose midfield ought to have the ability to impose itself on the hosts and set the stage for a slim, essential victory.
Pardeep Cattry: Tottenham — Thomas Frank’s staff can not beat Premier League relegation contenders West Ham United and Burnley however Europe’s middling groups go well with them simply nice. They don’t seem to be merely on tempo to advance however to spare their struggling followers two further video games by advancing straight to the spherical of 16, although Frank’s staff appears visionless and lacks the standard to do a lot harm of their home league. Their outcomes are in all probability a foul search for a few of their opponents however Spurs will not care, nor ought to they.
Francesco Porzio: Tottenham — Thomas Frank’s facet is in a great place within the European match as they’re in fifth place with 14 factors after seven video games and can meet Eintracht Frankfurt away within the final sport of the league section. With the German facet already eradicated from the Champions League, Spurs can realistically maintain robust hopes of avoiding the playoffs subsequent month.
Chuck Sales space: Tottenham — Middle again FC cannot hold getting away with this, proper? It is a staff who already received the Europa League final marketing campaign whereas ending seventeenth within the Premier League final season, and even with their wobbles, Thomas Frank has gotten simply sufficient out of the squad to complete comfortably within the prime eight incomes their spot within the final 16 and much-needed income for the membership. It is fairly unusual as a result of now, relying on who they meet within the knockouts, Tottenham may flip right into a facet that groups do not need to face with gamers having time to return to well being.
Workforce that’s in hassle however should not fear
James Benge: Barcelona — The battle for prime eight might be going to be determined by purpose distinction and if there’s one factor Barcelona can do it’s run up the targets. Copenhagen aren’t to be taken calmly and also you’d fancy them to nick a couple of on the different finish if Hansi Flick loosens any kind of handbrake that he may need utilized to the Catalans this season. Nonetheless whether it is to be a shoot out, it’s Barca who’ve essentially the most intimidating arsenal.
Pardeep Cattry: Manchester Metropolis — Issues proceed to go within the improper course for Manchester Metropolis and it is onerous to place a finger on why, partially as a result of they’ve all of the instruments they should go on a deep run. Certain, they’re overly reliant on Erling Haaland however Pep Guardiola’s facet are to not be underestimated — Haaland can start working scorching at any given time and the excellent news for Metropolis is that nwe signing Rayan Cherki migth have the ability to fill in as Mr. Dependable in case his Norwegian teammate can not. Metropolis aren’t excellent however they might nonetheless be the favorites in most of their potential matchups within the knockout pahse, and never solely due to their pedigree.
Francesco Porzio: Barcelona — Wanting on the standings getting into the final matchday of motion, Barcelona are out of the highest eight only for the purpose distinction however contemplating they may face FC Copenaghen within the final sport of the league section and might rating loads of targets and keep away from the 2 further video games in February, a key month for the LaLiga title race.
Chuck Sales space: Manchester Metropolis — Shedding to Bodo/Glimt could have been the wake-up name that Metropolis wanted. They could not supply something on the counter assault, however at this level, it is about simply making it to the knockout section, which they’ve already accomplished. As soon as they get there, new signings Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi will have the ability to supply main lifts to a squad that certainly wants it. Whereas Metropolis nonetheless must get Erling Haaland again to the height of his powers, that is nonetheless a facet that nobody will need to face.
Workforce most needing to keep away from the playoffs
James Benge: Manchester Metropolis — There may be loads of work to do on a number of fronts the place Pep Guardiola is anxious and the very last thing he wants is to slot in two knockout playoffs round EFL Cup, FA Cup and Premier League commitments, all of the extra so given the faltering type within the latter. These latest outcomes are additionally a warning signal of how dramatically issues can go improper in 90 minutes for Metropolis, who would possibly simply have a little bit of a tough time in the event that they land an Olympiacos, Monaco or Napoli.
Pardeep Cattry: Inter — The present Serie A leaders have all they should keep away from defeat towards Borussia Dortmund but when they can not, the end result will really feel like an actual indictment on their bonafides each in Italy and in Europe. Including a few further video games to the schedule won’t assist in a fiercely-contested race for first place in Serie A, whereas the potential for drawing one of many extra aggressive groups that attain the knockout section playoffs may actually check Inter’s mettle — and throw their season into disarray for the second 12 months in a row.
Francesco Porzio: Inter — The Nerazzurri are prone to face the playoffs in February even when they may win towards Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday however that will be an enormous concern. Inter are locked in a title race with AC Milan in Serie A, and with the Rossoneri not concerned in European competitions, the extra workload of the playoffs may really work in Massimiliano Allegri’s favor. The additional fixtures could assist AC Milan probabilities, making Inter’s participation within the playoffs probably one of the best information of their week.
Chuck Sales space: Juventus — Whereas their fortunes have improved as of late, ending between ninth and eleventh within the league section desk may set a membership as much as face Napoli in a spherical of 16 tie. That is even worse if it is an Italian membership as a result of Antonio Conte’s familiarity with them. On condition that Juve are a facet the place you do not know what staff will seem on any day, that solely makes a knockout date with Napoli extra of a nightmare.
The favourite to win the competitors proper now
James Benge: Arsenal — Which extremely apparent level to start out with? Arsenal are prime and are in all probability going to be the primary staff to go 8-0-0 within the league section. Regardless of the mass hysteria that adopted a bizarre loss to Manchester United, they don’t seem to be doing too shabbily within the Premier League both and European video games appear to be the place Arsenal lose their inhibition. Sure, they do not get to take a look at of the league from spring onwards like Bayern do however there may be intimidating depth to Mikel Arteta’s squad to counterbalance that.
Pardeep Cattry: Arsenal — As enjoyable as it could be to select another person, the Champions League title is clearly Arsenal’s to lose at this stage. It does not imply there will not be formidable challengers, Bayern Munich among the many most evident, nor does it imply the Gunners have all of it mapped out. A take a look at Sunday’s defeat to Manchester United exhibits that they should learn to cope with adversity however even then, it’s onerous to not favor them over many of the groups they may potenitally meet en path to Budapest. Their protection stays Europe’s greatest, and their key to probably profitable this title for the primary time.
Francesco Porzio: Bayern Munich — Whereas Arsenal are in all probability one of the best staff round Europe proper now, Bayern Munich have an enormous benefit as they’ve already secured the Bundesliga race with a 8-point hole on Borussia Dortmund and might concentrate on the European match, whereas Mikel Arteta’s facet must pay extra consideration on the Premier League as properly, as they could not enhance their hole with the opponents.
Chuck Sales space: Arsenal — Till confirmed in any other case, the Gunners are the staff to beat. The opposite sides chasing them have loads of questions, and whereas there may be time to reply them, Arsenal’s protection leaves them prime of the pile. Certain, Bayern Munich may return to their annual custom of squashing Arsenal’s hopes within the knockout levels of the match, however exterior of one thing like that, it seems like that is Arsenal’s match to lose as they chase the primary UCL title of their historical past. Now they need to proceed to reply ot the strain that they are confronted with.
