After seven entertaining matchdays, the UEFA Champions League’s league part involves a dramatic shut on Wednesday with 13 simultaneous video games, every of them bearing some significance because the street to subsequent spring’s last turns into clearer.
While Arsenal and Bayern Munich are already by means of to the spherical of 16 and a handful are assured no less than a berth within the knockout part playoffs, there may be a lot to play for — and loads of questions for Europe’s elites to reply. Can Manchester City finish their league part 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 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
Surprise elimination
James Benge: Monaco — Currently fairly properly positioned in twenty first and rounding the competitors off at residence, it’s Monaco’s misfortune that they’re operating into a Juventus staff which are beginning to discover a little bit of verve beneath Luciano Spalletti. Though they’re hardly the kind of superpower who ought to be competing for prime eight spots there actually is sufficient expertise on this staff to have been properly within the prime 24. You worry that their incapacity to beat Pafos away and Tottenham at residence may vastly hurt Sebastien Pocognoli’s males.
Pardeep Cattry: Napoli — When Antonio Conte begins complaining publicly, the tip is often close to. The vibes aren’t so nice for Napoli after a 3-0 pounding by Juventus over the weekend, doubtless placing them out of attain within the Serie A title race and making certain the vibes aren’t all that nice heading into Matchday 8 within the Champions League. Combine that with the truth that Chelsea, regardless of a chaotic season, are doing fairly properly in Europe, Napoli might crumble beneath the stress on Wednesday and see their hopes of advancing on this competitors dashed, too.
Francesco Porzio: Napoli — I do not actually know if it might 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 will be already thought-about as one of many largest disappointments of the Champions League season.
Chuck Booth: Monaco — Despite having some good wins through the league part to this point, taking out Galatasaray and Bodo/Glimt whereas taking a level off of Manchester City, the French aspect are a nice instance of a staff that did not do sufficient towards groups round them. Defeat Pafos and issues can be fairly differnet however going through Juventus on the ultimate day with so many groups in a position to surpass them units Monaco up for disappointment at residence.
Surprise 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 could be the operative phrase although given Napoli’s faltering kind in Serie A and the Champions League. If there may be a staff who’ve a tactical type 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 swimsuit them simply positive. They aren’t merely on tempo to advance however to spare their struggling followers two additional 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 unhealthy look for a few of their opponents however Spurs will not care, nor ought to they.
Francesco Porzio: Tottenham — Thomas Frank’s aspect is in a great spot 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 part. With the German aspect already eradicated from the Champions League, Spurs can realistically maintain robust hopes of avoiding the playoffs subsequent month.
Chuck Booth: Tottenham — Center again FC cannot preserve getting away with this, proper? It’s a staff who already gained 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’s fairly unusual as a result of now, relying on who they meet within the knockouts, Tottenham might flip into a aspect that groups do not wish to face with gamers having time to return to well being.
Team 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 frivolously and also you’d fancy them to nick multiple on the different finish if Hansi Flick loosens any kind of handbrake that he may need utilized to the Catalans this season. Still whether it is to be a shoot out, it’s Barca who’ve probably the most intimidating arsenal.
Pardeep Cattry: Manchester City — Things proceed to go within the flawed course for Manchester City and it is onerous to place a finger on why, partly as a result of they’ve all of the instruments they should go on a deep run. Sure, they’re overly reliant on Erling Haaland however Pep Guardiola’s aspect are to not be underestimated — Haaland can start operating sizzling at any given time and the excellent news for City is that nwe signing Rayan Cherki migth have the ability to fill in as Mr. Reliable in case his Norwegian teammate can not. City aren’t good however they’d nonetheless be the favorites in most of their potential matchups within the knockout pahse, and never solely due to their pedigree.
Francesco Porzio: Barcelona — Looking on the standings coming into the final matchday of motion, Barcelona are out of the highest eight simply for the purpose distinction however contemplating they’ll face FC Copenaghen within the final sport of the league part and may rating a lot of targets and keep away from the 2 additional video games in February, a key month for the LaLiga title race.
Chuck Booth: Manchester City — Losing to Bodo/Glimt might have been the wake-up name that City wanted. They could not provide something on the counter assault, however at this level, it is about simply making it to the knockout part, which they’ve already completed. Once they get there, new signings Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi will have the ability to provide main lifts to a squad that certainly wants it. While City nonetheless have to get Erling Haaland again to the height of his powers, that is nonetheless a aspect that nobody will wish to face.
Team most needing to keep away from the playoffs
James Benge: Manchester City — There is a lot of labor to do on a number of fronts the place Pep Guardiola is worried 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 kind within the latter. Those latest outcomes are additionally a warning signal of how dramatically issues can go flawed in 90 minutes for City, who may 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 a actual indictment on their bonafides each in Italy and in Europe. Adding a couple of additional video games to the schedule is not going to assist in a fiercely-contested race for first place in Serie A, whereas the opportunity of drawing one of many extra aggressive groups that attain the knockout part playoffs might 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 more likely to face the playoffs in February even when they’ll win towards Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday however that will be a huge subject. 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 might truly work in Massimiliano Allegri’s favor. The additional fixtures might assist AC Milan probabilities, making Inter’s participation within the playoffs doubtlessly the perfect information of their week.
Chuck Booth: Juventus — While their fortunes have improved as of late, ending between ninth and eleventh within the league part desk might set a membership as much as face Napoli in a spherical of 16 tie. This is even worse if it is an Italian membership attributable to Antonio Conte’s familiarity with them. Given that Juve are a aspect 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 begin with? Arsenal are prime and are in all probability going to be the primary staff to go 8-0-0 within the league part. Despite the mass hysteria that adopted a bizarre loss to Manchester United, they are not doing too shabbily within the Premier League both and European video games appear to be the place Arsenal lose their inhibition. Yes, 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 might be to select another person, the Champions League title is clearly Arsenal’s to lose at this stage. It doesn’t suggest there aren’t formidable challengers, Bayern Munich among the many most blatant, nor does it imply the Gunners have all of it mapped out. A have a look at Sunday’s defeat to Manchester United exhibits that they should discover ways to cope with adversity however even then, it’s onerous to not favor them over many of the groups they might 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 — While Arsenal are in all probability the perfect staff round Europe proper now, Bayern Munich have a huge benefit as they’ve already secured the Bundesliga race with a 8-point hole on Borussia Dortmund and may give attention to the European match, whereas Mikel Arteta’s aspect must pay extra consideration on the Premier League as properly, as they could not enhance their hole with the opponents.
Chuck Booth: Arsenal — Until confirmed in any other case, the Gunners are the staff to beat. The different 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. Sure, Bayern Munich might return to their annual custom of squashing Arsenal’s hopes within the knockout phases 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 should proceed to reply ot the stress that they are confronted with.
