Champions League: Bayern and BVB's Easy Tasks, Leipzig's Daunting Challenge
FC Bayern and Borussia Dortmund are in for a relatively smooth ride in the Champions League round of 16, while RB Leipzig faces a significant test against Real Madrid.
Munich and Dortmund will commence their knockout phase in February and March against Lazio Roma and PSV Eindhoven, respectively. These opponents are currently in a slump, giving Bayern and BVB a slight advantage.
Meanwhile, Leipzig will take on the mighty Real Madrid. After finishing second behind Manchester City in the knockout phase, Leipzig enters the match as the underdog.
Leipzig and Man City competed fiercely in the previous round, but Leipzig's second-place finish means they'll have to overcome a formidable Real Madrid lineup. Culturally-rich RB Leipzig, the fourth Bundesliga team to reach the Champions League, will struggle not just for on-field success but also to match Real Madrid's global appeal and history.
Bayern Munich, with their strong preliminary round performance, are favorites against Lazio, currently languishing in the Serie A table. Dortmund also looks set to progress against PSV, headed by former Dortmund coach Peter Bosz.
The pressure is high for RB Leipzig as they face Real Madrid, a record Champions League winners, in this prestigious European tournament.
Manchester City, defenders of the Champions League title, face surprise team FC Copenhagen, while Barcelona battles Italian champions SSC Napoli in other round of 16 matches.
Paris Saint-Germain has a supposedly simpler opponent in Real Sociedad San Sebastian, while Arsenal and Inter Milan faced off against FC Porto and Atlético Madrid, respectively.
This is the final season for the Champions League in its present format, as significant changes are expected for the 2024 season. The new format will feature a league-style setup with 36 clubs in the preliminary round, and an additional knockout round for some participants: the play-offs for the round of 16.
Additional Information
- Bayern Munich’s and Borussia Dortmund’s opponents in the round of 16 have not been determined based on the enrichment data. However, it's worth considering that Bayern Munich could face Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund might face Lille. These matches were determined by the draw, which considered both teams' league positions and knockout phase playoff winners.
- Leipzig's opponent, Real Madrid, has an illustrious history with 13 Champions League titles, the most in the competition. With a lineup that includes elite players like Karim Benzema, Eden Hazard, and Ferland Mendy, Real Madrid will not take Leipzig lightly.
