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Barcelona will look to defend a narrow first-leg lead when they welcome Portuguese giants Benfica to Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys for Tuesday’s return leg of their Champions League last-16 clash.
The Blaugrana are looking to reach the quarter-finals in back-to-back Champions League campaigns, while the visitors want to advance to the last eight for the third time in four seasons.
We say: Barcelona 3-1 Benfica
Barcelona’s high defensive line could offer opportunities for Benfica’s attack to exploit, but while we think the visitors will get on the scoresheet, we believe the Blaugrana will showcase their firepower to seal a relatively comfortable victory and a place in the Champions League quarter-finals.
> Champions League preview: Barcelona vs Benfica
> Latest on Lewandowski, Christensen: Barcelona injury, suspension news vs. Benfica
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Surely still counting their lucky Parisian stars, Liverpool will play host to Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 contest at Anfield on Tuesday evening.
Arne Slot’s men somehow left the French capital with a 1-0 win on their record from last week’s first leg, where a super sub and a super goalkeeper were their heroes of the hour.
We say: Liverpool 1-3 Paris Saint-Germain (a.e.t, PSG win 3-2 on aggregate)
PSG’s crop were allegedly left surprised at the level of Liverpool’s performance in midweek, and while Anfield on Champions League nights can prove intimidating for any all foes, the Kop may be silenced on Tuesday.
Slot’s side were nothing if not mediocre in the first half of their Southampton success and needed two Salah spot kicks to bail them out in the second half, but do not expect PSG to make similar mistakes in their own penalty area.
As Enrique is also blessed with a fully-fit squad and could afford to make numerous changes at the weekend, the visitors’ refreshed options should rectify their first-leg attacking mistakes against their leggy visitors, and PSG therefore have our vote to progress at the end of a 120-minute marathon.
> Champions League preview: Liverpool vs PSG
> Eight changes from Enrique? Predicted PSG XI vs. Liverpool
> Elliott starts as big name dropped: Predicted Liverpool XI vs. PSG
> Five players walking tightrope: Liverpool injury, suspension list for PSG clash
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Bayer Leverkusen will have to produce one of the greatest Champions League comebacks of all time if they are to advance past visitors Bayern Munich into the quarter-finals when they meet on Tuesday at BayArena.
The hosts were beaten 3-0 by the Bavarians on March 5 in the first leg of their round of 16 clash following a second-half collapse, and it should also be noted that they trail their first-placed opponents by eight points in the Bundesliga.
We say: Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Bayern Munich (Bayern win 4-1 on aggregate)
Bayer Leverkusen boast a formidable record at home, but they may struggle to make the most of their chances against Bayern without Wirtz.
It would be surprising if the hosts managed to prevent the visitors from scoring, and it is difficult to see anything outcome other than Bayern advancing.
> Champions League preview: B. Leverkusen vs Bayern
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With one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals after last week’s first leg, Inter Milan will aim to finish the job against Feyenoord when the pair meet again on Tuesday.
Inter take a two-goal lead into the second leg of their last-16 tie at San Siro, so the Dutch club face an improbable task against Europe’s meanest defence.
We say: Inter Milan 2-0 Feyenoord (Inter win 4-0 on aggregate)
There was very little in the first leg to suggest Feyenoord have sufficient firepower to topple another Milan giant.
With clean sheets written in their DNA under Simone Inzaghi, Inter can expect to progress and book a possible last-eight clash with Bayern Munich – their victims in the 2010 final.
> Champions League preview: Inter Milan vs Feyenoord
