Atlético Madrid, Chelsea in intriguing fixture
The UEFA Champions League is back with another round of intriguing fixtures this week as Atletico Madrid take on Premier League giants Chelsea at the National Arena in Bucharest on Tuesday. The two European giants are tactically robust and will likely play out an intriguing fixture this week.
Chelsea have shown marked improvement under Thomas Tuchel this season and have made their way into the top-four in the Premier League standings. The Blues were held to a 1-1 draw by Southampton over the weekend and have plenty of work to do in the final third this season.
Atletico Madrid have endured a startling slump and have dropped five points out of six against Levante over the past week. Los Colchoneros have been impressive this season and their impressive defence will want to prevent Tuchel’s side from scoring an away goal in this fixture.
Atletico Madrid have a surprisingly good record against Chelsea and have won two out of six European fixtures played between the two teams. Chelsea have managed only one victory against Diego Simeone’s side and will need to take it up a notch in this fixture.
Chelsea have made massive tactical strides in recent weeks but will need to create more in the final third to trouble Atletico Madrid. Both teams are on a fairly even footing at the moment and are likely to share the spoils in this fixture.
Credit: sportskeeda.com
Bayern Munich players
Lazio set to upset Bayern Munich
Lazio host Bayern Munich at the Stadio Olimpico in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 clash tonight.
The hosts made it through to this stage of the competition after a dramatic matchday six fixture in Group F. The Italians drew 2-2 with Club Brugge and scraped through to the knockout stages.
Charles de Ketelaere hit the crossbar in second-half stoppage time as the Belgian champions were denied their path to the knockout stages by the barest of margins.
Lazio, though, are now in the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time in 21 years, having last made this stage back in 2000.
Bayern, on the other hand, comfortably topped a group also consisting of Atletico Madrid, RB Salzburg and Lokomotiv Moscow.
However, the German champions have not won either of their last two games in the Bundesliga. They returned from Doha as Club World Champions and then drew 3-3 against Arminia Bielefeld on Monday. On Saturday night, Bayern lost 2-1 to Eintracht Frankfurt.
Hansi Flick will not have an easy task as Bayern begin the home stretch towards retaining the crown that they won in Lisbon last August.
Simone Inzaghi’s Lazio have never faced Bayern Munich in a competitive game before this tie.
Injuries and COVID-19 issues have ensured that Bayern have lost some momentum, so Lazio will fancy their chances as well.
Credit: sportskeeda.com
The post TODAY’S ROUND OF 16 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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