With places in the last 16 up for grabs, UEFA Champions League action returns on Tuesday night with four play-off second legs to look forward to across the continent.
AC Milan host Feyenoord in the first game of the evening at 5.45pm, before three 8pm games get underway, with Atalanta facing Club Brugge, Celtic travelling to Bayern Munich and Benfica entertaining Monaco.
- AC MILAN TO BEAT FEYENOORD TO NIL
- ATALANTA TO LEAD CLUB BRUGGE AT HALF-TIME/FULL-TIME
- BAYERN MUNICH -2 HANDICAP VS CELTIC
- BENFICA TO BEAT MONACO TO NIL
AC Milan vs Feyenoord
A goal from Igor Paixao is the difference between AC Milan and Feyenoord ahead of their second-leg showdown at the San Siro on Tuesday night.
The Rossoneri trail after an early goal from Paixao in just the third minute of the game gave Feyenoord a slender advantage going into the return in Milan.
It’s fair to say it was Milan who were the more dominant force in that opening game at De Kuip, with the Rossoneri enjoying more possession and having four more shots on target than their Dutch hosts.
Feyenoord might have edged the first leg on their own patch but the Eredivisie outfit have struggled recently on their travels, failing to score in their last two away games against PSV Eindhoven and NAC Breda.
Given Feyenoord’s shortcomings in the final third on the road of late, Milan to win while keeping the visitors off the scoresheet appeals in this one at what should be a rocking San Siro.
AC MILAN TO WIN TO NIL
Atalanta vs Club Brugge
Milan’s fellow Serie A outfit Atalanta also find themselves a goal down going into their second leg on Italian soil as they trail Club Brugge 2-1 after the first leg in Belgium.
Atalanta might well feel like they should have come away from Brugge with at least a draw, but in the end it was a hugely controversial stoppage-time penalty scored by Gustaf Nilsson that proved the difference between the two sides.
Club Brugge have been great at home - unbeaten in 16 games in all competitions, of which they have won 13 - but have been unable to replicate that form on the road, as they are without a win in any of their last four away games.
Atalanta will look to take advantage of Brugge’s poor form on their travels and will be eager to make a fast start as they did in their last home game in the Champions League when they scored in the 12th minute before beating Sturm Graz 5-0.
With La Dea capable of coming out of the traps quickly, they look more than capable of leading at both the half-time and full-time whistle on Tuesday night.
ATALANTA HALF-TIME/FULL-TIME
Bayern Munich vs Celtic
Celtic face a daunting task when they head to the Allianz Arena trailing Bayern Munich 2-1 after the first leg at Parkhead.
Brendan Rodgers’ side rode their luck at times against the Bavarian giants and can consider themselves somewhat fortunate to only be a goal down going into the second leg in Germany.
Michael Olise and Harry Kane got on the scoresheet for the visitors at Parkhead, before Celtic’s Japanese star Daizen Maeda pulled one back for the Hoops late on.
The issue for the Bhoys going into this game is the fact they have a poor away record when it comes to the Champions League.
Failing to win any of their last 12 games on the road in Europe’s elite club competition, the home of Bayern Munich is a tough place for the Scottish champions to end that run.
Germany was not a happy destination for Celtic on their last visit, with Rodgers watching his side suffer a 7-1 mauling at the hands of Borussia Dortmund in this competition earlier this season.
Bayern are a much stronger outfit than Dortmund this term and if they can make a strong start in this second leg, Celtic could be in for another long night on Germany soil.
Given the Hoops’ record on the road, Bayern with a -2 handicap catches the eye of this encounter, as Bayern look set to breeze their way to the last 16 after what was a slow start to the new-look league phase this season.
BAYERN MUNICH -2 HANDICAP
Benfica vs Monaco
Having seen no blowouts in the opening exchanges, all four second legs are nicely poised going into the second legs.
Benfica are the ones who hold a one-goal advantage as they, like Bayern, were able to earn a win on the road in their first leg against Monaco.
Vangelis Pavlidis was the man to score the decisive goal at the Stade Louis II but perhaps Benfica will be frustrated they didn’t put the tie to bed as Monaco did have Al-Musrati sent off in the 52nd minute.
Failing to make the most of the one-man advantage for 40 minutes will be disappointing from a Benfica perspective but they were still able to leave the principality with the win and a one-goal advantage for their return to the Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica.
Benfica have looked solid at the back in recent weeks and go into Tuesday’s game on the back of two consecutive clean sheets in away games against Santa Clara. Now, armed with home advantage, As Aguias might well be able to make it three shutouts on the bounce this week.
Looking back on Monaco’s recent away games in the Champions League, the Ligue 1 outfit have been found wanting with their performances in the final third.
Losing 3-0 at both Arsenal and Inter Milan in their last two road games in this competition, a similar scoreline might be on the cards when they head to Lisbon to face a side enjoying a six-game winning streak.
Given Monaco’s lack of goals away from home in this tournament, a Benfica win to nil appeals in the Portuguese capital.
BENFICA TO WIN TO NIL
