The last 16 of the Champions League has arrived! Desh Parthab takes a look at five players who could light proceedings up across Europe including Thomas Müller, Joao Felix and more!
The start of the knockouts! European action returns to our screens tonight with some mouth-watering fixtures with Dortmund facing Chelsea and Brugge taking on Benfica.
Graham Potter has overseen a busy January transfer window and will still be sussing out his strongest starting XI. The Blues manager has won four of his five European fixtures in a seriously impressive debut Champions League campaign – even if domestic form has been well below par.
His English counterpart, Scott Parker, is having a dismal start to life at Brugge. The boss of the Belgian outfit has registered just one victory across his seven fixtures at the helm.
PSG host Bavarian powerhouse Bayern Munich in a repeat of the 2020/21 Champions League final. The home side are yet to register a clean sheet in the tournament during this campaign and I can’t see that changing here.
Bayern have netted 3+ goals in each of their previous three fixtures (across all competitions) and could take full advantage of PSG’s defensive issues.
Müller Time!
Thomas Müller is my pick of the lot to find the back of the net when PSG face Bayern. The 33-year-old has been rolling back the years, delivering excellent attacking returns for teh Bavarian titans. He has been involved in four goals (2G 2A) across his previous four appearances, across all competitions. He also recently broke Gerd Müller’s record for the most Bundesliga appearances for an outfield player. Bayern have won all six of their UCL fixtures this term and currently boast a goal difference of 16!
Thomas Muller for Bayern Munich - more Bundesliga games than any other outfield player! 👏 pic.twitter.com/QiPdo6JjsA
— GOAL India (@Goal_India) February 11, 2023
AC Milan’s Leão tipped to give Spurs issues
Whilst the reigning Serie A champions are faltering on the domestic front, their Portuguese dangerman is having a season to remember. Rafael Leao currently leads his AC Milan teammates for goals AND assists in the Italian topflight. Leao is primed to take full advantage of a significantly weaker Spurs defence. Indeed, the Londoners’ injury list includes Lloris, Sessengnon, Bissouma and most recently, Rodrigo Bentancur.
🤩 More of this tomorrow please @RafaeLeao7 🙏
— SempreMilan 🏆 (@SempreMilanCom) February 13, 2023
pic.twitter.com/klB2Uu1kbs
Fantastic Felix key to Chelsea’s European hopes
In just two appearances for Chelsea, Joao Felix has made some impression. The Atletico loanee registered six shots (four of which were on target) on his debut, missing one big chance. In that one, Felix became the 13th player to receive a straight red card on their Premier League debut. The dangerman picked up right where he left off with a composed finish in his first game back and now eyes up a Dortmund defence that registered just 2 clean sheets during the group stages.
A lovely first Premier League goal for Joao Felix! 👏 pic.twitter.com/nPWt1BcAHt
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 11, 2023
Red-hot Joao Mario set to star for Benfica
Joao Mario is on a hot streak! Across his previous three league appearances in the Portuguese topflight, the Benfica hitman has netted five goals from his five shots on target. Furthermore, he delivered an assist from his 5 chances created during that period. Benfica travel to Belgium to do battle with Club Brugge who were beaten 4-0 on home soil by fellow Portuguese outfit FC Porto in the Group Stages.
🔴🦅 João Mário (30) with a 2 goals + assist today vs Casa Pia! He has having one of his best ever seasons: 16 G+A in 19 Liga Portugal games. pic.twitter.com/zwVc7RoMmG
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) February 4, 2023
Brilliant Bellingham sets sights on Chelsea
Dortmund could hardly have had a better start to 2023. The German giants have a perfect record since the turn of the year, across all competitions – netting 17 goals in that time. Like Dortmund, Jude Bellingham has levelled up. The teenager has been involved in four goals (1G 3A) in his previous five appearances across all competitions. Despite the uncertainty surrounding this inaugural Dortmund and Chelsea clash, one thing is almost certain – Bellingham will deliver.
Marco Reus scored the winner for Dortmund yesterday after an assist from Jude Bellingham! #vflbvb
— Reyi (@Reinaldodcg9) February 9, 2023
pic.twitter.com/a1XjEt4vWL
