Last 16 of the Champions League: previews and predictions for this week's matches

 Chelsea v Lille, Tuesday

Chelsea left it late against Crystal Palace on Saturday before Hakim Ziyech's 89th-minute objective procured them a 1-0 win at Selhurst Park. Thomas Tuchel's side have won their last five matches, a run they will expect to go on against Lille at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night. The clubs have just met two times before in Europe - in the gathering phase of the Champions League in 2019 - and Chelsea dominated both of those matches 2-1.

Tuchel is expecting to have Cesar Azpilicueta and Callum Hudson-Odoi accessible for choice. Andreas Christensen nominated for Azpilicueta at Crystal Palace on Saturday. Whenever fit, Azpilicueta will most likely play at right-back, yet Tuchel may not wish to irritate his crotch issue with the League Cup last approaching on Sunday. Reece James, Ben Chilwell and Mason Mount are out, however Mount is basically back in preparing.

Having won Ligue 1 last year, Lille have been extremely disheartening this season and are not even in the top portion of the table - they right now have an adverse objective contrast in the association. Nonetheless, they have improved in the Champions League, winning a gathering that likewise contained Red Bull Salzburg, Sevilla and Wolfsburg.

Leo Jardim has held consecutive clean sheets against Montpellier and Metz, and is probably going to show up of the period instead of normal goalkeeper Ivo Grbic. Mehmet Zeki Celik is relied upon to return at right-back having passed on Lille's goalless draw with Metz at the end of the week because of a boycott, while Gabriel Gudmundsson hopes to have made sure about the left-back spot following Reinildo's transition to Atlético Madrid in January.

Heavenly messenger Gomes kept going only 27 minutes against Metz prior to being constrained off with injury and may miss the primary leg in London. Timothy Weah supplanted Gomes at the end of the week and will likely arrange on the contrary flank to Jonathan Bamba, however Hatem Ben Arfa is a possibility for supervisor Jocelyn Gourvennec. Renato Sanches, Xeka and Benjamin André are doing combating for the two focal midfield spots in Lille's leaned toward 4-4-2 framework, with Burak Yilmaz and Jonathan David, their top scorer this season, front and center. Expectation: Chelsea 2-0 Lille

Villarreal v Juventus, Tuesday

Romelu Lukaku.

Lukaku's undesirable record is cause for worry in Chelsea's prize pursue

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This will be the very first gathering among Villarreal and Juventus, which makes it the just one of the eight last 16 ties that has never been played. Villarreal, the supreme Europa League champions, have been smudgy this season in La Liga. They began the mission with four draws, had a plunge toward the beginning of winter and afterward set up a run of four successes before Christmas to move up the table. Following a short winless altercation January they are presently unbeaten in four and welcome Juventus to Spain on the rear of a 4-1 win at Granada. Having been thirteenth toward the beginning of December, they have their sights set on a best four completion. It is hard to tell which Villarreal will turn up.

January appearance Giovani Lo Celso endured 70 minutes against Granada on Saturday however he was imagined with ice on his leg after he fell off and will, alongside another previous Tottenham man Étienne Capoue, need a late wellness test. Villarreal are without harmed triplet Rubén Peña, Francis Coquelin and Gerard Moreno, yet Yéremy Pino is back in conflict having missed their last gathering game with Atalanta in December because of a boycott. Arnaut Danjuma as of late gotten back to activity following a spell uninvolved and scored a full go-around against Granada, which will give Unai Emery a lift. Despite the fact that Emery has won the Europa League multiple times, he has never taken a club past the last 16 of the Champions League. Juventus, who are fourth in Serie A having drawn three of their last four association matches, have a plenty of choice issues. Giorgio Chiellini, Federico Chiesa and Federico Bernardeschi will miss the excursion to the Estadio de la Cerámica. Daniele Rugani pulled up in the warm-up before Juve's 1-1 draw against Torino on Friday, which implied that Alex Sandro needed to accomplice Matthijs de Ligt at the core of the safeguard. Luca Pellegrini nominated at left-back, however he and Paulo Dybala supported thumps in the derby. Dybala has not gone with the crew, however Leonardo Bonucci has gotten back to preparing to help Max Allegri's guarded choices.

Luckily for Juve, Danilo is additionally accessible for choice and prone to begin close by De Ligt, with Alex Sandro getting back to left-back. In assault, Moise Kean will likely arrange close by Álvaro Morata on the side of Dusan Vlahovic, while individual January appearance Denis Zakaria is likewise expected to begin in a 4-3-2-1 arrangement. Forecast: Villarreal 2-1 Juventus

Ligue 1 - Nantes v Paris St Germain<br>Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Nantes v Paris St Germain - The Stade de la Beaujoire - Louis Fonteneau, Nantes, France - February 19, 2022 Nantes' Quentin Merlin praises scoring their second objective with Moses Simon REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

Nantes' shock prevail upon PSG was a victory for Antoine Kombouaré

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Atlético Madrid v Manchester United, Wednesday

These sides have not met starting around 1991, when Atlético Madrid finished Manchester United's guard of the Cup Winners' Cup. Atlético won that tie - which was additionally in the last 16 - 4-1 preceding being taken out of the now outdated contest by Club Brugge in the quarter-finals. Diego Simeone had not begun playing for Atlético by then, however he has now been dealing with the club for more than 10 years.

Atlético won La Liga last season, yet they won't hold their title. They are 15 focuses behind Real Madrid and have been ridiculously conflicting of late, winning three and losing three of their beyond six games. They did essentially skip back from their shock 1-0 home loss to La Liga's base club, Levante, with a 3-0 win at Osasuna at the end of the week, however their home structure has been poor, winning only three of their beyond six matches before their fans.

In a further blow for Atléti, Yannick Carrasco is suspended for the two legs. The Belgian's nonattendance should imply that Thomas Lemar will begin down Atletico's left flank. All things considered, Simeone is perspiring on the accessibility of Lemar after a presumed positive Covid test, with Rodrigo De Paul a further choice whenever required. Felipe, however, gets back from a boycott and could begin in a three-man safeguard close by Stefan Savic and Reinildo Mandava. José Giménez may not be gambled on Wednesday, however Simeone is probably going to be without Daniel Wass, Antoine Griezmann and Matheus Cunha. Luis Suárez, who scored an incredible objective at the end of the week, will savor an opportunity to confront Manchester United once more.

Manchester United have not many injury concerns, in spite of the fact that Edinson Cavani is confronting a test of skill and endurance to highlight in some limit. Alex Telles, Raphaël Varane and Diogo Dalot might get back to the group instead of Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelöf and Aaron Wan-Bissaka as Ralf Rangnick revives his side after the 4-2 win at Leeds on Sunday. Jesse Lingard made his first Premier League start in a Manchester United shirt since New Year's Day in 2020 on Sunday, however Marcus Rashford is probably going to return on the right half of the assault. Fred is pushing for a spot in the side having scored off the seat at Elland Road, however Rangnick might keep confidence in Scott McTominay and Paul Pogba behind Bruno Fernandes in the recreation area. Chelsea beat Atlético Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League keep going season and proceeded to win the opposition, so that is something to propel the United players. Expectation: Atlético Madrid 1-1 Manchester United

Benfica v Ajax, Wednesday

Benfica were held to a 2-2 draw at Boavista on Friday night, losing further ground in the title race. They presently sit 12 focuses behind association pioneers Porto and should place in a significantly better execution against Ajax on Wednesday night to arrive at the quarter-finals of the Champions League - something they have not done beginning around 2016. Álex Grimaldo is accessible for Benfica, which is a lift for the hosts, however Lucas Veressimo is missing.

Ajax, who are top of the Eredivisie having won their last seven association matches, might be without focus back Jurrien Timber after the youthful Dutchman took a thump to his calf while scoring their triumphant objective against Willem II at the end of the week. He was traded by Perr Schuurs for the last minutes of the 1-0 triumph and Schuurs might begin close by Lisandro Martínez at the core of the protection in Lisbon. Brian Brobbey, Sean Klaiber and Maarten Stekelenburg are largely missing, with goalkeeper André Onana set to pass up a great opportunity to Remko Pasveer. Ryan Gravenberch was a final part substitute at the Koning Willem II Stadion and may get back to the beginning XI at Davy Klaassen's cost in the recreation area. Sébastien Haller is the top scorer in the Champions League this season - he scored 10 objectives for Ajax as they won every one of the six of their gathering games - so he will be quick to track down the net again in this skirmish of two previous European heroes. Expectation: Benfica 0-2 Ajax