Champions League expert picks, predictions: Who will prevail in Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid faceoff?

The UEFA Champions League round of 16 This week starts officially when various European heavyweights start to argue their case to reach the final of 31 May in Munich and to win the whole thing.

The action of this round is led by the latest edition of the Madrid Derby and another regional matchup between Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen. Those two games will offer important tests for Serial Champions League winners Real Madrid and Bayern Munich while trying to survive less than ideal seasons and make a statement in European game, while the same applies to Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool if they are confronted with a PARIS SAINT-GRAIN.

Prior to a week that teases entertainment and hopefully a little drama, here are choices and predictions of the CBS sports team.

Don’t miss any of the Champions League. As always you can catch all our coverage Paramount+” CBS Sports Network And CBS Sports Golazo Network all season.

Here are our expert choices for this matchday:

Champions League Bold Predictions: Real Madrid Miss Jude Bellingham Defense; Can PSG’s Ousmane Dembele shine?

James Benge

The Champions League -Lei from Tuesday

Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid

Player to view: Eduardo Camavinga – The crisis of figures does not show any signs of relaxing for Real Madrid, instead going on the field after decimating the defense of Carlo Ancelotti. Suspended with Jude Bellingham and Dani Ceballos Bless there are still enough quality players to call a competitive engine room, but with an aging Luka Modric next to him, there will be busy on Camavinga to match the dynamics of Atletico Madrid – James Benge

Man of the agreement: Kylian Mbappe – The French striker must replicate the performance of the second stage of the play -offs against Manchester City when Mbappe scored three goals and sent the side coached by Carlo Ancelotti to play in this Madrid Champions League derby. So far, Mbappe has scored seven goals in ten Champions League matches that have been played so far. – Francesco Porzio

Prediction: Real Madrid 1, Atletico Madrid 1 – Real Madrid has not been able to beat their Crosstown rivals this season in two previous meetings, and things are trending in the right direction for a new draw between the two. Both parties have impressive goal scorers and even if the ruling champions have not exactly had the best seasons, they still have that creepy capacity to get out of bad games, usually intact. – PARDEEP CATRY

Best bet: Real Madrid to Win (-110) – – Just like timepiece, this is about keeping it simple. When Real Madrid is on a playable song to win a game, especially one of this size, take them with you to win. Although competitions between these two have recently produced many peers, a meeting in the Champions League adds a different feeling to this meeting compared to La Liga. The usual play like Kylian Mbappe to score and the shots of Julian Alvarez on Target are also in the game, but if I support one thing, it is Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid to win in the regulation in Champions League. – Chuck Booth

The Champions League -Lei from Wednesday

PSG vs. Liverpool

Player to watch: Ousmane Dembele – The form of 2025, Dembele has already put Brest and Stuttgart on the sword in the Champions League. Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate are by far the best central backs he has come across since the goals burst. Has a lower standard of the opponent swollen the scoring numbers of Dembele? We may find out. – James Benge

Man of the match: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – The former Napoli wing player has had a big impact on his new club since he came to PSG this winter and already scored one goal against Brest in the play -offs of the tournament, because he could only play after the end of the winter transfer window. The performance of Kvaratskhelia in the two legs will probably determine the chances of the French giants to reach the quarterfinals. – Francesco Porzio

Prediction: Paris Saint-Germain 1, Liverpool 2- This feels a bit difficult to predict considering the circumstances that each team follow. Paris Saint-Germain has goals in them and seems to have corrected the race a bit with the addition of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and the increase in Bradley Barclola in shape, even if they are still fairly undoubtedly against Europe’s Elites. Liverpool is still on track for an impressive first season under manager Arne Slot, but it is difficult not to claim that the fatigue of a long season is already established. Mohamed Salah is currently a cheat code for the Reds, so he expects the visitors to have the lead in the first leg, even if it is a small one. – PARDEEP CATRY

Best bet: Ousmane Dembele and Mohamed Salah both have 2+ shots on goal (+491) – This is only half a unity game because these two teams meet in shape in the round of 16, but we lean on in-form stars to do what they do best when testing keepers. So far, Mohamed Salah has been the best player in the world who scored or assisted this campaign when he wants, while Dembele has done the best to push PSG forward without Kylian Mbappe. In a game that could rain goals, and is priced as if it wants, it is a good time to lean on shots. – Chuck Booth

Barcelona vs. Benfica

Player to watch: Wojciech Szczesny – The fact that Barcelona had to score five to beat Benfica when these parties met in January was ultimately a disastrousness of veteran Szczesny, who handed the opposition at least two goals. Even then he made up for a few late saves and it was almost the same story against Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey last month. Whether it is a party or famine, Szczesny is rarely less than a paying watch. – James Benge

Man of the competition: Lamine Yamal – An unparalleled talent, this is the time that the Teenage Spanish star had to make a difference. Until now, he has scored nine goals and especially 11 assists offered his teammates in all competitions, but his performance will be vital to find out whether Barcelona is a strong Champions League competitor. – Francesco Porzio

Prediction: Benfica 1, Barcelona 3 – As nice as a repeat of Barcelona’s 5-4 victory at Benfica could be on MatchDay 7, that game was probably a one-off. We will probably still be treated to a few goals, because Barcelona is generally happy to reach the score, and a kind of need for most days with Wojciech Szczesny in the line -up, because he is good to give a goal more often than not.– PARDEEP CATRY

Best bet: Lamine Yamal to score or to help (-105)- With a La Liga crown in their visor, Barcelona will do the best they can to end this game in one leg if they can, which means many goal options. After Barcelona never had to come from first gear to beat a 10-man real Sociedad side, Yamal will be ready to do what he does best to help the attack tick. With 27 target contributions in 35 games so far this season, I almost take this song. – Chuck Booth

Bavaria Munich vs. Bayer Leverkusen

Player to view: Jonathan Tah – The dominant defensive presence when Leverkusen finished Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga last month, Tah Harry Kane almost completely excluded that match. Do this again and those who lie in front of him can move forward with confidence.– James Benge

Man of the competition: Granit Xhaka – The first stage of the German matchup will probably be a narrow one, because the two teams are both really strong and both candidates to win the entire tournament. It will probably be a tactical game and a player like Xhaka can make the difference against the German rivals of Leverkusen who lead the Bundesliga table with a margin of eight points. – Francesco Porzio

Prediction: Bavaria Munich 0, Bayer Leverkusen 1 – The eight -pointed lead of Bayern Munich on top of the Bundesliga does not exactly match their performances in the largest matches of their season, and the fresh slate that a knockout tie offers from Champions League must benefit Bayer Leverkusen. The side of Xabi Alonso was out of luck not to score when these teams met in a 0-0 draw in the league match a few weeks ago, so expect that they will benefit from an underwhelming Bayern side and the first leg advantage.– PARDEEP CATRY

Best bet: Joshua Kimmich to make 2+ shots (+165) – This is the most difficult defense that Bayern has to do so far in Champions League game, but Kimmich has made two shots in every UCL competition that he started in midfield, and also one on goal in each of those matches. In what a difficult match is to predict, given that Bayern can come under Vincent Kompany in a number of ways, there is crucial importance on what players have already done. At home in what could be a CAGY match, let the shots fly from midfield.– Chuck Booth

Knock -Out Phase Playoffs TV scheme

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