Champions League knockout round playoffs return this week as AC Milan, Bayern Munich headline Tuesday action

Hey there! Another series of UEFA Champions League matches are waiting this week, starting with four knock -out phase playoff papers on Tuesday in which the teams are currently only separated by one goal, so that a lot stays in the balance. I am Pardeep Cattry with the newest.

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Monday, February 17
🇪🇸 The competition: Barcelona vs. Rayo Vallecano, 3 p.m. ➡️ ESPN+
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Championship: Leeds United vs. Sunderland, 3 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+

Tuesday, February 18
🇪🇺 UCL: AC Milan vs. Feyenoord, 12:45 pm ➡️ Paramount+
🇪🇺 UCL: Bayern Munich versus Celtic, 3 pm ➡️ Paramount+
🌎 Concacaf Champions Cup: Sporting KC vs. Inter Miami, 8 p.m. ➡️ FS2

⚽ The forward line

⚫🔴 Which Milan will appear?

AC Milan returned to winning ways at the weekend with a 1-0 win over Hellas Verona and offered a moment of respite in a crucial week for the Italian side, one that could offer many answers about the current state of the team.

Saturday’s victory is sandwiched by Milan’s Knock-Out Phase Playoff-Confirmation with Feyenoord in the UEFA Champions League, which did not start strong last week with a 1-0 loss in Rotterdam. The good news for Milan is that turning things around is very executable – not only was the margin of defeat narrow, Feyenoord, not only was much of an attacking threat after scoring the sole purpose of the game in the third minute, but Only two of their 11 shots on frame and only 0.5 expected goals.

That is said, the season of Milan’s inconsistency has not stopped. Although manager Sergio Conukicao trotted a line-up littered with stars in which Christian Pulisic, Rafael Leao, Santiago Gimenez and Joao Felix start for the first time, Milan was bad in attack. They only generated 0.56 expected goals, despite the fact that they put six of their 12 shots on the goal, with Pulisic and Gimenez in particular lagging behind. Gimenez could still prove to be an important player for Milan on Tuesday, especially after scoring in their 1-0 win over Hellas Verona on Saturday, with Matteo Bonetti Quarrel He has a skills that the team has needed for a long time.

• Bonetti: “He is not someone who is going to create so many opportunities for himself. … he is a syruper, even like Mauro Icardi. He is deadly in the box. He is very good in the air, he can score with both feet. … Gimenez always feels when he makes the right runs, he just needs the service to get in a little more, because when he has the playable ball, he is at the right time and he looks like a man Who gets the most out of his chances when they occur. It is exactly what Milan didn’t have. “

The talent of Gimenez, combined with the strengths of his other attack -oriented teammates, has made Milan one of the more fascinating teams this season to watch in the Champions League, and this week will not be an exception. However, the pressure is to find a balance in attack and elimination This week can be a sign that there is a lot of work to do with an ambitious – but perhaps under -performance – team.

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🔗 Midfield link game

🔴 Bayern’s large European test

Six times winners of the Champions League winners Bayern Munich also return to play on Tuesday, and although they have a 2-1 advantage over Celtic that comes in the second stage, the progression to the Tour of 16 on the one feels Or another way for sure.

Vincent Kompany’s She discusses the Knock -Out Phase Playoff -collision on the back of two bad attacking versions, so that an expected goal in both games did not crack. It is a somewhat surprising development for a team with Harry Kane and Jamal Musiala, but in the last week a difficulty has shown to translate their dominant impressions against weaker domestic opponents into larger games. First came in Celtic’s victory in Celtic, in which the 0.7 expected goals from Bayern faded compared to the 1.39 of the opposition, and then it got worse with the 0-0-yellow game of Saturday at Bayer Leverkusen, in which they only two Shots names, no set -up target and only collected 0.05 expected goals.

On Tuesday, Bayern needs goals to place this draw in bed, especially when considering how the journey from last week to Glasgow took place. The German side managed to manage the game for long pieces, but did not really manage to control it and invite Celtic back into the game. The Scottish side was able to make various meaningful attacking plays while holding 43.3% of the ball. In particular, in particular, after the 79th minute of Daizzen Maeda, Celtic had more than 60% and took four shots, forcing a Spaar from goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

The visitors will be happy to be able to level the total score this week and will probably put a lot of pressure on Bayern while they look at an upset, which feels somewhat realistic despite their status as the underdogs. Vincent Kompany’s side still needs something to achieve the round of 16 with relative convenience, but the big question is whether or not they are stringing a strong performance – and whether they have a real competition for the Champions League – Title can prove to be.

🔗 Top stories

🗣️ Curse words: Jude Bellingham from Real Madrid was sent to direct a curse word to the referee, which fueled a big debate in Spain: what is the difference between “F — off” and “F — You?”

🇮🇹 Juve Beat Inter: Francisco Conukicao scored the play-winning goal in the 1-0 win of Juventus over Inter and did Napoli a big favor in the title race of Series A.

👎 United loss again: Manchester United lost 1-0 in Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, with Casemiro’s Underwhelming midfield performance that offer the last signal that there is a lot of work to do before things get better for the Red Devils.

🔴 Liverpool Stay Top: It was perhaps not the most impressive version, but Liverpool defeated Wolves 2-1 on Sunday to stay clear on top of the Premier League table.

👕 MLS -Kits, arranged: From the classic gaze of Sporting Kansas City to Lafc’s hindered effort and everything in between, here is a ranking of new MLS kits before the 2025 season starts.

♥ ️ Goals for Valentine?: Arsenal’s Mikel Merino devoted his two goals against Leicester City to his wife on Saturday and admitted that he forgot to get her a gift for Valentine’s Day.

🇺🇸 Arena on usmnt: Ex-usmnt-head coach Bruce Arena doubted the quality of the team’s opposition while they are preparing for the World Cup 2026 on a home floor.

💰 The back line

💵 Dear bets

• The League: Barcelona vs. Rayo Vallecano, Monday, 3 p.m.
  💰 The Pick: Barcelona to win 3-1 (+750) – Barcelona is at an unbeaten run of 11 games and at that time 41 scored goals, so expect a crooked victory from Hansi Flick, especially because they can rise to first place with a victory. However, counting on a clean slate is not advised – Barcelona has only closed the opposition four times in that unbeaten run.

For more choices, predictions, expert tips and the latest bet news, you don’t miss the homepage of CBSSports.com.

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