Champions League Round of 16

Three teams from England and Spain make it through to the knockout rounds of the Champions League while Germany and Italy supply two sides each, while France, Belgium, Russia, Netherlands, Ukraine and Portugal contribute 1 each. 

PSG v Chelsea

History repeats itself with Chelsea once again facing PSG in the last 16 of the Champions League. The tables have definitely turned for the London side as they currently lie in bottom half of the Premier League table as opposed to the top of the table this time last year. Despite having acquired Angel di Maria this season and Edinson Cavani on fine form, I can honestly see Chelsea winning this tie. Because of their poor form in the league, there is a good chance that Chelsea will put all their eggs in the Champions League basket. It will be close and Chelsea will have to penetrate a defence that has only conceded once in Europe, but I predict the underdog to upstage the favourites.

Benfica v Zenit

Definitely not a tie that will grab many of the headlines, but Benfica come off the back of a second place finish behind Atletico Madrid. They have improved dramatically in Europe considering finishing rock bottom of their group last season scoring only 2 goals and winning only 1 game. Looking at Zenit, they topped the group fending off the likes of Lyon, who finished rock bottom and Gary Neville's Valencia who drop into the Europa League positions. It was definitely a shock for them to finish on top, and I would tip the Portuguese side to progress, however this represents a real opportunity for Zenit to put Russia back on the football map.

Gent v Wolfsburg

Like Zenit, KAA Gent surprised many people to seal a place in the last 16 for the first time in their history, finishing behind the Russian side in their group. Likewise, Wolfsburg are competing in their first knockout round in the Champions League and have never played a Belgian side in the Champions League before. Bas Dost is Wolfsburg's top goal scorer and the Belgian underdogs will have to be on form if they are to stop him also Max Kruse will be key for the German Cup holders creating 33 chances so far in this season. The German side will be clear favourites to progress and I tip the side to make the quarter finals.

Roma v Real Madrid

Real Madrid find themselves a point off the top of La Liga leaders, Barcelona and head coach Rafa Benitez is becoming under increasing pressure. In Europe they have been somewhat of a free scoring outfit, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring 11 times in the group stage alone. They also had a solid defence throughout the group stage, conceding three goals, all of which were in the away leg against Shakhtar Donetsk. Roma have never kicked on under Rudi Garcia since pushing Juventus for the title 2 years ago. Miralem Pjanic is their creative player while there still is life in the old legs of Francesco Totti. I predict Madrid to qualify easily.

Arsenal v Barcelona

This is possibly the most intriguing tie. Arsenal have had terrible luck with draws in the last 16 over the last number of seasons and it doesn't get much harder than a tie against in form Barcelona. Having had a terrible start in Europe, some may say that the Gunners were lucky to progress, but they have players stepping up to the plate. I have been critical of Mesut Ozil over the years I have been blogging but he is finally showing what he is capable of. The game against Barcelona is a massive test and it will be key that the German does not squander possession. Barcelona need no introductions and possess the best attacking force in Europe. I do think that the Catalans have enough to see off the challenge of Arsenal but it will not be easy.

Juventus v Bayern Munich

Beaten finalists Juventus are recovering in the league having won all of their last 5 matches. Juventus are a good side and you would struggle to find a side that can hold a lead better than the Italian giants. Pep Guardiola's Bayern Munich has strengthened since the last edition and they look good. Vidal has been ever-present in the midfield while signing Douglas Costa from Shahktar Donetsk has proved and inspired decision. Paulo Dybala is an exciting prospect for the Old Lady and I have watched him turn out for both Palermo and Juventus in the last 2 seasons. He is quick and has the potential to cause problems. I tip Bayern's strength in depth to overcome Juventus. 

PSV v Atletico Madrid

PSV beat a disappointing Manchester United side to the second placed spot. They will look back on a very good victory against the Manchester side in game week 1 and another well fought draw at Old Trafford. Former Newcastle United reject, Luuk de Jong is their top scorer this season with 13 goals. During the group stage, PSV scored 8 goals and conceded 7. Looking at their opponents, Atletico Madrid topped their group with relative ease, recording 4 wins and a draw. In the league, the Spanish side sits in 5th position, 4 points off Real Madrid in second and further point off the league leaders, Barcelona. I don't see PSV troubling the 2013-2014 runners up, with Atletico finishing the tie at Vicente Calderon.

Dynamo Kyiv v Man City
Dynamo Kyiv surprised many to pip Porto to the last spot that qualifies for the knockout rounds. The Ukrainians have some useful players including winger Andriy Yarmolenko who was ever present in the group stage. Kyiv are currently battling it out for the league title with arch rivals Shakhtar Donetsk, who failed to qualify from the group stage. Manchester City have had many unfortunate draws since 2010/2011, facing Barcelona last year and the year before in both times where they qualify from the group stage. City should be strong enough to beat the Ukrainian side, particularly with the second leg in front of the Etihad faithful.

Even Stevens in Ukraine

Chelsea leave Ukraine with a point after a competent defensive performance against a side who were average at best.

Willian went closest just after the break when a free kick rattled the cross bar, but neither side really looked liked they wanted to claim all three points.

It was evident from the start that Jose had set his Chelsea team up to not lose. A rigid formation,  full backs not looking to be adventurous and holding midfielders sitting and patrolling in front of the centre-halves. A typical Mourinho side when playing away from home in the Champions League. 

Willian and Cesc Fabregas had a few early opportunities, but it was Hazard who hit the post from the left. Replays showed that it was an excellent fingertip save from the Kyiv goal keeper. Vitaliy Buyalskiy had the first meaningful attempt for Kyiv but the shot was straight at Asmir Begovic.Chelsea had a penalty appeal turned down on 16 minutes when Cesc Fabregas drove into the box and seemed to fall over a lazy leg. While Savage and co persisted that it was a penalty all night long, it looked to me as if the Spaniard fell over too easily. 

Nemanja Matic had an excellent chance to give Chelsea the lead when his mazy run into the box left him with a great opportunity, but he poked it wide with his right foot. It was a run that warranted a better attempt than what was offered. Surely if he had taken the shot with the left then it would have made the attempt much easier than it already was? Buyalskiy had another shot on the turn that was sweetly struck and would have beaten Begovic if it weren't for a slight deflection.

In the first half, a pleasing feature for Mourinho was the pressing offered by the attacking players. It hassled and hurried the Kyiv players and they often won the ball back after a long ball by the keeper. Nevertheless it remained goalless at half time. Shortly after the break, Chelsea's dead ball demon struck an absolute peach of a free-kick that cracked the underside of the bar. Willian has a track record of set piece goals have already registered one against Maccabi Tel Aviv in round one.

Kyiv had more possession early in the second half but seemed reluctant to do anything with it. Neither side looked as if they wanted to go on and win the game leaving a draw as the likely outcome. Eden Hazard had a shot blocked from the edge of the area after a drag back from Willian. On the counter, it was a good opportunity with the Belgian unmarked, but equally good defending prevented a shot on target.

After a poor delivery from a set piece by Willian, Andriy Yarmolenko broke down the left flank. Beating Zouma, he found Artem Kravets with a reverse pass but his shot was parried by Begovic. Coveted by many European clubs, Yarmolenko wasn't able to really force himself on the game in the first half when he was against Cesar Azpilicueta. Now up against Zouma, usually a centre back, he started to get on the ball and excite the Ukrainian support.

The last 10 minutes of the game saw both sides come close. Yarmolenko had a ball that flashed across the area and Begovic clutched it into his arms at the second attempt despite a Chelsea player sliding in. The ball could have easily ended up in the back of the net. The last minutes smelt of desperation from the hosts. They failed to create any purposeful attacking moves on Chelsea throughout most of the game and when they realised there were only minutes left, Gary Cahill and John Terry were able to snuff out any potential dangers.

A point in Ukraine, a place that hasn't been the happiest of hunting grounds for English teams in the past, is definitely secretly pleasing for Jose. Like Kyiv, Chelsea failed to create anything from open play and set pieces were where they went closest. Nothing that this Ukrainian side offered will worry Chelsea as they welcome their hosts tonight to Stamford Bridge on 4th November.