X-raying Uefa Champions League last 16…looking at possible teams to go and those to go out

The draw for the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League has inevitably presented some thrilling ties, matches that will be watched all over the world.

This year’s draw for the knockout stage has thrown up some tantalising match-ups, including Manchester City’s clash with Barcelona and a tough encounter between Chelsea and PSG.

Which team is likely to make it to the next round? And which ones will be on their way out?

Chelsea vs Paris Saint-Germain

Jose Mourinho claimed he wanted to face Laurent Blanc’s side because the journey to Paris is short but PSG are one of the strongest team Chelsea could have drawn.

This tie could see a repeat of last season’s quarter-final, when Chelsea struggled in the away leg, before winning the tie at Stamford Bridge after Portuguese tactician went all-out-attack in the final stages, using three strikers.

Now, Mourinho, has quality side with Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas adding bite and strength in the attack and midfield.

Blanc seems more tactically flexible this season but Zlatan Ibrahimovic rarely performs well in the knockout stage.

Chelsea is tip to carry the day considering their strong attacking firepower.

Barcelona vs Manchester City

This is another repeat from last season. Barcelona dominated possession at the Etihad without converting possession into chances – until Martín Demichelis’ foul conceded a penalty, leaving City down to 10 men.

Sergio Agüero, who missed last season’s first leg and managed only 45 minutes at the Camp Nou, could make the difference.

Although Barcelona side lacks cohesion in midfield, but Barcelona rampaging front three of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Suarez may prove too much for City and wreck havoc to a City’s defence that is not discipline.

Arsenal vs Monaco

Arsene Wenger will be delighted. Not only will the manager return to the club where he made his name, winning the French Ligue 1 in 1987-88, it is also an fair draw for Arsenal.

Monaco won Group C but were not particularly impressive at any stage: they averaged the least possession of any qualified side (46 percent), managed the second-fewest shots of any of the 32 group stage competitors, and scored only five goals in six games.

Monaco have some good players, particularly the midfield trio of Jérémy Toulalan, Geoffrey Kondogbia and João Moutinho, and the rampaging full-backs Layvin Kurzawa and Fabinho – but Arsenal should progress.

Real Madrid v Schalke

A third repeat from last season’s knockout stage. Real won 6-1 away, 3-1 in Madrid, and we should expect another overwhelming victory for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, who won all their six group games.

Real are a terrifyingly side, boasting good ball retention in the centre of midfield, plus two of the world’s best counterattacking players in Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.

Schalke’s Julian Draxler and Eric Choupo-Moting are dangerous on the break, too, but this tie is likely to be one-sided. Schalke conceded 14 goals in Group G and Roberto Di Matteo’s arrival has not changed their fortunes significantly.

Bayern Munich vs Shakhtar Donetsk

Pep Guardiola will test his tactical mettle against the wily Mircea Lucescu, who will instruct his team to play a reactive counterattacking game, hitting Bayern with pace.

The Ukrainian champions were impressive in the group stage and Luiz Adriano, the competition’s top goalscorer with nine goals, but further progression will be difficult, especially as Shakhtar must play home matches in Lviv, 750 miles from Donetsk, because of the Ukraine crisis.

Guardiola’s side should have too much, however, their 7-1 thrashing of Roma is the best performance of this season’s competition, and Guardiola might have a fully fit midfield by February.

Borussia Dortmund vs Juventus

This could be the most interesting tie. Dortmund are struggling badly in the Bundesliga but remain impressive in Europe, while Juventus have won Serie A three years in a row but have been unable to reproduce those performances in the Champions League.

Juventus’ defensive record this season is excellent and they will be confident of shutting out a Dortmund side yet to adapt to Robert Lewandowski’s departure.

However, Juve often struggle in Europe against high-tempo, heavy pressing and youthful Jürgen Klopp’s side.

Paul Pogba and Arturo Vidal must be at their best to match Dortmund’s energy, strength and pace.

Can Juve cope with the high intensity of Dortmund?

Atletico Madrid vs Bayer Leverkusen

This is another interesting tie, between two extremely high-rated young managers. Diego Simeone rightly received acclaim for leading Atletico to last season’s La Liga title and European Cup final, with the defensive structure and counterattacking energy of his side particularly impressive.

Atletico this season is not deadly since the departure of Diego Costa to Chelsea, though Mario Mandzukic is a different type of striker.

Under Roger Schmidt, Leverkusen are similar to Atlético. There’s not a particularly big emphasis upon possession but Leverkusen’s dynamism and intensity are often spectacular, and therefore this should be a clash between two energetic, counterattacking sides.

Will Leverkusen be the tournament’s dark horse?

Porto vs Basel

The least exciting tie: a clash between two sides renowned for developing young talent. Porto lost their first game of the season on Sunday, a 2-0 defeat against rivals Benfica, but they are an impressive unit under Julen Lopetegui, who experienced great success with the Spanish youth sides, and has continued with Porto’s 4-3-3 formation while introducing some promising youngsters loaned from Spain’s big three.

Basel are rated as the weakest side in the round of sixteen, and while they are miles clear in their domestic league, qualifying for this stage with a negative goal difference suggests they will struggle to progress any further.

Porto seems to be more compact, organised and technically balanced.

@AnthonyNlebem

Anthony Nlebem