Champions League Expert Predictions for Wednesday’s Matches

This Wednesday marks the conclusion of an exciting week in the UEFA Champions League, as the round of 16 finishes and four more teams secure their places in the quarterfinals.

Following Bayern Munich’s successful conversion of a first-leg advantage on Tuesday, Arsenal aims to do the same and advance to the last eight. However, the situation remains uncertain for several teams, including Real Madrid, who are determined to avoid a reversal of their one-goal lead from the first leg, unlike Liverpool.

In anticipation of Wednesday’s matches, which promise both entertainment and potential drama, here are expert predictions from the CBS Sports team.

Wednesday’s Champions League Slate

Here are our expert picks for this matchday:

Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid

Player to watch: Julian Alvarez – Atletico Madrid’s dependence on their young Argentine player, Julian Alvarez, became apparent in their recent defeat to Getafe. When he underperforms, so does the team. Alvarez possesses a versatile skillset, capable of dribbling, scoring, and creating opportunities for teammates. — James Benge

Man of the match: Kylian Mbappe – After the first leg at Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid will need to showcase their best defensive performance against Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid. However, counter-attacking plays could be crucial in this matchup, and a player of Mbappe’s caliber can excel in such situations. — Francesco Porzio

Prediction: Atletico Madrid 1, Real Madrid 1 – Despite Real Madrid gaining a slight advantage last week, these two teams have demonstrated a similar level of competitiveness throughout the season. Expect another closely contested match that concludes in a draw, with Atletico’s talented attack just falling short of equalizing the tie and progressing to the quarterfinals. — Pardeep Cattry

Best bet: Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals (-118) – There is minimal difference between these teams, and both prefer to play offensively, suggesting a high-scoring game. While the match outcome is unpredictable, the abundance of attacking talent on both sides makes it unlikely to be a low-scoring affair, especially considering the quality of finishes seen in the first leg. If Atletico scores the first goal at home, the intensity of the match could escalate significantly. — Chuck Booth

Round of 16 TV schedule