The UEFA Champions League Round of 16 resumes on Tuesday with two enthralling matches to keep supporters on the edge of their respective seats.
UEFA Champions League fixtures:
Tuesday, February 20
th
Bayern Munich vs Besiktas
Chelsea vs Barcelona
Both games expected to kick-off at 19:45 (7:45) GMT
Bayern Munich vs Besiktas
Allianz Arena, Munich
The runaway league leaders in Germany, Bayern Munich, find themselves a whopping 19 points ahead of their closest challengers Borussia Dortmund and are on a 13-game winning streak in all competitions heading into Tuesday’s encounter, their most recent victory being a 2-1 turnaround away to Wolfsburg at the weekend, Robert Lewandowski sealing all three points from the penalty spot with his 20
th league goal of the campaign.
Bayern Munch recent results: (all competitions)
17/02/2018 – Wolfsburg 1-2 Bayern
10/02/2018 – Bayern 2-1 Schalke
06/02/2018 – Paderborn 0-6 Bayern (DFB)
03/02/2018 – Mainz 0-2 Bayern
27/01/2018 – Bayern 5-2 Hoffenheim
21/01/2018 – Bayern 4-2 Bremen
Besiktas are in a tight four-horse race for the title in Turkey but currently sit fourth ahead of their first foray into the knockout rounds of Europes’ elite club competition since they reached the quarter-finals of the European Cup in 1986-87. The Black Eagles are now unbeaten in seven matches in all competitions after their 1-1 draw away to Konyaspor on Friday night. With notable names such as Pepe, Ryan Babel and Alvaro Negredo in their squad, Senol Gunes will be hopeful of pulling off a serious shock in their first-ever meeting with the Bavarian giants.
Besiktas recent results: (all competitions)
16/02/2018 – Konyaspor 1-1 Besiktas
10/02/2018 – Besiktas 5-0 Karabukspor
06/02/2018 – Genclerbirligi 0-1 Besiktas (TC)
02/02/2018 – Bursaspor 2-2 Besiktas
30/01/2018 – Besiktas 3-1 Genclerbirligi (TC)
26/01/2018 – Besiktas 2-1 Kasimpasa
Chelsea vs Barcelona
Stamford Bridge, London
Talk of a crisis at Chelsea were quickly quashed by Antonio Conte and his players helped dispel the uncertainty surrounding the future of their manager by turning in two delightful displays against West Brom and Hull City respectively to book their place in the last eight of the FA Cup and get their top four challenge back on track. Former Barca winger Pedro who now plies his trade for the Blues is in line to make his first appearance against his former club while Tiemoue Bakayoko, David Luiz and Ross Barkley remain doubts.
Chelsea recent results: (all competitions)
16/02/2018 – Chelsea 4-0 Hull (FAC)
12/02/2018 – Chelsea 3-0 West Brom
05/02/2018 – Watford 4-1 Chelsea
31/01/2018 – Chelsea 0-3 Bournemouth
28/01/2018 – Chelsea 3-0 Newcastle (FAC)
24/01/2018 – Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea (LC)
Barcelona are the only remaining unbeaten team left in any of Europe’s top five leagues and are currently 13 points ahead of Atletico Madrid in their bid to reclaim their La Liga crown from rivals Real Madrid. They have registered 19 victories from their 24 league matches thus far and finished on top of their UEFA Champions League Group D unscathed as well. Summer signing Ousmane Dembele is fit again and could feature at the Bridge. Their latest recruit however, Phillipe Coutinho, is cup-tied having already played for Liverpool in the competition this season.
Barcelona recent results: (all competitions)
17/02/2018 – Eibar 0-2 Barcelona
11/02/2018 – Barcelona 0-0 Getafe
08/02/2018 – Valencia 0-2 Barcelona (CDR)
04/02/2018 – Espanyol 1-1 Barcelona
01/02/2018 – Barcelona 1-0 Valencia (CDR)
28/01/2018 – Barcelona 2-1 Alaves
This will be the lucky-for-some 13
th meeting between the pair in the UEFA Champions League since they first clashed in the quarter-finals in the 1999/2000 season when the Blaugrana overturned a 3-1 first leg defeat at the Bridge by winning 5-1 at the Nou Camp. In six matches at Stamford Bridge Chelsea have won on four occasions, drawing one and losing one. Their sole defeat came at the same stage in 2006 when Sameul Eto’o scored the winner after the sides had exchanged a couple of second-half own goals courtesy of Tiago Motta and John Terry.
Chelsea vs Barcelona UEFA head-to-head:
Played: 12
Chelsea Wins: 4
Drawn Matches: 5
Barcelona Wins: 3
Chelsea Goals: 18
Barcelona Goals: 18
Their most recent encounter will forever be fondly remembered for Fernando Torres’ famous stoppage-time equaliser that sealed Chelsea’s place in the showpiece final in 2012 which the Blues went on to win under caretaker coach Roberto di Matteo.
Chelsea vs Barcelona last six:
24/04/2012 – Barcelona 2-2 Chelsea
18/04/2012 – Chelsea 1-0 Barcelona
06/05/2009 – Chelsea 1-1 Barcelona
28/04/2009 – Barcelona 0-0 Chelsea
31/10/2006 – Barcelona 2-2 Chelsea
18/10/2006 – Chelsea 1-0 Barcelona