An uncharacteristic campaign for English sides might see them fall off from the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League this season.
The remaining teams from England in the tournament include Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.
All the teams mentioned earlier were winless in the first leg of matches played in the round of 16 of the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League and it could portend doom for several of this teams who are currently sitting on the edge.
And all the teams from England face the possibility of not qualifying for the next round which we would be looking at the permutations extensively and broadly.
Chelsea against Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League
The Blues of London welcome Borussia Dortmund to Stamford Bridge and they are behind in the encounter after they lost to a “fufu” led Borussia Dortmund side who have been brilliant since the year started.
Edin Terzic’s team haven’t lost any match since the restart of competitive action in January, they are on a ten (10) game winning run that started on the 22nd of January 2023.
Meanwhile, their English opponent, Chelsea have been utterly abysmal throughout the course of the season as they have recorded just two (2) victories this year.
Graham Potter’s side would also be without some integral names going into the Champions League game as Thiago Silva, N’golo Kante, Edouard Mendy, Mason Mount, Cesar Azpilicueta and Christian Pulisic are all nursing injuries.
For Borussia Dortmund, the rave of the first-leg clash would be unavailable for the second leg due to an injury – Karim Adeyemi is expected to be back late March. Hence, he will be absent for this trip to London.
This therefore points towards the massive possibility of Borussia Dortmund coming to England and qualifying for the next round given the contrast in fortunes and form for both clubs.
Manchester City might be in a possible Champions League ouster
Pep Guardiola’s side might appear to be the side that would be least expected to go out of the tournament at this stage.
But RB Leipzig are banking on their guts to show The Cityzens the strength they possess as a unit.
Manchester City have lost only three games in all competitions since the year 2023 began while their opponent RB Leipzig have been defeated just two different occasions.
The first leg of this game was fiercely contested and Leipzig would be coming into the second leg knowing the assignment to be done against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League.
The match appears to be in the balance but Marco Rose’s side are a tough nut to crack and they could send Manchester City to the exit of this competition.
Liverpool
The Reds from Anfield hosted Real Madrid for a slugfest but it seemingly became a clash of men against boys as Real Madrid strolled over Liverpool to victory.
Real Madrid smashed Liverpool at Anfield by 5-2 which was unprecedented.
They had a bright start to the game but it fizzled out and Spanish heavyweights Real Madrid compounded the misery for Jurgen Klopp’s men.
Liverpool seem to be getting back on track after humiliating perennial rivals Manchester United in the Premier League on Saturday but they have had a wishy-washy season in totality.
It would be an herculean task going through to the next round even though The Reds are not strangers to miracles happening in this tournament but the defending champions appear too strong a side to be defeated.
Liverpool have picked up just five wins in 2023 and Carlo Ancelotti’s boys, although nine (9) points away from La Liga league leaders, Barcelona, have lost only once in the UEFA Champions League this campaign.
Everything points towards a victory for Real Madrid in the second leg that would be played under the lights at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Tottenham Hotspur
Lastly, The Lilywhites of Tottenham, it would be a great nerve-racking game against European heavyweights AC Milan on Wednesday but Christian Stellini has a big task on his hands.
AC Milan got a smash and grab win in the first leg through a header for Brahim Diaz. it might not be a different ball game in the second leg even though both sides know what is at stake in this game.
The seven (7) time champions tutored by Stefano Pioli would be going to the one-billion-pound stadium to upset Tottenham Hotspur.
Although, in the first leg, the English side lost out due to their lack of threat upfront, they however seemingly played the better football on the night.
Last season’s Scudetto winner, AC Milan would want to frustrate the team from North London who would be coached by Christian Stellini for this showdown due to the continual recuperation of Italian boss, Antonio Conte.
Milan would be banking on their rich history in the UEFA Champions League and you can’t put it past them to do it against a shaky Tottenham Hotspur side.
