Champions League predictions: Will Napoli survive Chelsea?

After seven entertaining matchdays, the UEFA Champions League’s league section involves a dramatic shut on Wednesday with 13 simultaneous video games, every of them bearing some significance because the highway to subsequent spring’s last turns into clearer.

Whereas Arsenal and Bayern Munich are already by way of to the spherical of 16 and a handful are assured at the least a berth within the knockout section playoffs, there may be a lot to play for — and loads of questions for Europe’s elites to reply. Can Manchester Metropolis finish their league section marketing campaign on a excessive after final week’s shock defeat at Bodo/Glimt? Will Inter remind onlookers of their credentials as a regional heavyweight with a win in opposition to Borussia Dortmund? Are Napoli in hassle? Are Tottenham Hotspur about to overperform?

The CBS Sports activities workforce takes their finest shot at answering these questions and predicting how precisely Matchday 8 — and the remainder of the Champions League season will play out.

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Champions League matches

Shock elimination

James Benge: Monaco — Presently fairly nicely positioned in twenty first and rounding the competitors off at dwelling, it’s Monaco’s misfortune that they’re operating right into a Juventus workforce which can be beginning to discover a little bit of verve underneath Luciano Spalletti. Although they’re hardly the form of superpower who must be competing for high eight spots there actually is sufficient expertise on this workforce to have been nicely within the high 24. You worry that their incapability to beat Pafos away and Tottenham at dwelling may drastically hurt Sebastien Pocognoli’s males.

Pardeep Cattry: Napoli — When Antonio Conte begins complaining publicly, the top is often close to. The vibes aren’t so nice for Napoli after a 3-0 pounding by Juventus over the weekend, seemingly placing them out of attain within the Serie A title race and making certain the vibes aren’t all that nice heading into Matchday 8 within the Champions League. Mix that with the truth that Chelsea, regardless of a chaotic season, are doing moderately nicely in Europe, Napoli could crumble underneath the stress on Wednesday and see their hopes of advancing on this competitors dashed, too.

Francesco Porzio: Napoli — I do not actually know if it might rely as a shock or not however I do not see Antonio Conte’s workforce advancing to the playoffs. The Azzurri are deeply affected by accidents and the Italian coach confirmed his disappointment in regards to the present scenario many instances over the previous few weeks. With two wins, two attracts and three defeats together with the 6-2 loss to PSV, Napoli will be already thought-about as one of many greatest disappointments of the Champions League season. 

Chuck Sales space: Monaco —  Regardless of having some good wins in the course of the league section to this point, taking out Galatasaray and Bodo/Glimt whereas taking a degree off of Manchester Metropolis, the French facet are an important instance of a workforce that did not do sufficient in opposition to groups round them. Defeat Pafos and issues could be fairly differnet however dealing with Juventus on the ultimate day with so many groups in a position to surpass them units Monaco up for disappointment at dwelling.

Shock high eight finisher

James Benge: Chelsea — Holding onto eighth place because it stands, Chelsea have one of many more durable assignments on paper of the groups on 13 factors. On paper is likely to be the operative phrase although given Napoli’s faltering kind in Serie A and the Champions League. If there’s a workforce who’ve a tactical type to take the air out of huge video games like this it’s in all probability Liam Rosenior’s, whose midfield ought to have the ability to impose itself on the hosts and set the stage for a slender, essential victory.

Pardeep Cattry: Tottenham — Thomas Frank’s workforce can’t beat Premier League relegation contenders West Ham United and Burnley however Europe’s middling groups go well with them simply effective. They don’t seem to be merely on tempo to advance however to spare their struggling followers two additional video games by advancing straight to the spherical of 16, despite the fact that Frank’s workforce appears visionless and lacks the standard to do a lot injury of their home league. Their outcomes are in all probability a nasty search for a few of their opponents however Spurs will not care, nor ought to they.

Francesco Porzio: Tottenham — Thomas Frank’s facet is in a great place within the European event as they’re in fifth place with 14 factors after seven video games and can meet Eintracht Frankfurt away within the final recreation of the league section. With the German facet already eradicated from the Champions League, Spurs can realistically maintain robust hopes of avoiding the playoffs subsequent month. 

Chuck Sales space: Tottenham — Heart again FC cannot hold getting away with this, proper? It is a workforce who already gained the Europa League final marketing campaign whereas ending seventeenth within the Premier League final season, and even with their wobbles, Thomas Frank has gotten simply sufficient out of the squad to complete comfortably within the high eight incomes their spot within the final 16 and much-needed income for the membership. It is fairly unusual as a result of now, relying on who they meet within the knockouts, Tottenham might flip right into a facet that groups do not need to face with gamers having time to return to well being. 

Group that’s in hassle however should not fear

James Benge: Barcelona — The battle for high eight might be going to be determined by aim distinction and if there’s one factor Barcelona can do it’s run up the targets. Copenhagen aren’t to be taken frivolously and also you’d fancy them to nick multiple on the different finish if Hansi Flick loosens any form of handbrake that he may need utilized to the Catalans this season. Nonetheless whether it is to be a shoot out, it’s Barca who’ve essentially the most intimidating arsenal.

Pardeep Cattry: Manchester Metropolis — Issues proceed to go within the fallacious route for Manchester Metropolis and it is laborious to place a finger on why, partly as a result of they’ve all of the instruments they should go on a deep run. Certain, they’re overly reliant on Erling Haaland however Pep Guardiola’s facet are to not be underestimated — Haaland can start operating sizzling at any given time and the excellent news for Metropolis is that nwe signing Rayan Cherki migth have the ability to fill in as Mr. Dependable in case his Norwegian teammate can’t. Metropolis aren’t good however they might nonetheless be the favorites in most of their potential matchups within the knockout pahse, and never solely due to their pedigree.

Francesco Porzio: Barcelona — Trying on the standings getting into the final matchday of motion, Barcelona are out of the highest eight only for the aim distinction however contemplating they are going to face FC Copenaghen within the final recreation of the league section and might rating plenty of targets and keep away from the 2 additional video games in February, a key month for the LaLiga title race. 

Chuck Sales space: Manchester Metropolis — Dropping to Bodo/Glimt could have been the wake-up name that Metropolis wanted. They could not provide something on the counter assault, however at this level, it is about simply making it to the knockout section, which they’ve already achieved. As soon as they get there, new signings Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi will have the ability to provide main lifts to a squad that absolutely wants it. Whereas Metropolis nonetheless must get Erling Haaland again to the height of his powers, that is nonetheless a facet that nobody will need to face.

Group most needing to keep away from the playoffs

James Benge: Manchester Metropolis — There’s plenty of work to do on a number of fronts the place Pep Guardiola is anxious and the very last thing he wants is to slot in two knockout playoffs round EFL Cup, FA Cup and Premier League commitments, all of the extra so given the faltering kind within the latter. These latest outcomes are additionally a warning signal of how dramatically issues can go fallacious in 90 minutes for Metropolis, who may simply have a little bit of a tough time in the event that they land an Olympiacos, Monaco or Napoli.

Pardeep Cattry: Inter — The present Serie A leaders have all they should keep away from defeat in opposition to Borussia Dortmund but when they can not, the consequence will really feel like an actual indictment on their bonafides each in Italy and in Europe. Including a few additional video games to the schedule is not going to assist in a fiercely-contested race for first place in Serie A, whereas the potential for drawing one of many extra aggressive groups that attain the knockout section playoffs might actually take a look at Inter’s mettle — and throw their season into disarray for the second yr in a row.

Francesco Porzio: Inter — The Nerazzurri are more likely to face the playoffs in February even when they are going to win in opposition to Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday however that will be an enormous challenge. Inter are locked in a title race with AC Milan in Serie A, and with the Rossoneri not concerned in European competitions, the extra workload of the playoffs might really work in Massimiliano Allegri’s favor. The additional fixtures could assist AC Milan possibilities, making Inter’s participation within the playoffs doubtlessly the perfect information of their week.

Chuck Sales space: Juventus — Whereas their fortunes have improved as of late, ending between ninth and eleventh within the league section desk might set a membership as much as face Napoli in a spherical of 16 tie. That is even worse if it is an Italian membership resulting from Antonio Conte’s familiarity with them. Provided that Juve are a facet the place you do not know what workforce will seem on any day, that solely makes a knockout date with Napoli extra of a nightmare. 

The favourite to win the competitors proper now

James Benge: Arsenal — Which extremely apparent level to begin with? Arsenal are high and are in all probability going to be the primary workforce to go 8-0-0 within the league section. Regardless of the mass hysteria that adopted a bizarre loss to Manchester United, they don’t seem to be doing too shabbily within the Premier League both and European video games appear to be the place Arsenal lose their inhibition. Sure, they do not get to take a look at of the league from spring onwards like Bayern do however there may be intimidating depth to Mikel Arteta’s squad to counterbalance that.

Pardeep Cattry: Arsenal — As enjoyable as it might be to choose another person, the Champions League title is clearly Arsenal’s to lose at this stage. It does not imply there aren’t formidable challengers, Bayern Munich among the many most evident, nor does it imply the Gunners have all of it mapped out. A have a look at Sunday’s defeat to Manchester United exhibits that they should learn to take care of adversity however even then, it’s laborious to not favor them over a lot of the groups they may potenitally meet en path to Budapest. Their protection stays Europe’s finest, and their key to presumably successful this title for the primary time.

Francesco Porzio: Bayern Munich — Whereas Arsenal are in all probability the perfect workforce round Europe proper now, Bayern Munich have an enormous benefit as they’ve already secured the Bundesliga race with a 8-point hole on Borussia Dortmund and might deal with the European event, whereas Mikel Arteta’s facet must pay extra consideration on the Premier League as nicely, as they could not improve their hole with the opponents. 

Chuck Sales space: Arsenal — Till confirmed in any other case, the Gunners are the workforce to beat. The opposite sides chasing them have loads of questions, and whereas there may be time to reply them, Arsenal’s protection leaves them high of the pile. Certain, Bayern Munich might return to their annual custom of squashing Arsenal’s hopes within the knockout phases of the event, however exterior of one thing like that, it appears like that is Arsenal’s event to lose as they chase the primary UCL title of their historical past. Now they must proceed to reply ot the stress that they are confronted with.