Champions League: Wonderful Copenhagen for the Holders

Reigning European champions Manchester City have picked up a nice draw for the Champions League Round of 16; the Sky Blues visit the beautiful city of Copenhagen for their first leg of the knockout phase.

The Champions League 2023 betting odds here at SBOTOP back Pep Guardiola’s team to back-to back successes, with Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Arsenal all fancied to make the semi-finals. But there’s a long way to go, and the first legs will take place in mid-February, while the return legs will be three weeks later, early in March.

The Sky Blues have not been at their strongest in recent weeks, held to a 2-2 draw by Crystal Palace on Saturday and they have picked up just one win in the last six games in the Premier League.

To be fair to the champions, they have dominated most of their games but have picked up the unhelpful habit of conceding late equalisers. But in Europe, they have been imperious, winning a maximum of 18 points to run away with Group G.

After picking up just a single point in their first three games the Danes won two and drew one of their last three, beating Galatasaray 1-0 to take second place in Group A, and seeing off Manchester United on the way.

They have already faced Bayern Munich, but the Sky Blues, when they are on song, are the best in the business. Pep’s team gathers momentum after Christmas every year, and by February, they may well be flying.

Second favourites Bayern Munich have a sticky tie against Lazio, with the first leg to be played in Rome. Thomas Tuchel’s side sits four points behind Bayer Leverkusen at the top of the Bundesliga, but in Harry Kane, they have a red-hot striker who is ready to fire the Bavarians to glory. He went to Munich in search of silverware, and Kane is already writing the headlines, becoming the third player in Bundesliga history to score 20 league goals by the half-way stage.

Harry Kane will aim to score goals for Bayern Munich against Lazio in the Champions League Round of 16 first leg — Bayern Munich star Harry Kane scores their second goal against VfB Stuttgart in Bundesliga

Lazio have had a torrid time in Serie A and are currently stuck in mid table, in 11^th position, and six points behind the European places. But they came through Champions League Group E with something to spare and in Ciro Immobile they have one of the most prolific strikers in European football.

Real Madrid have a really tough tie against Red Bull Leipzig in the first leg in Germany. Die Roten Bullen followed Manchester City into the Round of 16, losing twice to the Sky Blues but winning their other four games, and they are currently on a four-match winning run in all competitions. Los Blancos are in seriously good shape as well and have just slapped Villarreal to go top of La Liga, though second-placed Girona have a game in hand.

Carlo Ancelotti’s team won all six of their group games and will be favourites to win this tie, with Ballon d’Or candidate Jude Bellingham in scintillating form. The midfielder knows Leipzig well from his time in the Bundesliga, and Madrid’s opponents have plenty of quality with the likes of Timo Werner, Lukas Klosterman, David Raum, and Dani Olmo in their ranks. This is a tie to watch closely.

The final team in the fancied four, Arsenal, have picked up a decent draw against Porto, and Mikel Arteta’s team will be heavily odds on to make it through. Porto came in second in Group H, alongside Xavi’s Barcelona, and they are not to be taken lightly. Meanwhile, Arsenal won Group B at a canter, and Arteta’s squad players have stood up well when asked.

Porto are currently third in the Portuguese Primera Division, in a race with Benfica and Sporting Lisbon, while the Gunners climbed back to the top of the Premier League after beating Brighton on Sunday, while Liverpool were held by Manchester United. With players of the quality of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinlli, and Gabriel Jesus in their front line, Arsenal can carve open any defence and if they buy a top-class striker in January, they will be a very serious player.

In other Champions League 2023 news, Borussia Dortmund have a very winnable tie against Eredivisie side PSV Eindhoven. Borussia bossed the Group of Death, seeing off Newcastle United and AC Milan and leading PSG to the Round of 16; and the Ligue 1 champions have been paired with Real Sociedad.