Champions League Betting Preview: Round of 16, Feb. 24-25

The Champions League picks up again Tuesday and Wednesday with the remaining first leg matches from the Round of 16 set to take center stage in the football world.

Here's a betting overview for this week's four matches:

Manchester City v. Barcelona

Odds:

Analysis: Attacking football. Plenty of chances. Plenty of goals.

Both Manchester City and Barcelona have looked vulnerable in defense at various points this season, but – aside from a few minor blips along the way – have been frightening going forward throughout the season.

City come into the contest on the back of a 5-0 victory over Newcastle on Saturday, and while the Spanish side could not break down Malaga in a shocking 1-0 home loss on the same day, Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez will be itching to get back on the scoresheet.

Regardless of who partners Vincent Kompany – who himself is not the all-conquering defender he's often made out to be – Barcelona's Holy Trinity will craft openings and take a lead with them into the second leg.

Prediction: Barcelona 3, Man City 2

The Play: Over 2.5 at 8/11 (BetVictor)

Juventus v. Borussia Dortmund

Odds:

Analysis: Juventus's slow, methodical buildup against Borussia Dortmund's lightning-quick counter-attack: It's a match made in heaven.

After all of their struggles early in the year, the German side has now won three straight matches and, led by Marco Reus, looks menacing in attack once again. In Juventus, they'll find a stingy defense that's conceded just 13 goals in 24 Serie A matches – but looks vulnerable against teams who break with pace.

Dortmund, though, despite their uptick in results of late, has been far from convincing defensively all year long and may struggle to keep out a Juventus side that will look to dictate the match for 90 minutes.

It's finely poised, as they say.

Prediction: Juventus 1, Dortmund 1

The Play: Draw at 12/5 (bet365)

Arsenal v. Monaco

Odds:

Analysis: After years of unenviable draws in the opening round of the knockout stages, Arsenal finally received some luck. 

The Gunners got arguably the weakest opponent in the Round of 16, with Monaco coming into the contest having scored more than one goal just once in their last six matches.

While the Ligue 1 side has conceded a paltry two goals in that time – and were only breached once en route to winning Group C – Arsenal comes into the contest looking a legitimately threatening prospect, with the likes of Mesut Ozil, Danny Welbeck and Olivier Giroud all on the pitch together alongside half-man, half-indefatigable cyborg Alexis Sanchez.

Prediction: Arsenal 2, Monaco 0

The Play: Arsenal to win at 53/100 (bet365)

Bayer Leverkusen v. Atletico Madrid

Odds:

Analysis: One of the most intriguing matches of the round, Bayer Leverkusen will host Atletico Madrid in a mouthwatering tactical battle between two sides that excel with the high press and counterattack.

While both are very good at imposing their desired gameplan, one team is simply better – and more talented as a whole – than the other. Diego Simeone's men were the favorites when the draw was made in December and nothing has happened to alter that outlook since.

Leverkusen comes into the match having conceded nine goals in their last three outings. While one of those was an outlier – the wild 5-4 loss to Wolfsburg and scoring machine Bas Dost – that's a worrying sign when one considers the current form of Mario Mandzukic and Antoine Griezmann.

This will be fun, but Atletico will be left standing when the dust settles.

Prediction: Atletico Madrid 2, Bayer 1

The Play: Atletico Madrid to win at 3/2 (bet365)

Odds courtesy bet365, BetVictor, William Hill.