Champions League, Round of 16: Staff Picks - Feb. 24

theScore’s footy staff peer into their crystal balls and make predictions for the first leg of each Round of 16 tie. Looking to Tuesday’s mouthwatering matches, Gordon Brunt, Carlo Campo and Gianluca Nesci tell you what they think will happen on the pitch, and why.

Juventus vs. Borussia Dortmund (Juventus Stadium, Italy)

Borussia Dortmund finally seem to be turning the corner after their abysmal – and dumbfounding – start to the season. Can they continue the resurgence against the best Italy has to offer?

Gordon Brunt: Borussia Dortmund's resurgence is going to hit a bump in the road when they visit Juventus. And it has nothing to do with the poor form they displayed for much of the season, rather, Juventus’s dominance at home will require an almost perfect performance from Dortmund for them to come away with a result in Italy. The matchup has all the ingredients of a pairing with wins for the home teams, making away goals critical once again.

Score: Juventus 2, Borussia Dortmund 1

Carlo Campo: "Resurgence" might be too generous of a word to toss in Borussia Dortmund's direction. Sure, their recent Bundesliga form marks a vast improvement from the first half of the season. However, a number of their recent wins have come against bottom-of-the-table clubs and have featured moments where they appear just as vulnerable as ever. And against Juventus, a club that have proved impenetrable at home this season, it's hard to imagine Jurgen Klopp's side leaving Italy with a favourable result.

Score: Juventus 2, Borussia Dortmund 0

Gianluca Nesci: The methodical, possession-based style of Juventus will make for an intriguing matchup against the high-pressing, lightning-quick counterattacking game of Dortmund, with each side being able to find success using their preferred style of play. Dortmund hasn't proven that they can adequately defend for long stretches without conceding chances and, subsequently, goals. Juventus, on the other hand, have struggled against teams that can break at pace, and none of the teams they have played this season do that nearly as well as the German side.

Score: Juventus 1, Borussia Dortmund 1

Manchester City vs. Barcelona (Etihad Stadium, England)

A rematch from this stage of the competition last season, will Manchester City once again be outclassed by Lionel Messi and company?

Brunt: Assuming both sides are able to finish with their full complement of players on the field, Tuesday's game should make for some fun viewing. If history repeats itself, the end result will go in Barcelona’s favour as their attacking options prove too lethal and frustrating for an easily agitated Manchester City defense, resulting in another deficit for the hosts as they travel to Camp Nou for the second leg. Let’s just hope City can keep their heads and display some discipline this time around.

Score: Barcelona 3, Manchester City 1

Campo: In a tie that features some of the most lethal attacking players in the world, Barcelona have already proven that their backline – often viewed as the closest thing to a weakness at the Camp Nou – is capable of containing City. On the other hand, Manuel Pellegrini's side will see one of Eliaquim Mangala and Martin Demichelis feature alongside Vincent Kompany. That's a sketchy defensive pairing to be going up Barcelona's "trident for the ages" of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.

Score: Barcelona 3, Manchester City 0

Nesci: The absence of Yaya Toure through suspension will prove a massive loss for the Citizens, who were outclassed with him on the pitch last season. While Barcelona's aging midfield isn't the force it once was, their shift to a more counterattacking style helps offset that, while simultaneously allowing Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez to hit on the break and find themselves in open space. It's a frightening prospect for any defense, and City, while finding joy at the other end of the pitch, will not be able to cope.

Score: Barcelona 3, Manchester City 2