Mark Langdon: Best bets for every Champions League playoff tie

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The league phase of the Champions League can be considered a success and the playoff round has thrown up some great ties in the quest to make the last 16. Here's my guide to the next round, starting with the big one.

Real Madrid vs Man City

The top two in the ante-post betting have paid for a poor league-phase performance by being paired together in the playoff round. Both have their flaws but I am not sure Manchester City should be considered odds-against to qualify despite their well-documented problems since Rodri's long-term injury.

City's inability to keep a lock on the midfield is clear for all to see. However, with Phil Foden starting to find his form and Kevin De Bruyne clear of injury, at least the attacking output from Pep Guardiola's side is beginning to return to normal.

They should organically start to defend better as John Stones gets back to full fitness and January arrival Omar Marmoush adds a new dimension to their forward line, taking some of the burden away from Erling Haaland.

Real Madrid are getting their act together with Kylian Mbappe settling in, but they are some way off looking like the same side who were crowned European champions last season. Never discount Madrid is the first rule of betting on the Champions League, but they have lost 4-0 and 5-2 to Barcelona this season which suggests their defence might struggle if this turns into a shootout.

Brest vs PSG

The last 18 meetings between Brest and PSG hint this tie is likely to go only one way. Paris St-Germain have drawn two and won 16 of those encounters including a comfortable 3-1 home success in September.

Luis Enrique's youthful side is improving nicely with Bradley Barcola at the heart of their work. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, a January signing from Napoli, adds more quality to the front line and Brest are likely to be outclassed, particularly as they have to play home Champions League fixtures in Guingamp.

Celtic vs Bayern Munich

This should be another one-sided contest. Celtic did not deserve to lose 7-1 against Borussia Dortmund in October, but the fact they did does not bode well given BVB are already 22 points behind Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. Bayern are capable of some stinkers – they lost 3-0 to Feyenoord in the league phase – but the difference in quality, on paper at least, looks enormous.

Club Brugge vs Atalanta

Make no mistake, Club Brugge are better than the general football fan would believe, but unfortunately for them, the same can also be said of Europa League winners Atalanta and the Italians are likely to progress to the last 16. Atalanta drew with Barcelona and Arsenal in the league phase and were desperately unlucky to lose 3-2 against Real Madrid.

On that occasion Atalanta won the shot count 20-10, registered nine shots on target to Real's six, took three more corners (5-2) and had 56 per cent of possession only for Real's superstar trio of Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham to win the game through individual moments.

Feyenoord vs Milan

The temptation is to take on Milan. Feyenoord beat Bayern, drew with City and won at Benfica, but you do need to forgive them an opening night 4-0 loss to Leverkusen and final-night 6-1 hammering at Lille.

Juventus vs PSV

The bet of the round comes in backing PSV to take out Juventus, who have won one of their last eight games and were nowhere near as dominant as the 3-1 success over the Dutch side suggested in the league phase.

PSV are unbeaten at home since November 2022 and they have a classy midfield double act in Jerdy Schouten and Joey Veerman as well as dangerous winger Johan Bakayoko.

Monaco vs Benfica

The betting suggests this will be close and that looks fair enough. The slight advantage sits with Benfica, mainly because the second leg is in Lisbon so they will have a potential 30 minutes more in front of their supporters if it goes to extra-time.

Sporting vs Borussia Dortmund

They have been hopeless domestically but Borussia Dortmund are fancied to overcome Sporting.

The Lisbon outfit are on their third manager of the season and have not recovered from Ruben Amorim's departure to Manchester United, whereas Dortmund have the potential to improve now novice boss Nuri Sahin has been shown the door.

Read more expert opinions from our top team:

James Milton: Scroll down and spare a thought for the clubs bowing out of new-look Champions League

Jamie Griffith: Liverpool rewarded with a kind route to the Champions League final but Manchester City must run the gauntlet

Simon Giles: No fluke about Bournemouth's push for Europe under inspirational Iraola

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