Uefa Champions League Last 16: What to expect on Wednesday

The Uefa Champions League knockout stage is in full swing, and Wednesday promises high-stakes clashes as teams fight for a place in the quarterfinals.

Liverpool remain the top favourites to lift the trophy (18.7 per cent), but Barcelona (14.7 per cent) have climbed into second place after the last-16 draw. Among the sides expected to advance, Inter Milan (78.8 per cent) have the strongest edge over Feyenoord, with Barcelona (74.9 per cent) also in a solid position against Benfica.

Meanwhile, England’s trio of contenders—Liverpool (59 per cent v Paris SG), Arsenal (71.4 per cent v PSV), and Aston Villa (54.8 per cent v Club Brugge)—are all tipped to progress. Catch all the action live on SuperSport! Kick-offs at 10pm CAT, unless otherwise stated.

Feyenoord v Inter Milan, kick-off 7:45pm CAT

Inter Milan will be out for revenge against Feyenoord, who knocked them out in the 2001-02 Uefa Cup semifinals. Feyenoord have only lost one of their 12 home games against Italian opposition, but Inter are unbeaten in their last 11 matches against Dutch teams.

Having already eliminated AC Milan this season, Feyenoord could become just the fourth team to take down both Milan giants in a single UCL campaign—joining Tottenham (2010-11), Liverpool (2021-22), and Bayer Leverkusen (this season).

DID YOU KNOW? Inter have only conceded one goal in eight Uefa Champions League games in 2024-25, fewer than any other side. Overall, Inter have kept a clean sheet in 59.5 per cent of their games in the competition under Simone Inzaghi (22/37); the highest per centage for any manager with 30+ games in charge of a club in the Champions League.

Benfica v Barcelona

Benfica and Barcelona meet for the 11th time in European competition, making the Catalan giants one of Benfica’s most familiar foes. Their last UCL encounter was a nine-goal thriller, with Barcelona edging a 5-4 win.

Benfica have historically struggled against Spanish sides at home, winning just two of their last 12 encounters. However, their goal-filled campaign (35 goals in 10 games) suggests they’ll look to attack. Barcelona, meanwhile, have lost just once in their last 10 visits to Portugal, though that defeat came against Benfica in 2021.

DID YOU KNOW? Among managers with 10+ games in the Uefa Champions League, Hansi Flick has the highest win per centage in the competition’s history (85 per cent - 22 wins in 26 games). Indeed, the Barcelona boss has won at least 75 per cent of his games with both of his clubs in the Champions League (6/8 with Barcelona and 16/18 with Bayern Munich).

Bayern Munich v Bayer Leverkusen

It’s an all-German showdown as Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen meet in Europe for the first time. Bayern’s last UCL clash with German opposition was their famous 2013 final win over Borussia Dortmund, while Leverkusen’s most recent all-German battle ended in a 3-2 defeat to Hamburg in 2008.

Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen are unbeaten in six matches against Bayern (W3 D3), keeping three clean sheets in their last four meetings. However, Bayern have won their last three European clashes against German teams and boast a formidable last-16 home record (W9 D1 L1 in their last 11).

DID YOU KNOW? Since joining Bayern Munich in August 2023, no player has scored more Uefa Champions League goals than Harry Kane (15 – level with Kylian Mbappé). In that time frame, the Englishman also leads all players in the competition for overall goal contributions recorded (20 – 15 goals, five assists).

Paris SG v Liverpool

This heavyweight clash sees Liverpool and PSG meet in the knockout rounds for the first time since their 1996-97 Cup Winners’ Cup semifinal, where PSG triumphed 3-2 on aggregate.

Liverpool have struggled in France, failing to win any of their last five visits. However, new boss Arne Slot has a strong record against French teams, including a recent win over Lille.

PSG enter this match in red-hot form, winning their last five UCL games while scoring 21 goals and conceding just three. Another victory would mark their longest winning streak in the competition since 1995.

DID YOU KNOW? Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has been directly involved in 20 goals in 30 appearances in the knockout stages of the Uefa Champions League (12 goals, eight assists); the most by an African player in the competition’s history (one more than Samuel Eto'o and Didier Drogba).