Tuesday's Champions League predictions including Man City vs. Real Madrid

Brest vs. PSG (Tuesday, 5.45pm)

Frequent foes in the French top flight, Paris Saint-Germain and Brest swap Ligue 1 for the Champions League on Tuesday evening, colliding in the first leg of their playoff tie at the Stade Francis-Le Ble.

Both outfits took home 13 points during the league phase, although PSG's superior goal difference allowed Luis Enrique's side to sneak into the seeded playoff positions in the 36-team table.

We say: Brest 1-3 Paris Saint-Germain

PSG's astonishing head-to-head record against Brest over the past 40 years speaks for itself, and with Dembele unable to stop scoring at this present time, the hosts should not pose too many problems for the French champions.

Whether Les Parisiens can finally go all the way this year remains to be seen, but as was the case just two Saturdays ago, Enrique's men will surely ease past Roy's side with multiple goals to boot.

> Champions League preview: Brest vs PSG

Juventus vs. PSV (Tuesday, 8.00pm)

At risk of suffering an unwanted first in the Champions League, Juventus host PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of their playoff battle on Tuesday evening.

Despite being one of the best-performing defensive sides in the league phase, Thiago Motta's men could only place 20th, while their Dutch opponents safely sealed a knockout berth in 14th spot.

We say: Juventus 2-1 PSV Eindhoven

With Kolo Muani firing on all cylinders up front, stalemate specialists Juventus are finally converting draws into victories and have already out-witted PSV on one occasion in this season's Champions League.

The Dutch outfit can always be backed to make at least one of their forward forays count, but Motta's men still have our vote to take a slender advantage to Eindhoven for the second leg.

> Champions League preview: Juventus vs PSV

Man City vs. Real Madrid (Tuesday, 8.00pm)

The last two winners of the Champions League must now fight for their right to qualify for the last 16 of the 2024-25 edition, as Manchester City and Real Madrid collide in Tuesday's colossal first leg at the Etihad.

While the reigning champions of Europe were just one point from sneaking into the top eight, their hosts had to pull off a matchday eight fightback just to avoid the embarrassment of an early exit.

We say: Manchester City 2-2 Real Madrid

The less said about Man City's display at Leyton Orient the better, but Guardiola inevitably made a surfeit of changes, and the champions of England have rediscovered a knack for goals - and indeed victories - on their Etihad turf recently.

The hosts' offensive exploits on their own patch spells trouble for Real Madrid and their decimated defence, but Ancelotti's men never know when they are beaten in Europe, and we expect the holders to return home the happier after an entertaining first-leg draw.

> Champions League preview: Man City vs Real Madrid

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Sporting Lisbon vs. Dortmund (Tuesday, 8.00pm)

Still winless in the Champions League since the departure of Ruben Amorim, Sporting Lisbon welcome Borussia Dortmund to the Estadio Jose Alvalade for Tuesday's playoff first leg.

Four places and 13 points separated the two clubs in the league phase table, as BVB came within a whisker of a top-eight finish while their hosts only just kept their continental adventure going.

We say: Sporting Lisbon 1-1 Borussia Dortmund

With both sides still adapting to recent managerial changes and struggling to string a consistent run together, Tuesday's first leg has a draw written all over it.

Kovac cannot fix Dortmund's leaky defence overnight, but Gyokeres may not be firing on all cylinders after his recent injury, so we cannot see either side claiming an advantage before the return fixture.

> Champions League preview: Sporting Lisbon vs Dortmund

Written by

Ben Sully