 So Europe's premier club competition the UEFA Champions League last week confirmed all participants Which will be in the round of 16 and earlier on Monday the UEFA headquarters in Switzerland Saw the draw being held to determine the match-ups that of course shown live on Sportsmax and they are as follows Porto against Arsenal, Napoli facing Barcelona, PSG against Real Sociedad, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, PSV Eindhoven against Borussia Dortmund Lazio facing Bayern Munich, Copenhagen against Manchester City and RB Leipzig against Real Madrid Some interesting match-ups all round and joining us via zoom to give us his thoughts is our football analyst Brent Sancho Ricardo and I Brent talked at the top of the show and suggested that the 14-time winners Real Madrid and Manchester City the reigning champions have nothing to complain about with the draw It seems that we anyway on paper obviously it's a it's a kind draw to them We've seen some interesting line-ups as early as the quarter-finals, so yeah You would suggest so although FC Copenhagen has obviously had some fever against Manchester club, but not on the blue side and the red side Yeah, and I'm about the Group stage and what we saw from the group stage. How competitive do you think these round of 16 matches will be because? Sometimes the group stage just well it doesn't offer too much insight as to what happens when the knockout stage starts Yeah, you know, this is normally where I put my caveat on this discussion being the fact that these games are going to start taking place and I believe February 13 14 anywhere around it So it's still ample time for a lot to happen in football some teams coming into this Phase of the competition have not really hit form some teams are in great form But if we are to analyze and based on the facts that we have in front of us thus far I would suggest that the ones that we would suggest that the favorites to possibly Go all the way they like some real Madrid in particular They would feel comfortable in in what they're doing so far Manchester City has had a bit of a Blip in the English primarily but certainly at the next level at the Champions League level I think they would you know, they would feel that they don't pretty okay Yeah, just a little bit more on the Manchester City form Brent because as you've just alluded to a bit of a stutter in in recent weeks in the domestic league But the team is full of quality. There's no there's no disputing that and as you suggested February is a long way off and No worry from a man city fan that things are being derailed No, I don't think so, especially the fact that Kevin de Bruyne is meant to be back in January next year February by that time he would have gotten a couple minutes on his belt and would be well prepared and Ready to go in the Champions League format that man there putting the ball into the back of the net More than possibly be free of injury knock on wood from a Manchester City fan perspective It's just you know, they've been on characteristic in some of the draw points that we've seen from them so far they normally have Much more drive or killer instinct in killing games off it what we've seen in the last couple of weeks Particularly the EPL is a fact that they would go up to nil or one nil and they still driving trying to get that Third-fourth goal They're not a team that sits back after going up front and that's a little bit different from the Manchester City that we saw last season So I'm very sure by the time that this competition comes around in February Pep Guardiola would have noticed that and would obviously try to make the right sort of Adjustments coming into the corner finals. Yeah, and real Madrid Brent For good reason the most feared team in in Europe They are as we speak being passed by Girona domestically in in the Liga, but They're their track record in European Championship football is undeniable and For for many they they remain favorites here Yeah You would have to think that that the favorite tab would stay with real Madrid simply because as of all what you just mentioned and You are the fact that you have an experienced title winner in enchilote at the helm and a young Driven team of of of real Madrid and don't forget lads as well that the addition of Vinny junior to come in and one or two other players that might be injured again You know speaking of the fact that we're all the way here in December the game starts in February a lot can happen between them But I just think of what we see from real Madrid It's very very difficult to move away from them being favorites the form that June Bellagram is in and the belief that he Has in his capabilities It's a tough tough team to play especially over two legs and we've seen me. I'm a jake and several occasions Drove the champions league turn results around with the course of two legs because of that Champions League pedigree that they haven't I don't think there's any team in the competition could boost the type of pedigree that we are Majin has Yeah, Brent I just want to zone in here on the Liga teams that making it through to the last 16 of the champions league Four of them and interesting they know only did they all qualify for the round of 16 But they all topped their groups and just looking at the matchups here. You spoke about real Madrid They will play a live sick into Milan. They will play at let it come a dread Barcelona Napoli and then there's real sausage dad against the PSG I want to get your thoughts and I know you pointed out that we are somewhere where and I completely agree with you Because so much can change but based on what we know now on this day in sport Do you suspect that these Spanish teams all four of them can continue their run and get passed around the 16? Yeah, I think so. Um, and that would mean that I'm suggesting that Napoli would get Sorry that I think all three not four. I do think but not Napoli, Barcelona one is a tough one for Barcelona simply because You know, I just don't see Barcelona Getting a lot better. I think they may hit One or two steps above what they are now But I just don't think they're gonna solve the conundrum and that conundrum is finishing off A lot of the the play that they develop in their middle third And you just don't see unless they go and they spend ridiculous money in the transfer market Uh, they like to walk here. I know it's coming in in January But outside of that really, you know, I just don't see that Changing and and if I also choose one out of those four teams that possibly won't go on I may suggest to you that Barcelona is the one of the Spanish teams that won't Yeah, and when I looked at the the eight matchups, um Inter-Atletico, Barcelona, Napoli, those were the ones that stood out to me Um, would you consider those to be the the ties of the round of 16 for you as well? Yeah, yeah, there's no doubt about it that inter-atletico It's going to be a very tight and KJ affair You would think of course that the the PSG and Real Sociedad as well. I just don't take PSG That's another team as well that has not played really well And and has not has been very inconsistent throughout their season I think getting into the knockout stages just by the skin of their teeth I just don't see them, you know, changing and getting better Yes, they have the likes of Mbappe who is a match winner tournament winner But I think what Real Sociedad is doing that high press that that how difficult they are To get into Will provide some some serious challenges for for PSG So yeah, I think the La Liga teams will do well as I said, I just think one or two of them May have some challenges and I'd pay my Barcelona to be the one that that may not progress, you know Yeah, so just to follow up on Ricardo's question then Brent you are suggesting based on what you just said That you think that Real Sociedad has a better chance of eliminating PSG than Barcelona has of taking care of Napoli Yeah, that's how great I think of Barcelona at the moment I just feel as what what they're producing right now Uh without an alternate. No, yes, we know we did they have Leondowski up front But it just hasn't worked for them with Leondowski and I just don't see How they're going to to turn that conundrum around of spreading the ball into the back of the net Everything else is is quite pretty. Okay Uh, but when you you have to score and against a very well look at Napoli team that's not playing too well Let's start killing ourselves as well But I just feel that they need someone to put that ball into the back of the net And I couldn't look at that Barcelona team until any anyone in that studio That this is a play that's going to put the ball in back of there for Barcelona to see them progress But I just think that would be their challenge and and I don't see how they're going to fix that Yeah Brent, we won't put you under pressure at this stage But for sure when we get closer to these matchups in February, we'll be asking you to Give us your predictions Because then you will have a lot more material to work with in terms of where the teams are closer to competition time Yeah, no like the Barcelona fans kill me. So it's early season may change my mind come February Yeah, yeah, yeah because you know so much could happen in January Um, let's Yeah, I just want to ask from a conca cap perspective I see where the Borussia Dortmund PSP Einhoven will bring together a couple of u.s International teammates against each other with a dest and peppy up against the rena any any interest there for you Yeah, it's certainly interesting. I've liked what the Dortmund has done this season and certainly psv Um, that's certainly adding to to the psv cause I'd be interested because it comes in a year lands where we have woke up qualifiers coming up in conca cap Obviously the u.s already qualified. It's it's a year where for Jamaica They're playing in the nation's league semifinals and a possibility of course to burn all the way and win it So it'll be keen to see me these players are Coming up to that big game in March and possibly the final in june And what type of form there'll be and because it's as I see it It'll be a keenly contested for For nation's league and and Jamaica does have a genuine chance of going all the way Okay, Brent. We're gonna leave it there as I said, we have a couple of months to Build ourselves up to these u.f. A champions league round of 16 matches And of course all of these teams will have domestic assignments in between that time But so thanks for for talking to us and as usual Have a great evening and we'll talk again soon No problem guys. Have a good one. Yeah, Brent sancho there and we'll be back with more of the sportsmax on after this