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Champions League: Ranking the round of 16 ties

By Ty Finch

NANTES, FRANCE - JANUARY 14: Edinson Cavani of PSG during the French Ligue 1 match between FC Nantes and Paris Saint Germain (PSG) at Stade de la Beaujoire on January 14, 2018 in Nantes, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
NANTES, FRANCE - JANUARY 14: Edinson Cavani of PSG during the French Ligue 1 match between FC Nantes and Paris Saint Germain (PSG) at Stade de la Beaujoire on January 14, 2018 in Nantes, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images) /
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BARCELONA, SPAIN – JANUARY 28: (L-R) Philippe Coutinho of FC Barcelona, Paco Alcacer of FC Barcelona during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona v Deportivo Alaves at the Camp Nou on January 28, 2018 in Barcelona Spain (Photo by Laurens Lindhout/Soccrates/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN – JANUARY 28: (L-R) Philippe Coutinho of FC Barcelona, Paco Alcacer of FC Barcelona during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona v Deportivo Alaves at the Camp Nou on January 28, 2018 in Barcelona Spain (Photo by Laurens Lindhout/Soccrates/Getty Images) /

3. Chelsea vs. Barcelona

When the round of 16 draw came to a close, this match was possibly the most anticipated tie. Chelsea were in third place in the Premier League, just three points behind Manchester United in second. They hadn’t lost in their seven previous, and were looking like hitting their stride. Even after a shock 1-0 loss to West Ham, the Blues went on an eight-match unbeaten run.

Then things began to fall apart. They lost to Arsenal in the League Cup, and two dismal losses to Bournemouth and Watford by an aggregate of seven goals to one saw Antonio Conte on the hot seat. That doesn’t make this tie any less fascinating, however. If anything, Chelsea’s struggles make it more compelling.

Barcelona are the best team in Europe at the moment, although Manchester City might have a say in that. They’re nine points above second-place Atletico Madrid with an enormous plus-49 goal differential. Lionel Messi still plays for them, and he’s still Lionel Messi. They only gave up one goal in Group D over six matches, a meaningless 90th minute confidence booster to Olympiacos. Breaking news: Barcelona are very good.

Chelsea are too, although not at this particular moment. Eden Hazard is still one of the best players in the world when he’s on his game, and they were second best in the Premier League in terms of goals against before the Watford and Bournemouth disasters. While Barcelona are the big favorites right now, if Chelsea somehow pull off the upset after this tumultuous period, it would be all the more intriguing.

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