CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LAST 8 PREVIEW

THE EL DERBI MADRILENO TAKES CENTER STAGE TONIGHT IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE.

The Champions League is finally back. No more early Tuesday and Wednesday nights for us football lovers. Unfortunately, no English team is left in the competition. Chelsea and Arsenal knocked out on away goals, City beat by Barcelona and Liverpool didn't even make it to the round of 16. English teams aside for now, the draw brought out some mouthwatering ties. The Madrid derby being the most high profile of the lot alongside PSG vs Barcelona. 

Tonight, Atletico do battle with cross town neighbors Real and Juventus welcome Monaco who just scrapped through to the Juventus stadium.

ATLETICO MADRID VS REAL MADRID

Diego Simeone has made a fool of Real Madrid this season, doing the double on them in La Liga. Leave alone that, Real have failed to record a victory against Atletico in the last six attempts since coming out on top in last seasons Champions League final 4-1 after extra time.

Atletico may be out of the running for the Liga title but one thing they know how to do is beat Real. Real's last visit to the Vicente Calderon was a disappointing one as they were outplayed and hammered 4-0. 

Ancelotti's men have not been at their best for the best part of 3 months. They lost to Barca in the El Classico and a near collapse almost so Schalke humiliate them. They definitely have to pick up quickly if they are to avoid another massacre at the home of their city rivals.

Atletico themselves will be disappointed to be off the pace in La Liga and battling for a third place finish with a Valencia side that look to have got themselves where they belong, and that is competing for a place in next seasons Champions League.

Diego Simeone has a full squad to select from while his counterpart Ancelotti may be without Sami Khedira, Pepe and Fabio Coentrao, other than that he still has a strong squad to pick.

Probable Line ups:

Atletico Madrid (4-4-2)

Oblak; Siqueira, Godin, Miranda, Juanfran; Koke, Tiago, Gabi, Turan; Griezmann, Mandzukic.

Real Madrid (4-3-3)

Casillas; Marcelo, Ramos, Varane, Carvajal; James Rodriguez, Kroos, Modric; Ronaldo, Benzema, Bale.

Key Players

Atletico Madrid;

Antoine Griezmann - The French international is on the form of his life. He bagged two goals in the weekend game against Malaga to make it 18 league goals. Wherever he plays, if it's out wide or up front alongside, he'll be the man to watch.

Arda Turan - Turan has been one of Atletico's best player in past seasons. He has what it takes to change a game with one moment of brilliance. Marcelo will have to be at his best to deny him any kind of space.

Koke - He'll definitely be pushing inside where he is most dangerous from out wide. Spain's future and definitely one player Real will have to keep a close eye on tonight.

Real Madrid;

Cristiano Ronaldo - There's really nothing to say about CR7 the world's best player. He only needs a sniff at goal and he is scoring. Atletico have done well in keeping him quiet in recent games and have to deploy such tactics again tonight or they'll suffer.

Gareth Bale -  Keeping CR7 quiet won't solve the problem because Bale is more than capable of stepping up if Ronaldo is marked out of the game. 

James Rodriguez - Another player capable of hurting you just like CR7 and Bale. Alongside Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, James will be dictating the tempo from midfield.

Prediction; Atletico Madrid 2 - 1 Real Madrid

Diego Simeone has found the right dose in shutting out Real's deadly attacking threat and he'll definitely employ similar tactics in tonight's clash. Don't fix what's not broken. He has done it twice this season, so why can't he do it again. Carlo Ancelotti will have to find a formula to deal with his 'Atletico' problem. He hasn't managed a victory against them since last seasons CL final.

I'll just go with Atletico in this one.

Other Matches;

JUVENTUS VS MONACO

Prediction; Juventus 3 - 0 Monaco

The Old lady were very impressive against Borussia Dortmund at the Signal Iduna Park, Monaco should cause less of a problem than BVB did. I see this tie being settled in this leg. Comfortable 3-0 victory for Juve and surely a ticket to the semi-finals, though Juve should be very cautious of the threat and pace Monaco have on the counter attack.