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CHRIS SUTTON'S guide to the Champions League and Europa League draws

  /  autty

The draws for the next round of the Champions League and Europa League produced some mouthwatering ties on Monday.

Chelsea and Liverpool were handed difficult clashes with Atletico Madrid and RB Leipzig respectively - while Manchester United, in the second-tier competition they last won in 2017, will meet high-flying Real Sociedad.

Sportsmail columnist CHRIS SUTTON has taken a look at all the ties that matter and given his verdict...

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE:

Liverpool vs RB Leipzig

We know from Leipzig’s response to Manchester United that this won’t be a walkover for Liverpool. Leipzig were under pressure to beat United but they pulled it off.

A good tactical battle awaits between Premier League champion Jurgen Klopp and Julian Nagelsmann - the young pretender who has said he hopes to manage in England someday.

PREDICTION – Liverpool

Danger man - Dayot Upamecano

The 22-year-old central defender is on plenty of big clubs’ wish-lists.

Manchester City vs Borussia Monchengladbach

Monchengladbach manager Marco Rose could be heading to Borussia Dortmund, according to reports.

They’ve got a good player in Alassane Plea, one of the top scorers in the Champions League this season.

They play on the front foot, with high pressure. They’ll get after City, if Rose remains their boss for these ties.

PREDICTION – Man City

Danger man - Alassane Plea

The 27-year-old France forward has shown he knows where the goal is.

Chelsea vs Atletico Madrid

The toughest tie that any of the English sides have been handed.

With Diego Costa and Luiz Suarez, there is plenty of bite to this Atletico Madrid team - no pun intended - while Frank Lampard has a team full of nice boys.

A spot of nastiness might be needed against Atletico.

PREDICTION – Chelsea

Danger man - Joao Felix

The 21-year-old cost £113m, is a creative nuisance and worth watching.

THE OTHER TIES

Porto vs Juventus

Prediction - Juventus

Lazio vs Bayern Munich

Prediction - Bayern Munich

Barcelona vs PSG

Prediction - PSG

Sevilla vs Borussia Dortmund

Prediction - Sevilla

Atalanta vs Real Madrid

Prediction - Real Madrid

EUROPA LEAGUE:

Manchester United vs Real Sociedad

Sociedad are currently top of La Liga, so this won’t be a stroll for United. It’s that same old debate with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side: which team will turn up?

They are so unpredictable! United could go on a marvellous run and be Premier League title contenders by the time they face Sociedad.

Or Solskjaer could be on the brink. Who knows!

PREDICTION – Manchester Utd

Arsenal vs Benfica

Benfica have thrown some money at making their team competitive this season, making this a very tricky test for Arsenal.

I highly doubt Mikel Arteta’s side will be qualifying for the Champions League via the Premier League, so this may be the way they make it there.

Arsenal won six out of six in the group stages, but this will be tough.

PREDICTION – Benfica

Tottenham vs Wolfsberger

An absolute gimme for Tottenham and Jose Mourinho! Wolfsberger are seventh in the Austrian league.

Mourinho likes to complain about Harry Kane being overused. I’m not even sure Kane would be needed for Spurs to beat these opponents.

I tipped Tottenham to win the Europa League at the start of the season. They should walk into the next stage.

PREDICTION – Tottenham

Leicester vs Slavia Prague

If Leicester can keep their key players fit - Jamie Vardy in particular - then they could go all the way in the Europa League this season.

Brendan Rodgers will look on this as a favourable tie. Leicester have talented players and are going well in the Premier League, in which they are third.

I’d expect them to fly past the Czech champions.

PREDICTION – Leicester