Dietmar Hamann counts FC Bayern among the top favorites to win the Champions League. With Chelsea and Atletico Madrid, however, two particularly difficult opponents threaten in the round of 16, as the TV expert feels.
As in the 2019/20 triple season, FC Bayern reached the last sixteen of the Champions League with 18 points from six games. In the round of the last 16, Munich will meet one of the seven runners-up in the group, as group opponents Benfica will be drawn to another group winner due to the regulations. The possible tickets for FC Bayern are Sporting, Inter Milan, Red Bull Salzburg, Paris St. Germain, Atletico Madrid, FC Chelsea and the winner of the catch-up game between Atalanta Bergamo and FC Villarreal.
Hamann: “Chelsea probably the hardest lot”
Dietmar Hamann warns the German record champions in particular of a potential round of 16 duel with Chelsea and Atletico: “As far as Bayern’s possible opponents in the round of 16 are concerned, Chelsea as defending champions would probably be the hardest draw,” the ex-professional writes in his Sky-Column and adds: “The team I would like to avoid from Bayern’s point of view besides Chelsea is Atletico Madrid. I’ve seen them twice this year and they played brilliantly.”
“Don’t think PSG can harm them”
It is true that Paris St. Germain is an “attractive” lot because of the duels in the past two seasons – FC Bayern won the 2020 final but failed in the quarter-finals last season against the French – Hamann feels. However, the TV expert sees the German record champions at an advantage due to the low participation of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in the game against the ball: “I don’t think PSG can be dangerous for them as long as they are up front with Messi, Mbappe and Play Neymar. The three have to play, they’ll play, but it doesn’t work. “
Bayern, Liverpool and ManCity “are the leading forces”
In general, Hamann Paris is by no means one of the title favorites in the premier class. “Bayern, Liverpool and Manchester City are the leading forces for me. As runners-up in the group I would like to avoid these three teams,” writes the 48-year-old, who won the Champions League with Liverpool in Istanbul in 2005.
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