Predicting the Remaining Fixtures of the 2019/20 Champions League

It's back baby!

Not only is it back, but it's returning in glorious, historic, nail-biting World Cup style!

If that doesn't get your pulses racing then you're a heartless deviant with no love for football in its finest form. Perhaps a tad strong, but c'mon, we were starved of Euro 2020 action and this is the next best thing.

Whatever way it's being played out, someone has got to win it. All the big hitters remain left in the competition, while everyone's favourite outsider horse - who you're only backing because they've got a funny name – Atalanta, continue to write history with their involvement.

Brace yourselves for Portuguese-hosted brilliance. Brace yourself for disagreeing entirely with the selections made below.

Round of 16

Before we get into the one-off encounters, there is the matter of a few fixtures to work around. Starting with Manchester City against Real Madrid, fortune will favour those with the score advantage in this one - as well as the ones missing their best player, that won't help.

Indeed, free-scoring City will see their way past Los Blancos (just) as Sergio Ramos' absence will be too inviting to not capitalise on.

Then we've got a tricky affair between Juventus and Lyon. The French side boast a 1-0 lead from the first leg at home, but Juventus appear to have found their groove in forward areas of late, Paulo Dybala and Cristiano Ronaldo actually operating fluidly together. Ronaldo is likely to score a hat trick of penalties to seal the tie.

Our other English entry is, Frankly, not worth bothering about. Bayern Munich won't be letting this one go.

And then we're in sunny Catalonia where Barcelona hold a slender edge with their clash against Napoli. The 1-1 draw in Italy has Barça holding the upper hand, but they aren't all that at the moment. Still, they rarely lose at home in the Champions League. They'll sneak through.

Round of 16 results:

Manchester City vs Real Madrid - Manchester City progress.

Juventus vs Lyon - Juventus progress.

Bayern Munich vs Chelsea - Bayern Munich comprehensively progress.

Barcelona vs Napoli - Barcelona progress.

Quarter-Finals

Lovely, now we're talking business.

First up is the Cityzens taking on the Old Lady. How big is the Ronaldo factor? Not very, in all honesty. Shaky City defence, sure, but rampant City forward line? Certainly. The only thing playing against Pep Guardiola's side on this is that Gabriel Jesus is highly unlikely to have much joy against Matthijs de Ligt. He's one of the best already. However, City have other weapons that should put them in good stead.

Oh, hello RB Leipzig and Atletico Madrid, the two sides nobody is really bothered about left in the competition. Lucky for them they got drawn against each other so everyone has one less match to focus on. Ha! I joke, sort of. But really, the Timo Werner factor (or lack thereof) is going to be crucial. Los Rojiblancos for this one.

Now we're onto a colossal clash. One resembling that video you've most likely seen of the giant sumo wrestler taking on a featherweight boxer. Perhaps it's not that big of a gulf in class, but Bayern are, at present, a far better team than Barça. They just are. That won't change, even in a one-off like this - not having the 'they're less match fit' chat coming into this.

Lastly we have plucky little Atalanta taking on Kylian Mbappe and co. On paper, this is Paris Saint-Germain's game all day long. Mbappe, Neymar, Marco Verratti and the rest are extremely talented players, yet Atalanta are an extremely talented team. Brilliantly coached and farcically fit. They shouldn't progress, but they will. Somehow.

Quarter-final results:

Manchester City vs Juventus - Manchester City progress.

RB Leipzig vs Atletico Madrid - Atletico Madrid progress.

Barcelona vs Bayern Munich - Bayern Munich progress.

Atalanta vs Paris Saint-Germain - Atalanta progress.

Semi-Finals

In the words of the greatest TV chef of all time, 'Let's be having those Champions League semi-finals'. You're damn right Delia. Damn right.

Our final four competitors are here, taking to the stage, applauded on by nothing more than that famous European football tune. Let's get stuck in.

The first semi-final is one that some predicted could be the actual final. Unfortunately, Swansea legend Paulo Sousa ensured we were starved of that. Moving on from that, City taking on Bayern is aggressively categorised under 'must-watch'. It's one of those fixtures where the first goal probably isn't all that important. Of course, it is to some degree, but both of these sides score goals for fun anyway, whether they're trailing or not.

Thing is, Bayern do all the other parts of the game better. They boast the most complete midfielder in world football in Joshua Kimmich, arguably the most exciting left-back on the plant in Alphonso Davies, as well as the best centre-forward around. They just can't lose.

In the other semi-final you couldn't have pitted two sides with more vastly differing styles than Atalanta and Atletico against each other. That they both begin with 'At' is where the similarities end. Something along the lines of the Italian side being devastating in attack and Atletico being ultra defensive is how all the pre-match analysis will go.

Regarding the match itself, you can't ever envisage a game where Atalanta don't score. It's an unfathomable reality. Of course, Atletico are no pushovers, Liverpool will attest to that, you just get the feeling that as soon as La Dea score, the game is theirs.

Semi-final results

Manchester City vs Bayern Munich - Bayern Munich progress

Atalanta vs Atletico Madrid - Atalanta progress

Final

'These are the Champiooooooooons'

Here it is ladies and gentleman, the Champions League final.

Contested by one side who most likely are everyone's favourites to win it, and another side who have never even been in the competition before. It's quite remarkable, really. If this were to be the final - it will be, I've said so - then it's just about every neutral's ideal scenario. The narratives are fabulous from whichever angle you take.

In a year that most would rather forget happened at all, where each beguiling occurrence trumps the next, the only outcome can be that Atalanta win the 2020 Champions League, right? It would be, were it not for the incontestable caveat that Bayern are the best team in the world right now.

When it comes to game, it could easily play out like the 2018 World Cup final. France were meant to win, but Croatia weren't to be taken lightly. Bayern - being Bayern - will take the lead, only for the plucky Bergamasca to draw level. No matter the opponent, their chances of scoring still remain in the upper 70% region.

You can't, however, contend with the will of Die Roten. You can argue a case for Hans-Dieter Flick being the Manager of the Year for all football leagues. He's completely transformed the side since taking the reins in November. They are unstoppable. Every facet of their play is so well drilled and perfected that the scope for failure has diminished to the point of non-existence.

It would be the fairytale conclusion to the 2019/20 football season for Atalanta to win, it really would. Sadly, it won't happen.

Final result

Atalanta vs Bayern Munich - Bayern Munich win (probably 3-1)

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