Champions League 2013-14: Top Players Who Will Shine in Round of 16 1st Leg

The Champions League has now been whittled down to Europe's elite 16 sides, all vying for a place in May's final at Lisbon's Estadio da Luz.

Here, we take a look at some of the players likely to prove vital to their teams progressing to the quarter-finals.


Top Players

Diego Costa, Atletico Madrid

The Brazilian striker has struck 26 goals in 35 games for Los Colchoneros this term, and it's difficult to see any hope for AC Milan against Atletico.

Add to that the fact Costa will be facing a Milan side struggling in 10th position in Serie A. I Rossoneri couldn't come at a better time.

Costa is reportedly a target for Chelsea, as mentioned by the Metro.

Having been in formidable form this season, Costa sits only one behind Cristiano Ronaldo in the La Liga scoring charts on 21 goals.

It would be a brave man who bets against him adding to his tally against Milan.


Mario Mandzukic, Bayern Munich

Mandzukic has been in ruthless form for Bayern this term. As per ESPN.com, he has hit 12 goals and two assists in 19 games.

Although they will miss the creative talents of Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben will provide the creative spark needed to feed the goal threat that Mandzukic brings.

Pep Guardiola has long been an advocate of the "false nine" role, a role Mandzukic is not naturally accustomed to. Nevertheless, the former-Wolfsburg man has been in such dependable form this season that Guardiola has been willing to dispense with that philosophy for the goals he brings.

Arsenal's defence, led by Per Mertesacker will have to be on excellent form if they are to nullify the threat Mandzukic poses.


Vincent Kompany, Manchester City

Much has been made of the big-money signings Manchester City have made since the Sheikh Mansour takeover. But it is often forgotten that Vincent Kompany, arguably City's best player in that period, was there before the money rolled in.

Kompany has been at the fulcrum of a City side that has conquered the English game and now will attempt to dominate Europe. If City are to progress, Kompany will be vital to repel the pressure exerted by Barcelona's mesmeric style of play.

Alan Brazil of TalkSport tweeted that Kompany was confident heading into the clash against the Catalan giants:

Kompany has come to represent the virtues the Premier League seeks to extol. He is brave, fast and ferocious in the tackle. But it will be his reading of the game that will be most keenly tested against Barcelona.

Count on Kompany to shepherd City into the quarter-finals.

Source: Bleacherreport
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How Manchester City Will Line Up Against Barcelona in Champions League Play

What a different tone this preview would have if Manchester City had not finally cracked Jose Mourinho's code in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Manchester City 2-0 Chelsea did nothing to pull back the six Premier League points the Londoners took from City this season. It did not draw City any closer to catching Chelsea or Arsenal in the Premier League.

It guaranteed City nothing by way of silver, as three more hurdles must be cleared before the FA Cup is won.

Still, can you imagine how the headlines would have read in the tabloids if City boss Manuel Pellegrini had his lunch stolen by Mourinho again?

A third loss to Chelsea would have left City winless in February and reeling. What hope would anyone have had for City against mighty Barcelona in Champions League play?

Just one win really can make all the difference.

This is not to suggest that City are now going to steamroll Barcelona or even win the match narrowly. Oddschecker.com has Barcelona as a very slight favorite to win at the Etihad (6/4 as against 19/10 for City).

But the relief and belief the Citizens came away with were neatly encapsulated in Alvaro Negredo's Twitter remarks after the win over Chelsea:


Which leads us nicely into the new big question for Pellegrini which XI will he pick to take on Barcelona?

Pellegrini is very likely to be without star striker Sergio Aguero and invaluable midfielder Fernandinho for this match.

Per David McDonnell of the Mirror, Pellegrini "will give Fernandinho until after training today to prove his fitness, while admitting Aguero has only an outside chance of being fit for the first leg of the last 16 tie."

Aside from the availability of those two, Pellegrini must answer the following questions for himself and his team:

Is Samir Nasri now fit enough to run for 90 minutes? If not, should Nasri start anyway?
Will Pellegrini break up the budding partnership of Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic to start Alvaro Negredo?
Has Pellegrini finally fallen out of love with Martin Demichelis, or will the Argentine slot right back in next to Vincent Kompany?

If you take Pellegrini at his word, Aguero will not even make the team sheet. “It’s my opinion that for Aguero it’s very difficult for him to play,” said Pellegrini to McDonnell. Sending Fernandinho out at less than full health against a dangerous side like Barcelona would be a very bad idea.

The projected City XI below suggests what the answers to those other questions above might be.

City's predicted XI against Barcelona: Joe Hart; Gael Clichy, Vincent Kompany, Martin Demichelis, Pablo Zabaleta; Samir Nasri, David Silva, Yaya Toure, Jesus Navas; Edin Dzeko, Stevan Jovetic.

Source: Bleacherreport
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