DStv got you covered as Chelsea hosts Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Manchester City

SuperSport viewers on DStv can look forward to a European treat on the midweek of 25-26 February 2020 as the first legs of the last 16 round of the UEFA Champions League are wrapped up with four matches across the European continent.

The midweek UEFA Champions League action this week begins on the night of Tuesday 25 February at Stamford Bridge, as Chelsea host Bayern Munich. The Blues came through a tough group to qualify ahead of last season’s semi-finalists Ajax, while the German giants will have no fear of another trip to London following their spectacular 7-2 away win over Tottenham Hotspur as recently as October.

Michael Ballack, a player who represented both teams in his illustrious career, has backed the Bundesliga team to advance: “Bayern are favourites, for many reasons. Experience speaks strongly in their favour. Chelsea’s transfer ban has compelled them to put their faith in young players. Their manager is new and inexperienced in his job, and that is a big advantage for Bayern.

“The performance levels of Bayern’s players are another plus for them. They are more stable than they were last autumn. Chelsea has a young team, which has the potential to explode. They have mostly young players, a bit like Borussia Dortmund.”

SuperSport viewers on Tuesday can also see Napoli play host to Barcelona at Stadio San Paolo, with the Neapolitans hoping that Kalidou Koulibaly and his fellow defenders can find a way to tie down the Blaugrana’s Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann.

Antoine Griezman (L) of FC Barcelona in action against Konstantinos Manolas (R) of SSC Napoli during the friendly soccer match between SSC Napoli and FC Barcelona at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, USA, 07 August 2019. EPA/CRISTOBAL HERRERA

The UEFA Champions League action then moves to Wednesday 26 February and is headlined by the clash between Real Madrid and Manchester City at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. One of the most fascinating narratives leading into the clash is a comparison between Citizens playmaker Kevin De Bruyne and Los Blancos manager Zinedine Zidane, who was an era-defining number 10.

“I don’t know about that [Zidane comparisons]. It’s nice when people say this kind of [positive] stuff. It means I am doing good—and that’s about it. Maybe, yes, I am playing my best football, but it’s so difficult to say,” said De Bruyne on the issue of his style compared to that of ‘Zizou’ in years gone by.

Wednesday also features a clash at the Groupama Stadium in which French hopefuls Olympique Lyon will host Juventus. Bianconeri manager Maurizio Sarri has admitted that drawing Lyon in the last 16 was a relief but believes it will still be a tough tie to come through.

“The big fear was to fall on Real Madrid,” explained the tactician. “We have to be able to get by with all the other draws. But a knockout round is always complicated, regardless of the opponent.”

Juventus’ Sami Khedira (R) and Lyon’s Corentin Tolisso in action during the UEFA Champions League group H soccer match Juventus FC vs Olympique Lyon at the Juventus Stadium in Turin, Italy, 02 November 2016. EPA/ALESSANDRO DI MARCO

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UEFA Champions League fixtures, 25-26 February – Broadcast details

Tuesday 25 February