Arsenal needs to find a solution for the attack
Matches at this time are all of vital importance. After a dramatic, emotional but also energy-consuming victory against Everton, Arsenal needs to quickly regain balance both physically and mentally.
Returning to the Champions League, Mikel Arteta's team understands that this time they have no room for mistakes. If they collapse, it will be the first big disappointment of the season.
The problem with Arteta at this time is not only rotating the squad, but also finding the most effective combinations in the front line. It feels like he has not yet determined the optimal attacking framework of Arsenal.
The problem on the right flank is a clear example. Noni Madueke created a huge impact when he came on as a substitute in the first leg against Leverkusen, so the question is whether he deserves to be given a starting spot or not.
And if so, how will that affect Bukayo Saka, who usually has at least one break when Arsenal has to play 3 matches in a week. Saka has started from the beginning in the last 2 matches in 6 days.
The center forward position also gives Arteta a headache. Arsenal seemed to operate more smoothly when Kai Havertz played highest, but Viktor Gyokeres just made his mark with a goal against Everton after coming on as a substitute.
In the context that the Carabao Cup final is very close, Arsenal cannot let the match with Leverkusen last for another 30 minutes, and even more cannot risk injuries due to overload.
Chelsea needs magic from Palmer
Liam Rosenior has not given up hope. He affirmed that he has witnessed many times teams come back from being 3 goals down in the Champions League when playing at home.
However, reality shows that it only happened four times in 51 similar cases. Rosenior's belief largely came from the fact that Chelsea created quite a few chances in Paris, where they had four clear chances, compared to two from PSG.
If he wants to recreate that destructive power and take better advantage of opportunities, Cole Palmer will have to play the central role. The English star plays quite faintly in Paris, and with only one goal in the last 5 matches, he is not in his best form. But Chelsea needs Palmer to create something special if they want to turn the dream of a comeback into reality.
However, most assessments still lean towards a pessimistic scenario for The Blues. Their problems that have lasted throughout the season, such as ineffective finishing, frequent loss of advantage and lack of discipline at key moments, have limited the team's potential.
Cherki could be the key to Man City's comeback
If Man City wants to become the first team to come back after losing 3 goals to Real Madrid in the knockout round, they must find their explosive attack again. Now is the time for Pep Guardiola to have his stars create a special moment.
In the first leg at the Bernabeu, Man City's defense did not actually play poorly, but they were punished by Federico Valverde's too excellent performance.
Guardiola must also understand that his attacking arrangement was not reasonable. City controlled the game, made twice as many passes in the opponent's half as Real, but lacked sharpness. They lacked surprise, lacked rhythm and Erling Haaland finished the match with xG equal to 0.
That problem could be solved if Rayan Cherki is arranged to play right behind Haaland, and Nico O'Reilly is returned to midfield instead of playing as a full-back. That could also help Antoine Semenyo operate closer to Haaland.
Liverpool needs a comprehensive performance to overcome Galatasaray
The first thing Liverpool needs to do is to enter the game quickly, put pressure from the first minutes and take advantage of the atmosphere at Anfield to push the opponent into a passive position.
However, even though the goal is to score early, patience is still an extremely important factor against a Galatasaray with rich European experience, capable of falling deep to defend and then launching dangerous counter-attacks.
If Liverpool can take the lead, the taboo is that they must not lose focus. Just one goal conceded at home could break their European dream.
Tottenham must be almost perfect against Atletico Madrid
Tottenham lost in the first leg to Atletico Madrid due to a series of mistakes and looseness at many times. Therefore, the first requirement for them in the second leg is very clear - not to make any more mistakes.
That is a difficult task for any team, and even more difficult for a team that is lacking confidence and may still be shocked after the disaster night in Madrid, where they lost 2-5.
The late draw at Liverpool's stadium partly helped Spurs regain their spirit, but even that match was not without problems. Including Guglielmo Vicario's mistake leading to Liverpool's opening goal.
After days that were not very pleasant for Tottenham's goalkeepers, all eyes will continue to be on this position. However, the truth is that Vicario is still Spurs' undeniable number one choice.
After that, provided that Atletico does not score any more goals to increase the gap, Tottenham must score at least 3 goals to bring the match back to the starting line and 4 goals if they want to advance in 90 minutes.
Gordon will be the leader for Newcastle's historic ambition
Eddie Howe once called the first leg the biggest match in Newcastle's modern history, so the second leg will certainly be of similar significance. The late penalty at St James' Park made them regretful, but the 1-1 score still opened up a very big opportunity.
Anthony Gordon responded to criticism with a goal against Chelsea, and his explosion will be extremely important at Camp Nou. Gordon's speed, direct dribbling ability and counter-attacks may be Newcastle's biggest weapon.
Barcelona has only lost one home match this season. They also just crushed Sevilla 5-2 and will definitely hold the ball more, control the game more. Therefore, this is still a huge challenge for Newcastle, even when the score is balanced.
However, Hansi Flick's high-pressing playing style can also create space suitable for Newcastle's high-intensity football under Howe.
