The best tournament in sports keeps rolling on.
Image by Albert Gea / Reuters
Grab your commemorative scarves and prime your illegal internet soccer streams, because the Champions League round of 16 begins today.
If you're unfamiliar with the round of 16 format, the winners and losers are calculated as follows: Each match-up is split into two games — a first leg, and a second leg. The score of the first game is added to the score of the second to create an aggregate score, and the team that wins on aggregate advances to the quarterfinals. In the case of a tie (which will happen, undoubtedly), the team with the most away goals advances. In the case of a tie on away goals, the teams will go extra time at the end of the second leg, and if needed, penalty kicks.
Onto the matchups.
Celtic vs. Juventus
Image by Scott Heppell / AP
Celtic is the feel-good story of the Champions League group stages — the tiny Scottish champions beat Barcelona at home en route to a second-place finish in the group, which secured them a date with Italian giants Juventus. The consummate underdog, Celtic have the advantage of playing the opening leg at Celtic Park, where they haven't lost since November 24th. If Gary Hooper (13 goals in the SPL this season) keeps scoring and Celtic somehow win the first leg, Snoop's Dogg's favorite club has a chance, but it's a very small chance.
First leg: February 12th at Celtic
Second leg: March 6th at Juventus
Winner: Juventus. There's also a 100% chance Rod Stewart will shed tears.