Michael Owen has been studying this week's Champions League fixtures and while his predictions make uncomfortable reading for Chelsea fans, Manchester City supporters will be hoping he hits the nail on the head.
Frank Lampard's Blues welcome Bayern Munich to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, just three days after an energy-sapping London derby victory over Tottenham .
Owen thinks there will be plenty of goals in the tie and although he sees Chelsea scoring, he is backing the Bundesliga champions to prevail.
"Both these sides were knocked out of the Champions League at this stage of the competition 12 months ago, but I expect the Bundesliga champions to take a lead back to Munich for the second leg next month when they visit Stamford Bridge on Tuesday," he wrote in his BetVictor blog.
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"Chelsea manager Frank Lampard was the Blues’ captain when they won their sole Champions League crown against Bayern in their own back yard back in 2012 and they go into the tie on the back of completing a league double over neighbours Spurs at the weekend.
"Bundesliga league leaders Bayern also beat Spurs home and away in the group stages of the Champions League earlier in the season, and I think they will edge what promises to be a cracking tie."
City travel to the Bernabeu for a meeting with Zinedine Zidane's Real Madrid side who are missing Eden Hazard through injury.
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"Pep Guardiola will be hoping to have Raheem Sterling , who missed his side’s 1-0 win at Leicester City at the weekend, back from injury and I expect to see City take a lead back to the Etihad next month in what promises to be a wonderful occasion at the Bernabeu," Owen predicted.
"There was only one goal between the sides over the two legs in the Champions League semi-final four years ago – and that was a City own goal – but I would be surprised if we failed to see opportunities at both ends in what promises to be a hugely entertaining game."
Cristiano Ronaldo is hunting his 130th Champions League goal and Owen reckons he will reach the land mark during Juventus ' clash with Lyon.
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"Juventus currently top the Italian league while Lyon are only seventh in Ligue 1 although they are going very well in their domestic cup competitions," he concluded.
"Cristiano Ronaldo has scored in a record-equalling 11 successive Serie A games for Juve and his considerable powers show no signs of waning – he may again be the difference between the sides."
The former England striker added that he sees Napoli and Barcelona playing out a score draw.
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