Real Madrid: 3 best teams to draw in the Champions League Round of 16

Club Brugge

On paper, it might be easy to overlook the Belgians. That, however, would be unwise.

Brugge managed to finish second in a group with Bayer Leverkusen, Atletico, and FC Porto. And they managed to get through by grinding out results. Outside of a 4-0 defeat at home against Porto, Club Brugge did not allow a goal to Leverkusen or Atleti.

Former Liverpool goaltender Simon Mignolet was a man-possessed in the group stage making a UCL-best 31 saves over six matches (nearly 6 saves per game). Brugge might be looked at as an “easy opponent” for Los Blancos, but I think they are far better than they are given credit for.

Watching Vini Jr., Karim Benzema, Rodrygo, and Fede Valverde breakdown their defense would be a much taller task than people would expect while also giving all four an opportunity to break down a defensive block that stymied Leverkusen and Atleti.

Eintracht Frankfurt

Here is the token “easy opponent” Real Madrid would like to see in the first knockout round. After the gauntlet that was last year’s title-winning run.

Real Madrid handled Frankfurt with ease in the UEFA Super Cup in August with a 2-0 win. Though the Germans came close to scoring in the first half, they were not much trouble for a squad that was still shaking off the summer rust.

Sitting in fifth in the Bundesliga table having allowed 20 goals in 15 matches, I think Real Madrid would love to see Eintracht Frankfurt’s name drawn opposite theirs more than any of the other teams.

That is unless Liverpool is drawn. I am sure Madridistas want to add to their growing list of triumphs over Jurgen Klopp and The Reds!