Champions League Last 16: Predicting This Week's First-Leg Scores

There's nothing like a batch of Champions League matches to remind you how little you know about football.

Who predicted Arsenal to draw with AC Milan in the San Siro? This guy.

Who predicted Zenit to draw with Benfica? Yep, right here.

On the bright side, my forecasts for Barcelona and Lyon victories proved correct—if not exactly by the right margins. It's with that sense of optimism that I enter into this week's first-leg predictions.

Four matches remain in the Champions League round of 16's first leg. Four predictions will appear over the next four slides.

Got it? Good. Please add your predictions in the comments below.

Last week: 2-2

Follow Mike on Twitter: @MikeCummings37

CSKA Moscow-Real Madrid

When: Tuesday, Feb. 21, noon Eastern

TV: Fox Soccer (live)

What's up: Real Madrid, who currently lead La Liga by 10 points over Barcelona, were the only team to win all six matches in this season's Champions League group stage. That run included away victories over Lyon, Ajax and Dinamo Zagreb.

But playing at the Luzhniki Stadium in January will be different, even if CSKA and the Russian league are on break until next month.

Prediction: Real are rolling. CSKA are on winter break. The cold conditions will level the playing field somewhat, but not enough to stop Real. CSKA 1-2 Real Madrid

Napoli-Chelsea

When: Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2:45 p.m. Eastern

TV: Fox Soccer (live)

What's up: Both teams are struggling. Chelsea currently sit fifth in the English Premier League, and first-year manager Andre Villas-Boas is trying to weather an intense spell of pressure. The Blues won Group E, but finished only one point ahead of Bayer Leverkusen, who looked woeful last week against Barcelona.

Napoli, meanwhile, are sixth in Serie A, but they have won their last two league matches by a combined 5-0 score. The Italians finished second behind Bayern Munich in Group A.

Prediction: Does someone have to win this tie? It really is an absolute toss-up. Either team could win, and either could lose badly. I'm going with the home team, without confidence, in the first leg. Napoli 1-0 Chelsea

Basel-Bayern Munich

When: Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2:45 p.m. Eastern

TV: Fox Soccer Plus (live)

What's up: Bayern slipped to third place in the Bundesliga thanks to their scoreless draw with last-place club Freiburg over the weekend. The Bavarians won Group A over Napoli.

Basel, everyone's favorite Cinderella story, finished second behind Benfica—but ahead of Manchester United—in Group C. The Swiss champs will lose Xherdan Shaqiri to Bayern at the end of the season, so this tie offers an interesting opportunity for early revenge.

Prediction: Basel have had a great run in Europe this season, but it's hard to see them progressing. They will put up a fight, though, especially in the first leg. Basel 1-1 Bayern

Marseille-Inter Milan

When: Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2:45 p.m. Eastern

TV: Fox Soccer (live)

What's up: Marseille were so great in the group stage, they finished behind European conquerors Arsenal in Group F. Marseille are currently fourth in Ligue 1, but they're only three points above ninth place.

After starting the season in crisis, Inter are right back at DefCon-1. Since beating Lazio on Jan. 22, the Nerazzurri are winless in the league. In their last three league matches, they've lost to AS Roma (4-0 away), Novara (1-0 at home) and Bologna (3-0 at home).

Losing in France might mean blowing it all up, again.

Prediction: They're gonna have to blow it up, again. Marseille 2-1 Inter