UEFA Europa League 2013: Predicting Biggest Winners and Losers from Round of 16

With the UEFA Champions League done and dusted for another week, the UEFA Europa League once again takes center stage in European football.

Only 16 teams remain now in the competition—a number that will be whittled down to just eight quarter-finalists after the return legs next week.

Which teams will emerge as the big winners and losers from the Europa League's round of 16 action? Read on and find out.

Winner: Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur are on a big roll at the moment in both Europe and England, with star winger Gareth Bale all the rage around the globe. And it's that momentum that Spurs bring into their round of 16 matchup against Inter Milan—something that will definitely be a tough test for Andre Villas-Boas.

Spurs have a bit of breathing space in the race for the top four now following their win over Arsenal, so they can afford to go all out in this one. White Hart Lane has again been a formidable place to travel to for opposing teams this season (going undefeated against Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool) and they'll likely build too big of a lead there for Inter to chase down in the second leg.

Tottenham through to the final eight of the competition.

Loser: Newcastle United

There's a couple of realities facing Newcastle United at the moment—one of them being that the vast majority of their starting squad at the moment is unable to play this fixture, and the other being that, domestically, they're in a tough spot in terms of relegation danger.

The Magpies do have some breathing room, but given how much is at stake in that battle it's hard for it not to be considered their priority here.

Traveling to Russia at this time of year certainly won't be easier either (just ask Liverpool) and it's hard to see Newcastle surviving either leg with a win against Anzhi Makhachkala and the attacking ability they possess right across the pitch.

Winner: Viktoria Plzen

Fenerbahce are a very tough club to come up against in fixtures like these Europa League ones, but the reality is that the Turkish club aren't traveling as well as they were earlier in the year.

Their opponents, however, are riding the dream wave having beaten Italian powerhouse Napoli in the previous round and will be looking to carry that into this one. After all, if they can beat Spanish giants Atletico Madrid, they can beat Fenerbahce here.

Getting a result in the first leg should give Plzen enough confidence to hang on for an aggregate win in the second leg for a spot in the final eight.

Loser: Chelsea

Before Blues fans instantly berate me for putting Chelsea here, hear the logic and rationale behind why the West London club will be losers.

Whatever happens, Rafa Benitez and Chelsea cannot come out on top. Too much is simply expected of them and the pressure that the Blues are under at the moment cannot cause anything other than a slip up against Steaua Bucuresti.

The Romanian club possess a more-than-capable defense which, as we saw in the previous round, can trouble the Blues' patience from time to time.

If Chelsea lose, they'll be labelled as hopeless and well, they'll be losers. If they struggle, they'll still be deemed losers given how they should have beaten Steaua Bucuresti comfortably. And even if they win, the Blues will be called losers solely for the fact that they either did something wrong, showed some sign of weakness, aren't in the Champions League and are struggling domestically.

Benitez is under pressure every week at the moment—regardless of the result—and with a surprising tough matchup here, the Blues will end up losers.

Whether they win or lose.

Who are your winners and losers from the Europa League this week?

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