Champions League 2015: Odds, Predictions for Wednesday's Round of 16 Action

The 2015 Champions League returned with two high-profile clashes on Tuesday, and Wednesday will see holders Real Madrid travel to Germany to take on Schalke 04—again—and FC Basel host FC Porto.

All four teams have become regulars at this stage of the competition in recent years and had varying levels of success during the group stages. Tuesday's matches were all about defensive solidity—the teams playing on Wednesday are known for playing a more open game.

Here are the latest odds for Wednesday's action, courtesy of Oddsshark:

Home	Draw	Away
Schalke 04 (7-1)	4-1	Real Madrid /(0-139)
FC Basel (123-50)	229-100	FC Porto (67-50)

Schalke 04 v Real Madrid

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

For the second consecutive year, Schalke will play host to Real at the Veltins-Arena. And after last year's debacle, fans and pundits alike are already looking forward to another goal-fest and an easy win for Los Blancos.

Led by an unleashed Cristiano Ronaldo, the eventual Champions League winners ran out to a 6-1 win, and it seems the Spanish media are confident of a repeat performance. Pundits like AS' Nicholas Rigg are gladly putting out stories like this:

Wednesday's clash hardly looks like it has the making of another blowout, however. Real's domestic form has hardly been impressive in recent weeks, and Saturday's 2-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna was anything but convincing.

Injuries have been the main culprit, particularly along the back four. The duo of Raphael Varane and Nacho has looked shaky, and per ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan, the return of Portugal international Pepe couldn't come at a better time:

It's no coincidence Real's drop in form coincides with Ronaldo losing his shooting boots—it's been exactly one month since he last scored, per WhoScored.com—but the Ballon d'Or holder has the ability to flip the switch at any given time—one goal could be enough to get him going again.

Schalke enter the match having lost their last Bundesliga fixture against Eintracht Frankfurt, bringing an end to an impressive unbeaten streak. The Germans have also had their struggles this season, and Real should be favourites coming into the tie.

But don't expect another walk-over. Real's form simply isn't as spectacular as it was earlier in the season, and Schalke will be keen to avoid another drubbing. Veteran goalkeeper Iker Casillas is right to warn fans and players alike not to grow complacent:

Prediction: Schalke 1-2 Real Madrid

FC Basel v FC Porto

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Unfortunately for you football hipsters, one of these two clubs won't survive the round of 16. Basel and Porto have grown into regulars at this stage of the competition in the past few years and always look like dangerous underdogs—it would be nice to see them get a crack at one of the European giants.

Instead, they're in line to serve up two tasty encounters between young, talented teams in excellent form. Porto have won their last four matches—Basel are undefeated on the domestic level since November.

As shared by SuperSport, both clubs will enter the match with plenty of confidence:

Porto coach Julen Lopetegui is saying all the right things ahead of the trip to Switzerland, but his words should register with his players:

The Swiss outfit may have moved several key midfielders during the winter transfer window, but the hosts remain a very dangerous team. Marco Streller is one of Europe's most efficient target men, and with Fabian Frei manning the middle of the midfield line, they still expect to do well in the battle for possession.

Porto have a prolific striker of their own in Jackson Martinez, and with the in-form Yacine Brahimi running at Basel's defence—one missing Fabian Schar, who is sitting the first leg out due to a suspension—the Portuguese side may have too much attacking quality for the hosts to overcome.

Prediction: FC Basel 1-1 FC Porto

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