Ghanaian players in the UEFA League this month

The UEFA Champions League finally returns this week and we have reached the knockout stages.

With some big fixtures coming up in the Round of 16, Premier Bet’s Steve Moorhouse takes a look at the Ghana football players who will feature in the next stage of the UEFA Champions League.

PSG v Chelsea – Tuesday, February 16

Kick-off: 19:45pm

Our first player in action is Chelsea left-back Baba Rahman. The defender will go face-to-face with some of European football’s biggest stars at the Parc des Princes and he may have the unenviable task of keeping Angel Di Maria quiet.

Rahman came off the bench at Stamford Bridge on the weekend, as the Blues thrashed Newcastle United 5-1. Injuries to Guus Hiddink’s backline meant that the Black Stars international was thrust into action as a substitute in the first half and now we could see him feature in this away tie in Paris.

PSG are flying in Ligue 1. They are 24 points clear at the top of the table in France and they possess the league’s top goal scorer, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. If their manager Laurent Blanc deploys former Manchester United winger Di Maria on Rahman’s flank, he could be in for a long and testing evening, as the Argentine has 13 goals already in an impressive debut campaign in the French capital.

However, the former Augsburg player has been growing in confidence in recent weeks and being included in Chelsea’s UEFA Champions League Round of 16 squad is a further boost to the young man’s reputation. Can he help guide Chelsea to victory? Click here for betting odds.

Gent v Wolfsburg – Wednesday, February 17

Kick-off: 19:45pm

Defender Nana Asare is the next Ghanaian football player to feature in this week’s 2016 Champions League ties. Asare’s side Gent will play the first leg of this Round of 16 knockout game at the Ghelamco Arena and come into the game in great form.

Asare has featured in every Champions League game that Gent have played in so far this season. They have surprised everyone with their ability to get out of the Group Stage, but now comes their biggest test.

Wolfsburg, despite their name and prestige, are having a pretty poor season. They are currently eighth in the German Bundesliga and they need a good result in the Champions League to push them forward.

Asare should be confident, though. Gent were unbeaten at home in their last ten games and have kept four clean sheets in their last six matches at their own ground.

Juventus v Bayern Munich – Tuesday, February 23

Kick-off: 19:45 pm

Next week, Juventus will take on Bayern Munich at the Juventus Stadium, in one of the biggest games of the round. One Ghanaian who will be praying to make an appearance, is Juve winger Kwadwo Asamoah.

Asamoah has had a torrid season, blighted with injuries and false starts. His last appearance for the Old Lady came in a Coppa Italia win against Inter Milan.

His chances of playing against Bayern Munich in Turin on February 23 are slim, to say the least, as his place has been taken by Alex Sandro.

PSV v Atletico Madrid – Wednesday, February 24

Kick-off: 19:45 pm

Our final Black Stars player who could feature in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 is Atletico Madrid’s defensive midfielder, Thomas Partey.

Like Asamoah, Thomas is unlikely to play, due to the strength of Diego Simeone’s side. However, the 22-year-old has made a number of appearances this year, with his last being in the 3-1 win against Eibar at the start of the month. He is yet to play in Europe this season.

His side will play at the Philips Stadion in Eindhoven in the first leg and they should be wary. The hosts won all three of their group games at home.

You can watch the Champions League at Premier Bet locations around Ghana. Click here for their store locations and click here for the latest odds.