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UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE The last 16 - full previews and analysis by Jonathan Fadugba

@JustFootball /WeAreJustFootball CONTENTS UEFA Champions League - last 16 previews

Borussia Dortmund (page 4) v Saint-Germain (page 7) Atletico (p.11) v Liverpool (p.14) Atalanta (p.17) v Valencia (p.20) Tottenham Hotspur (p.23) v RB Leipzig (p.26) Napoli (p.30) v FC (p.32) Chelsea (p.36) v Bayern Munich (p.39) Real Madrid (p.42) v City (p.45) (p.49) v Juventus (p.51)

@JustFootball /WeAreJustFootball

League position - 3rd This vibrant, thrilling demonstration of Dortmund’s attacking capabilities sent shockwaves through How have they fared since the group stage? European football as Dortmund’s young prodigies demonstrated their frightening potential. Five wins, one draw and three defeats from nine games has seen Borussia Dortmund lose ground in Dortmund have some of the most exciting young the title race, and go out of the German players in world football, but is it enough to get them Cup in a defeat at the hands of Werder Bremen. challenging for honours at the highest level?

The big story Invariably it is experience and know-how that wins Champions League medals. This high-energy, fearless The winter break allowed Borussia Dortmund time to group of players will try to defy that assumption. refresh and regroup. New signings came in to strengthen the club and those players surplus to New signings requirements departed. Erling Braut Haaland, , (joins Dortmund returned from the winter break like a UCL squad from youth team) house on fire, scoring an incredible 15 goals in three games to beat Augsburg (5-3), FC Koln (5-1) and Union (5-0).

Borussia Dortmund

Departures Haaland's hold-up play, strength and ability in the air Paco Alcacer, , Jacob Bruun Larsen are all excellent for one so young, and will allow the Bundesliga side to play more direct if needed. Haaland Team Shape can bring others into play and soak up pressure more ably than a Goetze or Brandt. Manager tends to favour a 3-4-3 or 4-2- 3-1 formation, but in the biggest of games this Borussia Dortmund are averaging more than 2.4 goals he has opted for a 4-4-1-1, often with a false nine in per game this season and are one of European Mario Gotze or . football’s most entertaining, attacking outfits. But it is defensively where they struggle. This sense of caution has not paid off - in games where he has tried this Bayern Munich battered his Defending transitions is a weak point for them, they side 4-0 and Barcelona were 3-1 winners. Perhaps he tend to leave big spaces for opponents to attack on will throw more caution to the wind against Paris the break and there are general question marks over Saint-Germain. defenders like , and Dan- Axel Zagadou who are either past their peak or not yet The signing of Erling Braut Haaland really is a huge close to it. Containing players like and Kylian deal for Dortmund as he is exactly the type of focal Mbappe could prove tricky. point they were lacking in attack.

Borussia Dortmund

Key Man

Sitting on double figures for goals and assists already Beware also, of machine Erling Braut Haaland, this season (12 goals, 13 assists), has a who is eligible for Dortmund after joining from RB very strong case to be called the best young player in Salzburg. He has already scored eight goals in his world football. debut Champions League campaign so far.

With a market value of over £120 million, Sancho’s bold decision to up sticks at 17 and leave a comfortable life of Manchester City academy football for the Bundesliga has paid dividends. Leaving one or two disciplinary problems aside, it’s fair to say the move has been an unbridled success.

Sancho is tearing up the Bundesliga this season, carrying on from last year where he registered 13 goals and 19 assists in 43 games.

If Dortmund are to progress past PSG to the last eight or even beyond, they’ll need Sancho in peak condition.

Paris Saint-Germain

League position - 1st Last season PSG broke unwanted records by becoming the first team to win by two or more goals How have they fared since the group stage? away from home in the first leg of a Champions League knockout tie and still get knocked out. 15 games, 13 wins, two draws. Completely dominant. That dramatic defeat to Manchester United prolonged The big story the overriding feeling that this is a club with a unique ability to bottle it on the grand stage when it matters The search for the Holy Grail goes on for Paris Saint- most. Germain. Despite six league titles and two domestic trebles in eight years there is a certain itch that PSG’s Having managed to keep Neymar in Paris for likely one owners Qatar Sports Investments have been unable to last season, and with a squad that looks more scratch since their 2011 takeover thrust the club into balanced and less star-oriented than in previous an era of incalculable wealth. years, PSG will look to go all the way.

Conquering Europe has always been PSG's raison d’être under Qatari management, and until that day comes a sense of dissatisfaction will continue to linger around the club like the smell of garlic on an expensive date.

Paris Saint-Germain

New signings All four stars contributed to the scoreline, leading them to be heralded as ‘four of the top ten players in n/a world football’ by teammate .

Departures The dilemma for Tuchel: does he start all four in the knockout games against Borussia Dortmund? n/a There has been some debate in about the Team shape fantastic four and their defensive work - or lack of it - and whether they can be trusted to perform their From a tactical point of view the big question during defensive duties effectively when the opponents are a these knockout rounds will be how does PSG boss little more strenuous than a Dijon or a Bordeaux. manage his Quatre Fantastiques - the Certainly, defensive discipline is not a trait you would fantastic four of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, associate with Neymar or Di Maria. and Angel Di Maria? To fit all four into his lineup Tuchel has tended to opt The four between them have contributed for an for a 4-4-2 formation, with Icardi and Mbappe upfront almost inconceivable 118 goals and assists this and Neymar and Di Maria on the left and right flanks season. A recent example of their magic came when respectively. they ripped Saint-Etienne apart 6-1.

Paris Saint-Germain

Idrissa Gueye, who has been a brilliant signing from The usual suspects get all the love in Paris. Let’s go for Everton, and Verratti occupy the central midfield slots, someone a bit left-field, but no less crucial to PSG’s while and man the chances of going deep in this competition: Idrissa centre of defence. Gueye.

In the attacking phase PSG tend to leave the left-back Signed from Everton for £30 million, this was an to stay deeper for defensive cover, with the right-back, exceptionally smart piece of business by PSG, usually , pushing further forward to shunning their usual route of high-profile, box office cover and support Di Maria. big names to bring in a player who has become an essential cog in midfield. Should Tuchel want more defensive stability or are options in a 4-3-3, The Senegal international is a metronome, averaging but it would mean having to shoehorn out one of the 72 passes per game with a remarkable 92.5% Quatre Fantastiques, which could damage squad completion rate. He also has an outstanding defensive harmony. duel success percentage of 68.7% - one of the best in Europe. Managing egos is as much a part of this job as managing tactics. If PSG’s front four are to prosper, Gueye will need to be at his best to provide ample cover. He is one of the Key man best signings of the season. www.just-football. com @JustFootball /WeAreJustFootball Atletico Madrid

League position - 4th Prior to the weekend Atleti had scored a pretty mediocre 23 goals in 23 league games - 10 fewer than How have they fared since the group stage? at this point in the past two seasons and 20 less than they had at this point in 2016/17. The goals have dried Five wins, four defeats, two draws up, and Alvaro Morata is not a man to be feared - a limited, fairly weak forward who hasn’t rediscovered The big story the spark of his early Real Madrid years. As a focal point in attack he is not among Europe’s elite. Atletico Madrid have developed into something of a force in European football. Two Champions League Defensively the group remains strong but this is a finals, three Europa League wins - this is a team that team that does now concede chances. Gone are grew to become feared across the continent. On the fearsome stalwarts like prime Diego Godin, replacing evidence of this season, however, this may be the case them are Stefan Savic and Felipe. no more. This is a different Atletico Madrid, not quite as aggressive, incisive or snarling as previous Injuries to and Jose Gimenez further versions. weaken the defence. Sime Vrsaljko is an example of this new Atleti, a decent enough stand-in but one who In the attacking phase it’s a team that is evidently excels neither in possession, crossing or speed down struggling without recent icons like the touchline. and (injured).

Atletico Madrid

Simeone has described this season as a year of In the defensive phase the defenders push quite transition and accepts that his side is in the process of narrow together on the edge of the penalty area while a regeneration. As such, Liverpool look like big the midfield four spread out wide to cover. This can favourites to progress. leave gaps in the channels and half spaces that Liverpool could look to exploit by keeping Sadio Mane New signings and Mo Salah high and wide, with their full-backs occupying Atleti’s wide . (return from loan) Going forward, €126 million wonderkid Joao Felix Departures tends to lead the charge in transitions. His incisive passing and skill on the ball unbalances teams, and n/a though he remains quite raw at 20 and still very much a work in progress, he does bear the burden of much Team Shape of Atleti’s attacking play.

As is the norm under , Atletico Madrid The midfield trio of Koke, Saul Niguez and Thomas will lineup in a strict 4-4-2 formation with a compact Partey provide steel and guile, with Saul the lungs of shape aimed at remaining narrow and tight the side, developing and recycling play. defensively.

Atletico Madrid

Thomas is fundamental to Atleti’s play, the Ghanaian Key Man among 's top 10 players for passes into the final third per 90 minutes. His all-action style, The midfield triumvirate of Saul, Thomas and Koke is winning tackles, headers, recovering possession (more crucial, but it is the captain himself, Koke, who leads than 10 times per 90 minutes according to the this side. numbers) drives the team forward from the engine room. The Spanish international is the player with the third most assists of anyone in La Liga over the last decade, Upfront is where the problem lies. Atletico’s wide behind and only, and players can be hit and miss. The team attempt crosses leads the side both creatively and spiritually as into the box from wide areas, but Morata is not a captain. “He is our leader,” says Angel Correa, and his strong enough target man to scare defenders nor return from injury is very much a welcome boost. does he dominate the penalty area. , you imagine, will swallow him whole.

Angel Correa offers a goal threat but Atleti simply do not create or score enough. The defence - and the excellent , one of the world’s best goalkeepers - will have to remain very solid for Atleti to go deep in this tournament.

Liverpool

League position - 1st It tells the story of the simply phenomenal job Jurgen Klopp has performed since taking over at . How have they fared since the group stage? Liverpool are the reigning European champions heading into the last 16, and if the domestic points Liverpool have played 16 games since the end of the gap this season is anything to go by the Reds look set group stages, racking up 14 wins, one draw to usher in a new era of dominance over English (Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup) and one defeat football. (Aston Villa in the League Cup). Ominous. This Liverpool team is noteworthy for its resilience and The big story winning mentality. In the league, they are not thrashing teams; they have won 18 games by a one- The thirty-year wait is over for Liverpool, who will be goal margin. crowned champions of England for the first time since 1990 just as soon as they can tick down the final Klopp’s side continue to play in their customary, frantic remaining games. A 25-point lead at the top of the gegenpressing style, but have added elements to their tells the story of Liverpool’s game. They now control the tempo of matches far relentless domestic dominance this season. They’ve more and are comfortable sitting on one-goal leads or won every single league game bar one and are rapidly closing games out. closing in on Arsenal’s league record of 49 games unbeaten. Their last league defeat was in January 2019. Liverpool

Liverpool have developed a new level of maturity strong emphasis on building play through their full- about their play, and can function in many different backs, Trent Alexander-Arnold and . styles and setup, dominating in and out of possession. Klopp’s side play on the front foot, aggressively out of possession to try and win the ball back as quickly as It is fair to say they are the best team in Europe at this possible. moment in time - and by some distance. They will take some stopping and should be considered favourites to Speedy transitions then aim to release the dangerous win the Champions League and make it back-to-back front trio of Sadio Mane, Mo Salah and Roberto European titles. Firmino with high-speed, vertical plays allowing them to charge furiously towards goal. The midfield three New signings will meld things together, offensively and defensively.

Takumi Minamino Key man

Departures Simple really, the imperious Virgil van Dijk. He is the one player Liverpool could not cope without. n/a

Team shape

Liverpool will play in their usual 4-3-3 shape, with a www.just-football. com @JustFootball /WeAreJustFootball Atalanta

League position - 4th Gasperini’s side top the league for shots (453), dribbles (793), touches in the penalty area (664), How have they fared since the group stage? progressive passes (2054) and key passes (133). Put simply, they are the dominant attacking force in Serie Played 10, won five, drawn two, lost three. A.

The big story Their playing style is admirable, eye-catching, exciting. “They have a special way of playing,” said Pep Don’t sleep on Atalanta. To those unfamiliar with the Guardiola after facing them in the group stages. They club or the achievements of their charismatic manager press teams intelligently and play a quick passing style , the team from Bergamo are an that cuts teams open. They battered AC Milan 5-0, unfashionable underdog - lucky to be here and Torino 7-0. It’s thrilling to watch. unlikely to stick around much longer. But look more closely and you’ll see a side that is has all the right Atalanta are also strong defensively. Their expected ingredients to become the surprise package of this goals against stats are, again, the best in and year’s Champions League. they have restricted their opponents to the fewest shots on their goal of any team in the division. For one, they are a wonderful attacking force. No team Valencia face a tough task in what should be a has scored more goals in Serie A this season than fascinating encounter. Atalanta (63) - not champions Juventus, not Inter, not anyone else. Atalanta

New signings Three centre-backs - , Jose Luis Palomino and Rafael Toloi - protect the goalkeeper, Mario (loan), Lennart-Marten Czyborra, Adrien Pasalic and man the centre of Tameze (loan) midfield together with Ruslan Malinovskiy, two wing- backs provide the width and the mercurial , Departures Josip Ilicic and Alejandro ‘Papu’ Gomez add the artistry going forward. Andrea Masiello, Guilherme Arana, Roger Ibañez, Simon Kjær, Nicolò Cambiaghi, Roberto Piccoli, Diallo Atalanta play a very fluid style with a lot of rotation in Amad Traore, Musa Barrow (loan) midfield and forward areas. Gomez roams, sometimes deep sometimes very high, the centre backs play a Team shape high line and Duvan Zapata is a great option for extra physicality in attack. Valencia will have their work cut Gasperini has long paraded the touchlines of Italian out. football, managing at , and among others, but he is enjoying a renaissance in Don’t write them off if they go behind either, as they Bergamo with Atalanta. are a tactically intelligent side with a habit for recovering from going a goal down. The team line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation.

Atalanta

It should also be said, though, that Gasperini’s side do have weaknesses and are by no means the finished article. They can tend to switch off in games and do leave gaps to exploit, as Manchester City exposed in beating them 5-1 in the group phase.

Key man

It’s tough to choose between Josip Ilicic and Papu Gomez; both could make a strong case to win Serie A player of the season. Ilicic’s all-round numbers however cannot be ignored.

14 goals, 9.6 dribbles per 90 minutes with a 58% success rate (rank no.2 in Serie A), 1.39 key passes per 90 (no.1 in Serie A), 4.29 shots per 90 (no.4), 2.59 chances created per 90. At the age of 32 Ilicic is in the form of his life. That surgeon’s knife of a left foot of his has conjured some fantastic goals - including one from the halfway line against Torino.

Valencia

League position - 7th For their last 16 rivals Valencia might be considered the ‘easy draw’ among teams to have topped their How have they fared since the group stage? group, and this is probably a reasonable assessment.

Played 12, won 5, drawn three and lost four Per the data they rank second worst in the whole of La Liga for expected goals against them, and have faced The big story the second most shots of any side in the league.

Valencia sneaked into the Champions League last 16 Worse still, a serious injury to Ezequiel Garay means in the final group game, seeing off Ajax 1-0 away from they will also now be without one of their main centre- home to take top spot in Group H. This was the backs. crowning moment of Albert Celades’ time in charge after replacing Marcelino early in the campaign and New signings saving Valencia from the burning wreckage of a chaotic season. (loan)

Performances since reaching the last 16 however have Departures been mixed, and the mood at the club darkened with back-to-back defeats against Granada and Getafe in n/a recent weeks. Los Che have dropped to seventh in La Liga. Valencia

Team shape furthest man forward. Rodrigo, linked with Barcelona in January, likes to drop deeper to connect play. Albert Celades favours a 4-3-3 shape and has looked to implement this style of play at Valencia with Maxi Gomez is Valencia’s biggest goal threat and the moderate success. Wins at tough places like Athletic focal point, Rodrigo is the creator and Kevin Gameiro Bilbao and Ajax saw his players grow in confidence is another good attacking option if required. and self-belief. Key man As the data suggests, watching Valencia shows they are quite a porous side who can be played through Maxi Gomez is Valencia’s top goalscorer this season fairly easily. Through the centre of the park, Francis and adds the bite they will require against Atalanta if Coquelin and Dani Parejo are not without their they are to progress. qualities but do leave gaps to exploit and the midfield does not offer the most robust protection of the back Given their defensive problems, compounded by four. Their last 16 opponents Atalanta will take great Garay’s injury, you can expect Los Che to struggle to encouragement. Geoffrey Kondogbia is often rotated, keep a clean sheet over the two legs. Gomez’s impact but may be a better option as protection. in forward areas therefore will be essential to their progress. In the attacking phase Celades’ side are fluid and can switch to a 4-4-2 where , often the attacking midfielder in a 4-3-3, finds himself the www.just-football. com @JustFootball /WeAreJustFootball Tottenham Hotspur

League position - 5th Stylistically the two managers couldn’t be more opposed in terms of philosophy, and Mourinho’s How have they fared since the group stage? appointment is very much with one thing in mind: retain Spurs’ Champions League status for as long as Played 14, won 7, lost 4, drawn 3 possible.

Big story The club has debts to pay on that majestic new stadium, and Champions League revenues are It still doesn’t quite feel right to say ‘Jose Mourinho, essential. It does seem a shame though that, having Spurs manager’ but that is how it is in this corner of waited three seasons, Pochettino did not get to even north now since the departure of Mauricio enjoy one full year in the new stadium he oversaw. Pochettino, who will always remain very much loved among Spurs fans for his achievements. Mourinho’s style of football is well-documented, and though his stock has fallen in recent years he remains Mourinho’s appointment was swift and business-like. a top manager and a trophy-winning machine. Spurs Pochettino was relieved of his duties one evening in have not won a trophy in over a decade but Mourinho November and no more than 12 hours later his is one of the masters at knockout football. He gets the successor was announced. Such is the hard-nosed, job done. transactional nature of some clubs in the modern era.

Tottenham Hotspur

With a reasonable turnover of players in January this Team shape Spurs team is evolving and a new team is developing. On the field, the statistics tell us that Mourinho’s team Spurs will look to set up in a 4-2-3-1 system and could is taking less shots compared to Pochettino’s (10.7 per look to replicate the lineup against Manchester City, game vs 12.7) and averages less possession (49.89% with and Giovanni Lo Celso as the holding vs 55.4%). duo in midfield supporting , new signing and Heung-Min Son out wide, with But with some big recent wins including against in attack in the absence of . Manchester City, this shrewder, more defensive Spurs side has climbed the league table and remains in In the defensive phase Spurs will look to stay compact, contention for top four, with the FA Cup and and you imagine Mourinho will want to keep his side Champions League to go for. wary of RB Leipzig’s snarling pressing and direct play.

New signings If he plays a high line Spurs will need to beware of runs in behind with the pace of Leipzig forward Steven Bergwijn, Gedson Fernandes .

Departures

Christian Eriksen, Danny Rose, -Peters

Tottenham Hotspur

Going forward, is often used by Mourinho Without Kane, Son is the player with that ‘X’ factor that as the attacking right-back to create overloads and can inspire and drive teams on. is build play down the right hand side, while the left- also an outstanding player in midfield, if fit. back, possibly academy graduate , stays more in line with the back four.

Key man

You might argue that the key man here is one who won’t even be playing. Harry Kane is a huge focal point for Spurs, described as a ‘phenomenal player’ by his manager.

Given Spurs' failure to strengthen in attack in January, Kane’s absence you imagine dramatically reduces Spurs’ chances of going deep in this competition - Lucas Moura is not viable as a medium-term replacement and Spurs have few other options.

RB Leipzig

League position - 2nd Free-scoring RB Leipzig were only founded in 2009, the incarnation of the Red Bull group, but have risen How have they fared since the group stage? through the ranks to emerge as genuine title contenders in the Bundesliga. Nine games, four wins, three draws, three defeats. Under Nagelsmann Leipzig play a, direct, modern style The big story based on quick transitions and aggressive pressing.

Playing in only their third ever European campaign, RB They are the second youngest team in the Bundesliga Leipzig meet English opposition for the first time as and have an array of really exciting young players. It they take on Tottenham Hotspur. will be an exciting clash of styles against Jose Mourinho’s Spurs, with this youthful RB Leipzig facing The Bundesliga upstarts flew out of the traps to the a test of their development and maturity in the club’s top of the league thanks to a spell of encouraging first ever Champions League knockout game. early season form under their highly-rated young . Leipzig were top of the league at Christmas, but a slight dip in form has seen them slip below Bayern Munich.

RB Leipzig

New signings Nagelsmann is the Bundesliga’s youngest ever manager after taking his first coaching role at 28, and , , Angeliño (Manchester his style of play is in line with the Red Bull way. Direct, City, loan) vertical attacking football, aggressive pressing and counter-pressing and making the most of quick Departures transitions to destabilise the opposing defence to create chances. , , Stefan Ilsanker, Spurs can expect Leipzig to go long and direct when needed, with Christopher Nkunku a willing runner Team shape whose pace and penetrating runs in attack will be looked for to breach Spurs’s backline, particularly if Julian Nagelsmann performed an incredible job at they play a high line. Hoffenheim, taking one of the Bundesliga’s smaller clubs to third and fourth place finishes. RB Leipzig saw Nagelsmann is a tactically shrewd manager and can promise in him, a disciple in term of switch his formation to suit the opposition but in playing style, and snapped up the 32-year-old to take general a 4-2-2-2 shape can be expected, with Leipzig them forward. looking to create superiority in midfield with that box of four players between the lines.

RB Leipzig

In attack, is one of the hottest properties All eyes will be on him as several of Europe’s biggest in European football thanks to his 20 goals, and will be clubs look to see how he copes with the responsibility the man they look to to finish chances. at the highest level.

Leipzig can tend to lack width at times, an area Bayern Munich tried to exploit in their recent showdown clash, and Mourinho might look to do similar. is a towering presence in defence - a key defensive figure, and his absence through suspension in the first leg is a big loss.

Key man

RB Leipzig have a really exciting side with several young talents with big futures. That said, if they are to progress to the last eight or beyond it will be down to Timo Werner’s goals. The German international has 20 goals in 22 appearances for RB Leipzig in league competition, with 25 goals and 10 assists in all competitions from 32 played. www.just-football. com @JustFootball /WeAreJustFootball Napoli

League position - 8th A mid-season fallout between players, manager, and owner Aurelio De Laurentiis saw Napoli crumble How have they fared since the group stage? dramatically.

12 games, seven wins, five defeats De Laurentiis called the players to a winter training camp in an attempt to impose greater discipline. It The big story backfired badly, created a dumpster of an atmosphere around the club, and eventually led to Ancelotti losing Everything at Napoli looked so rosy in pre-season. his job in December. AC Milan legend came in as his replacement. After a second-place finish, a club record €42 million was spent to sign . was Fortunately, Napoli’s form has picked up since a also brought in from AS Roma, the aim being to form a terrible run from October to December in which they rock-solid partnership with . Carlo went nine games without a win. That said, recent Ancelotti seemed happy. The club appeared in good home defeats against Fiorentina, Lecce and Inter show spirits. this is still a team with obvious weaknesses.

Fast forward six months though and there’s no New signings denying this has been a campaign of complete turmoil for the Partenopei.

Napoli

Diego Demme, , In possession, Napoli under Gattuso favour a more (loan) patient build-up play, with the full-backs pushing forward and a three-man forward line looking to get Departures the most out of Polish striker as the main focal point. Milik, now 25, has sadly struggled , Kevin Malcuit, with injuries in recent years. Gattuso however has started him in every league game since joining, and Team shape Napoli look to get crosses in the box to make the most of his aerial ability. A return to a 4-3-3 formation has pleased many at Napoli, after Ancelotti angered some of his players, Key man such as , by abandoning it earlier in the season for a 4-4-2. is closing in on history, needing just two more goals to become Napoli’s all-time top goalscorer, Gattuso’s philosophy is built around spitting blood for surpassing Marek Hamsik. The Belgian international the cause, an example of this coming when he might have left Napoli in January, with strong links to exempted midfielder Allan from training for ‘walking Chelsea, but remained in the south of Italy where he around too much’. Essentially, the former pitbull-like has 11 goals and 6 assists in 26 appearances this midfielder approaches management the same way he season - including a remarkable five goals in six games played the game. during the Champions League group phase.

FC Barcelona

League position - 2nd These were supposed to be the prime years of Lionel Messi’s history-making career, an era of Barcelona How have they fared since the group stage? supremacy. It wasn’t supposed to be this way.

Played 14, won 8, drawn 3, lost 3 What makes it even worse in the minds of Barcelona’s dedicated fans is the manner of their recent European The big story exits. Bottling it once, throwing away a 4-1 lead against AS Roma to get knocked out in 2018, is one thing. Barcelona are back-to-back champions of Spain, their Bottling it twice, a year later, throwing away another domestic dominance over eternal rivals Real Madrid three-goal lead against Liverpool? Unforgivable. well assured for the time being, at least. Questionable recruitment and unconvincing So why is this a club that seems so uniquely leadership at boardroom level has created an miserable? atmosphere of discontent at . paid for it with his job, and a recent public Ultimately, the answer can be found in their quest for fallout even led to question marks over the future of the Holy Grail - the Champions League. Not only have Messi, who has a clause in his contract allowing him to the Catalan giants not won it since 2015, but in that leave for free at the end of this season. Unthinkable, time they have had to sit back and watch their surely... enemies in Madrid win it three times in a row - stealing their limelight in the way only Real Madrid could. FC Barcelona

Barcelona had only lost three games all season, so via a quick Google search. I lost way too much time three defeats since January shows their form has one evening watching his futile efforts to outfox stuttered heading into their Champions League last 16 various chess masters clash with Napoli. Quique Setien is the new man in charge, and Barca’s very reputation is on the line in Setien’s philosophy centres around possession-based these knockout rounds. football with control of midfield (“chess and football are very similar. If you’re controlling the centre of the New signings board, you’ve a high chance of winning the game” he is reported as saying). n/a In two of his opening games in charge Barca averaged Departures 82% and 78% possession, extraordinary figures not seen since the days. They only scored Jean-Clair Todibo, Carles Alena, Moussa Wague, Carles three times in those two matches though, and one of Perez (all loans) them was against CD Ibiza.

Team shape

Much has been made of new Barcelona coach Quique Setien, a disciple of , an avid chess fan whose past chess matches you can even watch back FC Barcelona

Based on recent performances, Setien will instruct his goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen as an option to break the first press, with midfielders and rotating play.

Barcelona haven’t quite sorted out their forward line this season with the balance between mega-money signing Antoine Griezmann and his teammates still not quite there.

The team is third in the league for shots on goal (291) and third for expected goals (xG) (37.93) but has over- performed that expectation wildly to score 57 - by far the most in La Liga. The Messi effect.

Key man

Who else?

He's one of the greatest players in history. Enjoy him while you can. www.just-football. com @JustFootball /WeAreJustFootball Chelsea

League position - 4th towards a more youthful squad was lifted. In comes , but not in time for this season, and How have they fared since the group stage? though Chelsea pushed hard to find a striker they were unable to come up with the goods. Played 11, won 5, drawn 3, lost 3 Lampard’s Blues remain a work in progress, a The big story sentiment he has echoed with his comments during the window. He called for the board to support him in Chelsea’s mad January scramble in the transfer market the market, a sign of frustration and a rare and telling was revealing in many ways. Despite all the positive foray from the party line at one point. His recent vibes and loving admiration the neutrals for this dropping of the world’s most expensive goalkeeper effervescent young team, a team finally benefiting Kepa suggests he has clear ideas on where he wants from the fruits of England’s best academy with several to take this side going forward. graduates emerging to distinguish themselves with merit, this is a Chelsea in no mood to rest on its Bayern Munich will be a major test of this new team’s laurels. credentials and they won’t go into the game as favourites. It will be fascinating to watch how the was clearly very keen to strengthen Mason Mounts, Tammy Abrahams and Callum quite significantly in January. The feelers were put out Hudson-Odois of this world for players in a number of positions after the transfer ban that enforced this change in philosophy Chelsea

cope with the pressures of the biggest test of their Once this is executed successfully Chelsea get their careers so far. full-backs heavily involved, creating width and looking to cross to Abraham to finish. New signings Chelsea's main weakness is defensively. Lampard’s n/a side is ineffective at playing a high line, the individual quality of the centre-backs not quite allowing it to Departures work. They've kept five clean sheets all season. The full-backs also get caught easily in transition - another Marc Guehi, George McEachran (loans) defensive area in which Chelsea struggle.

Team shape With this in mind it will be interesting to see how Bayern Munich approach the match - we could see Chelsea tend to focus their attacks down the left hand players like and side, with 40% of their attacking play and 23% of their perform pivotal roles off the focal point of Robert shots in the Premier League coming from this area. Lewandowski in attack. How Kepa responds to recent Lampard’s side likes to retain possession; Jorginho criticism could also be an important factor in Chelsea’s dictates the tempo and forms triangles in the midfield progress. area to bypass the press, while stretches the field by making runs high to pull back the opponent’s defensive line. Chelsea

Key man

N'Golo Kante.

How he handles that midfield area will be crucial as Bayern cannot be allowed to control the game, something they are quite capable of through the excellent Thiago Alcantara. Once Thiago gets on that carousel it can be hard for teams to get him off it.

Bayern Munich

League position - 1st German champions for the last seven years running, you wouldn’t bet against them making it eight in a row. How have they fared since the group stage? Like many of the other ‘super clubs’ of European Nine games, eight wins and one draw for Bayern. football, though, the Champions League is where their affection lies. The league is the bread and butter, a The big story given in this modern age, but Europe is where the real glory’s at. It feels like Bayern Munich almost get bored in Germany sometimes. In recent years at least, we've The golden Robben-Ribery era is over at Bayern, and seen them go through the motions. They threaten a the German powerhouse is looking to win the season of underperformance, tantalise their rivals European crown for the first time since Wembley in early on with a flash of lower thigh, the glimpse of a 2013. possible title race, before coming back after the winter break and crushing all in their path. A clash with Chelsea, their conquerors in the 2012 final, is seen as the first hurdle in their quest to go all This season threatens to follow a similar pattern. Who the way. needs to be winter champions when the spring is all that matters? RB Leipzig were top of the Bundesliga at Christmas, but Bayern have put together a run of seven straight wins to climb back on top. Bayern Munich

New signings He could be one of the breakout players of the knockout stages. Alvaro Odriozola Thiago runs things from midfield, but Bayern do Departures sometimes struggle against the counter-attack in transition. Chelsea’s pace will worry manager Hansi Jann Fiete-Arp Flick, and Lampard should look for his team to play with as much intensity as possible. Team shape Key man Bayern are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 shape with the imperious as the main man in It would be easy to say Lewandowski, but creating the attack. The spine of the team is strong, although chances for him will be a key task for Bayern here. In central defence has been a little rickety at times and that sense a big responsibility rests on Thomas there are increasing question marks over Manuel Muller’s shoulders. Muller leads Bayern for assists (11), Neuer, whose sweeper keeper style can get him into key passes and deep completions (passes from deep trouble. His passing from the back can also be rash. into the area), and is the front line's most mature player when it comes to carving out chances. He’s and should be the been criticised at times but the 30-year-old still has a full-backs. Davies is in the form of his life, a fantastic lot to offer. ball carrier and a real threat down that left hand flank. www.just-football. com @JustFootball /WeAreJustFootball Real Madrid

League position - 1st Last year, Real Madrid clearly suffered a no-Ronaldo hangover, scoring significantly fewer goals per game How have they fared since the group stage? (1.7) than any of the previous two seasons.

Played 13, won 9, drawn 3, lost 1 This year that transition has been eased somewhat by two factors - 1) Karim Benzema stepping up in The big story fantastic style to become a true leader in attack and 2) the signing of who, when fit, has shown Real Madrid are the undisputed kings of this the Bernabeu that bewitching forward play he is competition, winning it 13 times in total and three renowned for. To a lesser extent, the emergence of times in the last four seasons. As far as they are Brazilian youngster has also helped. concerned the Champions League is their competition. Defensively, Zidane’s side is the best in Spain, and After the big shock of last season when Real Madrid is still as much a leader and emblem of were eliminated by Ajax courtesy of a stunning 4-1 this team as ever. With Hazard's return from injury defeat at the Bernabeu in the last 16, Zinedine after 81 days out the timing could be perfect for an Zidane’s side want the crown back. The big story here assault on Europe’s biggest stage. is season two of the post- transition.

Real Madrid

New signings What's different about this Madrid team is their defensive solidity. Generational talent though he is, n/a Ronaldo was never much good in the defensive phase even in his prime, much less so in his thirties. This Real Departures Madrid is more in tune to the pressing necessary to thwart teams or catch them out in their own half, and Álvaro Odriozola (loan), Manu Hernando (loan), Pedro this has allowed Zidane’s team to become a more Ruiz fearsome defensive unit.

Team shape The formidable leads the league for interceptions and defensive duels, while Valverde has Much of Real Madrid’s expected lineup will be familiar added steel and bite. Madrid’s left hand side is also to you: in goal, , Rafael more solid: offers a more defensive- Varane, Ramos and Ferland Mendy in defence, Toni minded approach than Marcelo and the midfield Kroos, Casemiro and Luka Modric, - works harder off the ball to remain compact and one of the revelations of the season in La Liga - and resolute. Benzema upfront. A few positions are up for grabs - e.g. , Hazard, Rodrygo or Vinicius Junior Not only do Real Madrid have La Liga’s best defensive accompanying Benzema in attack, for example, but record, their expected goals against (xGA) stats are Real Madrid’s 4-2-3-1 / 4-3-3 under Zidane is well- also number one. established. Real Madrid

Key man

Karim Benzema.

The Frenchman suffers from what some might call the Messi Complex, in that he has been so good for so long at the highest level of the game that he often goes overlooked or under-appreciated. Benzema at Olympique Lyonnais, all those years ago, seemed to attract more fanfare and excitement from the world of football than much of his eleven years playing for Real Madrid, where excellence is simply expected.

This season Benzema is the true leader of Real Madrid’s forward play, contributing to an impressive 42% of all the team’s goals in La Liga or Champions League so far this season, whether through goals or assists. The Frenchman carries the attacking burden and is mature and reliable enough to deliver when it counts.

Manchester City

League position - 2nd and mechanisms of European football for years to come. How have they fared since the group stage? Should City win the case it will open UEFA up to all Played 14, won 10, drawn one, lost three. kinds of potential repercussions and retributions. Should City lose, not only will they lose their place in The big story Europe, and inevitably key members of the squad because of it, but the subsequent fallout could also There is perhaps no bigger story in European football end up becoming a precursor towards the European than this one, after it was announced that Manchester Super League that is so often talked about. City will be banned from the Champions League for the next two seasons and fined €30 million euros after On the pitch, City trail Liverpool by a quite frankly they were found to have broken financial fair play ridiculous 25 points in the Premier League. They have rules and severely misled European football’s botched their title defence badly, losing six times, a governing body UEFA. shadow of their former, indomitable selves.

The verdict sent shockwaves around world football. City’s biggest change this season is their leaking Manchester City’s owners responded immediately by defence. saying they will appeal to the court of arbitration for sport (Cas), and the case will rumble on, but the outcome could have a seismic effect on the structures Manchester City

Curiously, the stats are in their favour: City are actually Team shape outperforming Liverpool in both expected goals (64.16 v 53.58) and expected goals against (23.78 v 23.93) in Pep Guardiola’s style of play is well-documented, and the Premier League. Ultimately though it is irrelevant: will not change against Real Madrid. 63.4% possession Pep Guardiola’s side have been ineffective when it and over 1,000 more passes than any other team in counts at both ends of the pitch, resulting in a deeply the Premier League tells you all you need to know disappointing defence of their title. about City’s approach.

After UEFA’s recent verdict, this could be the last time They will look to weave play together starting from the we see Manchester City in European competition for back, through the lines with the intricate passing and some time. An extra motivating factor for them to rub movement of , and UEFA’s noses in it and bow out with the trophy, and co, and try to open up spaces perhaps? and create goalscoring opportunities in the area.

New signings Defensively, the centre of midfield has troubled City this season, with Rodri still bedding in and Ilkay n/a Gundogan not quite at the level of a Fernandinho, who's had to drop into central defence to cover Departures injuries.

Angeliño (loan), Ian Carlo Poveda Manchester City

City’s full-backs have also not quite been consistently at the level of previous seasons, epitomising this with a season of poor form.

Opportunities for Real Madrid will likely come on the counter attack, or from set pieces. is back from injury, a major boost for Guardiola, but City are still vulnerable in defensive transitions at times and are conceding more chances this year than last.

Key man

Kevin De Bruyne has been absolutely sensational form at times this season, his range of passing and laser-like accuracy finding teammates from crosses and through balls reminiscent of prime and Kaka rolled into one.

No player in Europe’s top five leagues has more assists this season in league competition (15). www.just-football. com @JustFootball /WeAreJustFootball Olympique Lyonnais

League position - 11th Their opponents may not be in peak shape, but this promises to be a big mountain to climb for OL. How have they fared since the group stage? Injuries to key players have seen Lyon stutter of late. Played 15, won 9, drawn 3, lost 3 is their most influential player and his five goals in five group stage games were essential to The big story Lyon even making it this far. It could be an uphill task, but Lyon’s squad remains packed full of young talent. Arguably the weakest team left in the competition, Watch out for 16-year-old wonderkid . definitely if you go by league position, French giants Lyon head into the last 16 looking to conquer not just New signings Juventus, but history. Les Gones have a pretty wretched record at this stage of the Champions (loan), Bruno Guimarães League, losing six of their last seven last 16 ties. Lyon have not progressed past this stage of the tournament Departures since 2010. n/a On top of that, Lyon have also never beaten opponents Juventus. To make it even more of a challenge, ’s men have only won once at home in their last eight Champions League matches. Olympique Lyonnais

Garcia forged his reputation when he won the Team shape title at Lille OSC, helping to develop the prodigious

Eden Hazard. Since then Garcia hasn’t quite hit the Lyon’s expected goal numbers both for and against heights, and Lyon’s tactics, results and league position are trending worse than last season’s, meaning as a don’t bode well for a Champions League run. Their unit they are neither creating as much nor preventing defence will struggle to cope at this level. opponents from creating chances against them.

Under Rudi Garcia they tend to play in a 4-1-4-1 and will be looked to formation, but are not the most compact. for creativity, sitting in front of Lucas Tousart in the

defensive midfield role while Moussa Dembele will Garcia’s stock has fallen somewhat in recent years lead the attack. The ex-Celtic man has 13 goals this after the failure of Olympique Marseille’s ‘Champions season. Project’ left both him as manager and the club open to

ridicule. Key man

It was more a ‘Fiasco Project’ as OM fans put it. Unfortunately for OL their most important player will Garcia’s constant tinkering with the lineup and be unavailable. Les Gones would not have qualified insufficient results eventually led to him standing without Memphis Depay’s group stages goals - he down at the end of last season. Moving to Marseille’s scored more than the rest of the team put together. fierce rivals Lyon five months later did not win many Karl Toko Ekambi has made a promising start to life in friends. France and may be one to watch. Juventus

League position - 1st Juventus are top of Serie A and well poised to make it nine consecutive league titles, but that does not tell How have they fared since the group stage? the full story of their season. A stutter and a wobble, the Old Lady has shown signs of frailty since the turn Played 13, won 9, drawn one, lost three. of the year, losing at Napoli and Hellas Verona to reignite the title race and offer their rivals hope. The big story Under Sarri, Juventus are weaker defensively than and Cristiano Ronaldo: Like Felix and they’ve been at any point in the last five years, ceding Oscar or Moby and Natalie Portman, who would have considerably more chances and shots against them. thought this duo would ever work? To his credit, they are also creating more: their expected goal (xG) numbers have increased but they The chain-smoking former banker-turned-coach and are not taking their chances. Age is catching up to one of the world’s most dedicated, image conscious, forwards Gonzalo Higuain and Ronaldo while Mario preening, self-disciplined players, they first met on Mandzukic was allowed to leave. Ronaldo’s yacht on the French Riviera in pre-season to try and form an understanding heading into the new Sarri has chopped and changed his tactics, but his season. Since then, watching how Sarri-ball works with squad is not really built to play the style of play he Cristiano in the team has been an intriguing prospect. wants.

Juventus

Juve’s summer recruitment has also been The 61-year-old abandoned his 4-3-3 system because questionable. , and it wasn’t getting the most out of Paolo Dybala, but are among those yet to make a switching to a 4-3-1-2 has raised issues too. He is still significant impact, and key areas weren't addressed. trying to find the right formula to fit his players. All in all, Juve at this point are a work in progress. Juve average the joint most possession in Serie A and New signings play the most passes - they are trying to implement this more fluid style. However, with an average age of n/a ( added to UCL squad) 29 Juve are the oldest team in Italy and their 30+-year- old players such as , , Leo Departures Bonucci and Higuain are not best suited to it.

n/a ( removed from UCL squad). Their history, tradition, prestige, quality and experience should be too much for Lyon. From there, Team shape though, they are something of an unknown entity.

Maurizio Sarri is known for his dynamic style of Key man football and he has been trying desperately to make the pieces fit the jigsaw at Juventus.

Juventus

Though no longer at the peak of his powers having recently turned 35, Cristiano Ronaldo remains the top dog, the alpha male of this club and team. He has scored 20 goals in 20 league games this season and has scored at least one goal in his last 10 consecutive Serie A fixtures.

Juventus seem to have done almost everything in their power to put Ronaldo at the heart of everything to do with the club since he moved to .

The Champions League is his stage and he will be essential to their chances of success.

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