10 key questions as the Champions League resumes 

The Champions League makes a welcome return this week with the cream of European football fighting it out in the last 16, first leg fixtures.

Four of the ties take place this week and the other four next week, with five participants left flying the flag for the Premier League.

We take a look at each of the ties and some of the big questions ahead of what promises to be a blockbuster round. 

Real Madrid lifted the Champions League trophy last season, beating Juventus in the final

Real's title was the 12th European Cup in their history and was paraded in front of thousands

Real’s title was the 12th European Cup in their history and was paraded in front of thousands

Champions League fixtures 

FIRST LEGS (all 7.45pm UK time)

TUESDAY

Basle vs Manchester City

Juventus vs Tottenham Hotspur

WEDNESDAY

Porto vs Liverpool

Real Madrid vs Paris Saint-Germain

FEBRUARY 20

Chelsea vs Barcelona

Bayern Munich vs Besiktas

FEBRUARY 21

Sevilla vs Manchester United

Shakhtar Donetsk vs Roma

SECOND LEGS

MARCH 6

Liverpool vs Porto

PSG vs Real Madrid

MARCH 7

Manchester City vs Basle

Tottenham Hotspur vs Juventus

MARCH 13

Manchester United vs Sevilla

Roma vs Shakhtar Donetsk

MARCH 14

Besiktas vs Bayern Munich (5pm)

Barcelona vs Chelsea

Scroll down for your Champions League TV Guide 

Can Real Madrid find Champions League solace again?

Champions of Europe for the last two seasons – the first time any club has retained Europe’s foremost competition in its modern guise – Real Madrid now chase an improbable hat-trick.

Zinedine Zidane hopes Europe will prove the salvation of a season that is proving a struggle domestically, as they trail their bitter rivals Barcelona by 17 points in La Liga having also exited the Copa del Rey.

It’s rather unfortunate, then, that the consequence of finishing runner-up to Tottenham in their group has led to a nightmare draw with Paris Saint-Germain in the last-16.

This fascinating tie is a meeting of European football’s grandest and most decorated aristocrat against a nouveau riche force that threatens to blow them away.

As ever, Real place their faith in Cristiano Ronaldo, the competition’s all-time leading scorer, who scaled new heights with nine goals in six group stage matches.

With home advantage on Wednesday night, Real also take comfort in a strong home record – they are unbeaten in 17 Champions League outings at the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid vs Paris Saint-Germain, Wednesday, BT Sport 3 

Cristiano Ronaldo will once again be integral to Real Madrid's hopes as they chase a hat-trick of Champions League successes 

Cristiano Ronaldo will once again be integral to Real Madrid’s hopes as they chase a hat-trick of Champions League successes 

Can PSG crack the code in Europe?

Recent seasons have seen Paris Saint-Germain dominate the French league, but they haven’t quite been able to make a breakthrough in the Champions League.

Four quarter-final exits between 2012-13 and 2015-16 were followed by that astonishing late collapse against Barcelona in the last-16 a year ago.

Yet with their seemingly infinite wealth, the Parisians look so much stronger this time around. 

Neymar, signed for a world record £198m fee from Barcelona, has 28 goals and 16 assists so far this season – including six goals in the group stage. Kylian Mbappe, another summer acquisition, has 15 goals and 14 assists.

PSG rampaged through their group, racking up a record 25 goals in the process, and so it must have been pretty frustrating to then be paired with the reigning European champions.

Not much fazes Real Madrid, but PSG’s well-stocked artillery may well out-gun them. Expect two games of football with the handbrake released. Something has to give.

With Neymar (right) in their ranks, Paris Saint-Germain have never been better-equipped 

With Neymar (right) in their ranks, Paris Saint-Germain have never been better-equipped 

Can anyone stop Manchester City?

Like PSG, big-spending Manchester City are waiting for their coming of age season in the Champions League.

They reached the semi-finals in 2015-16, losing to Real Madrid, but regressed last season when Monaco knocked them out at this stage.

If they’re ever going to have the stars align for them in continental competition, surely it’s this season?

Pep Guardiola’s team have been virtually invincible this season, playing a brand of football that has been sensational to watch.

With the Premier League title almost in the bag, City may even have the luxury of resting key players domestically when they reach the business end of the Champions League. 

The squad assembled by Guardiola certainly looks more than capable of going all the way and they lucked out by drawing Basle in the last-16. 

Though the Swiss champions beat Man United at home in the group stage to claim second spot, you really fear for them here. City are the bookmakers’ favourites for a reason. 

Basle vs Manchester City, Tuesday, BT Sport 3

Man City continue to turn in world class performances and are the tournament favourites

Man City continue to turn in world class performances and are the tournament favourites

Will it be a season to remember for Barcelona?

We’re still at the stage of the season where multiple teams find themselves fighting for honours on several fronts. Man City, for example, are chasing an unprecedented Quadruple, as are PSG, while Juventus, Bayern Munich and Barcelona could win the Treble.

Barca have won the Treble twice before, in 2009 and 2015, and this time, while domestic success appears a certainty, their European path looks far more difficult.

They laid down a marker by taking four points from Juventus in their group, but then landed one of the trickier draws in the form of Chelsea.

Still, it’s all positive for Ernesto Valverde’s team, with his usual suspects firing – Lionel Messi has 27 for the season and Luis Suarez 19.

Third favourites with the bookies, Barcelona have the know-how in this competition and write them off at your peril.

Chelsea vs Barcelona, February 20, BT Sport 2 and BT Sport 4K UHD 

Lionel Messi (left) will be integral to Barcelona's hopes, but Philippe Coutinho is cup-tied

Lionel Messi (left) will be integral to Barcelona’s hopes, but Philippe Coutinho is cup-tied

Will triumph follow turmoil for Chelsea?

Turbulent times at Chelsea with manager Antonio Conte’s future in the balance and regular sub-standard performances on the pitch.

Not the ideal time to be facing Barcelona, you’d say, but then there was similar adversity when Chelsea won the Champions League back in 2012.

Few will be backing them to go all the way this time – do they possess the necessary firepower and defensive strength? – but at least the pressure of expectation will be lower.

Conte may be feeling the heat at the moment but he’s more than capable of a tactical masterclass to outwit Barcelona across two legs. He’s definitely going to need one.

Eden Hazard celebrates one of his goals in Chelsea's win over West Brom on Monday night

Eden Hazard celebrates one of his goals in Chelsea’s win over West Brom on Monday night

Can Kane inspire Tottenham to the latter stages?

Tottenham may be some way down the list of favourites to win the Champions League but few other sides can boast a forward who has already scored 32 goals this season.

But that’s the irrepressible Harry Kane, who is likely to reach Ronaldo or Messi-esque levels of goalscoring come the end of the season.

The England frontman has six goals in Europe already and Spurs are going to need him at his best to break down the notoriously stubborn Juventus back line in the last-16.

Mauricio Pochettino will derive enormous confidence from the fact Tottenham finished above Real Madrid in their group, beating the defending champions 3-1 at Wembley, while also doing the double over Borussia Dortmund.

It felt like a coming of age performance in Europe and now they face another stern test against a Juve side who are established collectors of trophies and vastly experienced in knockout ties.

Given that Juventus are unbeaten in 26 European home matches, Spurs must concentrate on coming away unscathed from Tuesday night’s visit to Turin.

With confidence sky-high after recent league wins over Manchester United and Arsenal, if Kane or anyone can nick an away goal, all the better.

Juventus vs Tottenham Hotspur, Tuesday, BT Sport 2 

Harry Kane and Dele Alli will be central to Tottenham's hopes of a long run in the competition

Harry Kane and Dele Alli will be central to Tottenham’s hopes of a long run in the competition

Will Liverpool’s defence be strong enough in Europe?

The two sides to the coin when it comes to Liverpool’s team are well-documented. A blistering, high-powered attack capable of outscoring the vast majority of their opponents, offset by a leaky, gaffe-prone defence.

Jurgen Klopp is confident the January purchase of Virgil van Dijk will finally bring authority to their defensive line but the Dutchman has no prior experience of the Champions League knockout rounds.

While Liverpool face a fight for a top four spot in the Premier League, nobody will want their European campaign to end prematurely and they landed a pretty good draw in the form of Porto.

Their opponents currently lead the Portuguese league table by two points from Benfica with a game in hand, but recent Champions League campaigns have been a let-down.

Liverpool’s dangermen already have form in Europe this season – Mohamed Salah scored six times in the group and play-off round and Roberto Firmino seven times, though they have lost Philippe Coutinho, who netted five.

With such vibrancy in attack, Liverpool will fancy their chances of scoring an away goal or two in the Estadio do Dragao on Wednesday night.

Porto vs Liverpool, Wednesday, BT Sport 2 

Virgil van Dijk has hopefully provided Liverpool's defence with the stability it urgently needed

Virgil van Dijk has hopefully provided Liverpool’s defence with the stability it urgently needed

Will we see Mourinho magic in Europe again?

Jose Mourinho and Manchester United would be having a pretty good season if it wasn’t for dastardly Pep and his all-conquering City team up the road.

With any hope of winning the Premier League already long gone, Mourinho may throw all his eggs into the Champions League basket with Sevilla to overcome in the round of 16.

But United will come into the tie with their confidence knocked following pretty dismal away losses to Tottenham and Newcastle United in recent weeks.

There remains a vulnerability to them that really shouldn’t be there, especially when their defence is stretched, but they do have plenty of potential match-winners.

With five wins out of six, they enjoyed a smooth passage through the group and will be heavy favourites in their first-ever meeting with Sevilla.

Mourinho won the Champions League with Porto in 2004 and Inter Milan in 2010, but it has eluded him since. That’s an aberration on his CV he will be desperate to correct.

Sevilla vs Manchester United, February 21, BT Sport 2 

The goals and power of Romelu Lukaku will be key if Man United are to advance further

The goals and power of Romelu Lukaku will be key if Man United are to advance further

Does anyone fancy Bayern for glory?

It seems strange that we are in the last-16 of the Champions League and yet nobody is really talking about Bayern Munich as a potential winner.

Yet from the season’s nadir of being beaten 3-0 by PSG in the group – the final straw for Carlo Ancelotti, who was sacked and replaced by Jupp Heynckes afterwards – they have been steadily getting back to their best.

Another Bundesliga title is pretty much in the bag, allowing Bayern a free shot at the Champions League, where they landed on their feet with a draw against Besiktas in the last-16.

Besiktas may have been the first-ever Turkish side to win a Champions League group, and they may have home advantage in the ear-splitting atmosphere of the Vodafone Arena for the second leg, but Bayern could have killed the tie by then.

Robert Lewandowski will be the man to stop – with 26 goals to his credit already this season, the Pole could yet exceed the 43 he got last season.

Heynckes led Bayern to European success in 2013 and will have the luxury of resting key personnel in league games as they progress further into this tournament, so you can never write the Germans off.

Bayern Munich vs Besiktas, February 20, BT Sport 3 and BT Sport Showcase 

Robert Lewandowski has been in outstanding form this season with 26 goals already 

Robert Lewandowski has been in outstanding form this season with 26 goals already 

Will Roma be the tournament’s dark horses?

There’s often a side that springs a surprise and goes further in the Champions League than anyone anticipated. Atletico Madrid are the prime example of this, while Monaco reached the semi-finals last season.

Could Roma be that dark horse this time around? They may be way off the pace in Serie A but are no slouches under Eusebio Di Francesco and topped a tricky group ahead of Chelsea and Atletico.

They should get past Shakhtar Donetsk in this round, especially with home advantage in the second leg, but let’s not forget the Ukrainians are in a select group of teams to have beaten Man City this season.

Shakhtar Donetsk vs Roma, February 21, BT Sport 3 

Roma striker Edin Dzeko (right) celebrates after scoring in their league win over Benevento

Roma striker Edin Dzeko (right) celebrates after scoring in their league win over Benevento

 



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