Champions League knockout stage starts
The Champions League narrative is so often about Manchester City and Real Madrid.
The Champions League narrative is so often about Manchester City and Real Madrid.
The past two champions of Europe were the only teams to sweep through the group stage with six wins. They also are first in action today when the most prized competition in club football resumes in the round of 16.
Man City are away to Copenhagen, playing in the knockout stage for the first time in 13 years, and Madrid are at Leipzig for the first leg.
The two teams favoured to lift the trophy warmed up with comfortable wins Saturday and goals from signature players.
Erling Haaland confirmed his return to form after a foot injury with both goals in Man City's 2-0 win over Everton, his first since November 28 when Leipzig were beaten 3-2 in their Champions League group.
Haaland has an English Premier League-leading 16 goals, and Madrid's Jude Bellingham has a La Liga-best 15 after also scoring twice in a 4-0 rout of second-place Girona, who is owned by the same Abu Dhabi group as Man City.
Bellingham has an ankle injury, having asked to be substituted Saturday, and is doubtful to face Leipzig.
At the same time Madrid were imperious in their domestic title-chasing clash, Bayern Munich were falling to an embarrassing 3-0 loss at Bayer Leverkusen in their table-topping game.
Bayern now trail Bundesliga leaders Leverkusen by five points, and their run of 11 league titles is at risk again after barely holding on to the trophy on the last day last season.
The 2020 Champions League winners visit Lazio tomorrow with their aura dimmed despite Harry Kane's 28 goals this season and coming through the group stage unbeaten for the sixth straight year.
Also tomorrow, Paris Saint-Germain host Real Sociedad, who were the surprise winners of a group ahead of last season's beaten finalists Inter Milan.
PSG are in-form, though they were edged for first place in a tough group won by Borussia Dortmund.
The French champions - with Kylian Mbappe in the last few months of his contract - are unbeaten in all competitions for three months since a 2-1 loss at AC Milan.
"From what I can feel and sense in and around the club and the city, all I have seen for the last three weeks is that we are playing in the Champions League. It is as if our life was at stake," PSG coach Luis Enrique said Saturday. "We have to treat the competition calmly."
Real Sociedad have slumped and have just one win in eight league games, including four goalless draws.