After a long and arduous group campaign we’ve finally reached the business end of the Champions League.
Here’s a quick look at the teams who’ve booked their places in the knockout round.
Bayern Munich (W5-D1-L0)
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The defending champions continued this season right where they left off – bulldozing past everyone in their way.
The Group A winners look unstoppable once again and are overwhelming favourites to make the final.
Atletico Madrid (W2-D3-L1)
The Group A runners-up have not had the most convincing campaign this year, but did enough to make it to the last-16.
Their highly-competitive and stubborn style of play – instilled by manager Diego Simeone – will make them a tricky prospect for any opponent.
Real Madrid (W3-D1-L2)
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The 13-time European Champions had a shaky start and were even in danger of an embarrassing early exit, but they ground out the results they needed and somehow ended up Group B winners.
Their group stage form aside, Real are still a very formidable side with the experienced Zinedine Zidane in charge and Karim Benzema seemingly back to his best.
Borussia Mönchengladbach (W2-D2-L2)
Few gave this German side any chance of making it out of a group that included Real Madrid and Inter Milan, but they proved their critics wrong to finish as Group B runners-up.
Gladbach have impressed with their dynamic, fearless football…and few would bet against them claiming a major scalp or two in the knockout round.
Man City (W5-D1-L0)
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The Citizens were always favourites to make it out of Group C – that included relatively weaker teams like Olympiakos and Marseille.
They did so as group winners and remained unbeaten, although the real test begins now with potentially stronger opponents coming up.
Porto (W4-D1-L1)
The Portuguese side came into this year’s campaign with the aim of qualifying for the knockout round, and they’ve achieved that.
Everything else from this point will be a bonus, but a solid defence coupled with a hardworking and experienced midfield could see them pulling off a few surprises.
Liverpool (W4-D1-L1)
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Their surprise slip-up at Atalanta aside, Liverpool have been impressive to finish as Group D winners and will be one of the favourites in the latter stages of the competition.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have done exceptionally well to cope with their injury crisis, but it remains to be seen just how much longer they can cope without their high-profile absentees…especially against one of the continent’s big clubs.
Atalanta (W3-D2-L1)
It’s the second year in a row the Italian club has made the knockout round…and they can also boast of beating Liverpool along the way (at Anfield, no less).
Atalanta surprised many by making it as far as the quarterfinals last season, and they’ll be looking to do at least one better this time around.
Chelsea (W4-D2-L0)
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Another club that has made it out of the group stage without losing a match, The Blues have been particularly impressive in defence – letting in just two goals.
New-boys Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner have also been settling in well while Olivier Giroud appears to have found a new lease of life. Expect big things from Chelsea in the last-16.
Sevilla (W4-D1-L1)
The La Liga side have built a reputation as a resilient and highly-competitive team under former Spain boss Julen Lopetegui.
They have bucket-loads of European experience, and definitely knows what it takes to win (having won the Europa League six times).
Borussia Dortmund (W4-D1-L1)
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Dortmund have a dynamic young squad led by Erling Braut Haaland, arguably Europe’s hottest young striker.
He’s already broken the record as the fastest player to reach 14 Champions League goals, and the German club’s fortunes will depend on him maintaining his form.
Lazio (W2-D4-L0)
This is their first appearance in the knockout stage since 1999/2000, and expect them to go all out to make the best of it.
Like most other Italian teams Lazio are set up to be solid in defence with a pacey attack and have one of the most potent strikers in Ciro Immobile, who’s already netted five goals in four matches.
Juventus (W5-D0-L1)
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Juve are still somewhat of a work in progress under new boss Andrea Pirlo but managed to get the results they needed to finish as Group G winners.
They can bank on their years of European experience plus the new-found form of Alvaro Morata, in addition to the threat that Cristiano Ronaldo poses up front.
Barcelona (W5-D0-L1)
Barca have been a far better side in Europe compared to their often uninspiring and underwhelming performances in La Liga this season.
Their European pedigree alone is enough to make them favourites, but Ronald Koeman’s side have also shown that they’re capable of confident, fluid and pressing football.
PSG (W4-D0-L2)
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Last season’s finalists will be looking to go one step further this year and get their hands on the trophy that has eluded them for so long.
Marquinhos has (surprisingly) been their stand-out performer this campaign, while Neymar and Kylian Mbappe are two of the most potent strikers in the game – so rule PSG out at your peril.
RB Leipzig (W4-D0-L2)
Last season’s semi-finalists are once again this season’s dark horses.
They’ve put in some inconsistent performances this campaign, but under the highly-regarded Julian Nagelsmann, they’ve shown they’re capable of courage and character when the odds are stacked against them.
The draw for the first knockout round will be conducted on Monday, with the first legs scheduled to kick off in mid-February.
By: Nicholas Darren John
