After six thrilling match days, the Champions League group stages are over and we now look forward to the knockout stages of Europe’s most prestigious competition.
Defending champion Bayern Munich is undoubtedly the overwhelming favorite to once again lift the trophy, though — as we’ve seen around the European domestic leagues — this season is likely to throw up more than one surprise.
In what is unquestionably the blockbuster tie of the round of 16, crisis club Barcelona will face last season’s beaten finalist Paris Saint-Germain.
Both sides have struggled for form domestically since the beginning of the season, with Barcelona, under new coach Ronald Koeman, sitting in a lowly eighth place in La Liga, already nine points off leaders Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid.
The Champions League had provided some respite for Barca, which won its opening five group stage games. However, a heavy 3-0 defeat to Juventus in the final match day meant Barca became the first team in Champions League history to win its opening five matches and not finish top of the group.
PSG, meanwhile, was beaten by Lyon on Sunday to leave the top of Ligue 1 looking very congested. Defeat leaves PSG in third and just one point off leader Lille, but just six points separates first and seventh.
However, more worryingly than its patchy form, PSG star forward Neymar was stretchered off in tears with what appears to be a left ankle injury sustained after a heavy challenge from Lyon’s Thiago Mendes.
PSG now faces an anxious wait to find out the extent of the damage and whether Neymar will be fit in time to face his former club when the Champions League resumes in February.
