UEFA Champions League

Paris Saint-Germain defender Thomas Meunier believes that while Erling Haaland and Borussia Dortmund carry plenty of attacking threat, the team are vulnerable at the back.

PSG will face Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League round of 16, with the first leg in Germany on February 18.

Per Goal's Robin Bairner, when asked about Haaland, Meunier said:

"Fear him? I don't know him especially.

"He's got very good numbers, which underline that Dortmund score an enormous number of goals, but they're also a team that concedes a lot of goals.

"On paper, PSG can beat any team. It's up to us to ensure that we qualify."

The 19-year-old joined Dortmund in January after an incredible first half of the campaign with Red Bull Salzburg.

He scored 28 goals and laid on seven assists in just 22 matches for the Austrian side. His efforts included scoring eight times in the Champions League group stage against Liverpool, Napoli and Genk.

Haaland has remained in red-hot form since his move:

Haaland vs FC Augsburg:

• 34 minutes played
• 3 goals scored

Haaland vs 1. FC Köln:

• 25 minutes played
• 2 goals scored

Haaland vs 1. FC Union Berlin:

• 77 minutes played
• 2 goals scored

Haaland vs SV Werder Bremen:

• 45 minutes played
• 1 goal scored pic.twitter.com/x7G0t8FoOy

— SCOUTED (@scoutedftbl) February 4, 2020

4 games
8 goals

Erling Haaland has a goal every 22 minutes for @BVB. MADNESS! pic.twitter.com/kMySaupJ8N

— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) February 5, 2020

Against Union Berlin on Saturday, he scored twice in a 5-0 win:

Dortmund have scored five in each of his three Bundesliga matches, such is their impressive attacking prowess.

Jadon Sancho is also having an outstanding campaign, having plundered 15 goals and 16 assists in all competitions this season, while Marco Reus has 12 and seven to his name, respectively.

PSG have an incredible array of firepower of their own, though, with attacking options including Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Mauro Icardi, Edinson Cavani, Angel Di Maria and Pablo Sarabia.

Between them, they have 81 goals and 50 assists in all competitions in this campaign.

Of the two sides, the Parisians seem to be the better equipped to handle the other at the back, though.

Dortmund have shipped 28 goals in 20 Bundesliga games this term, as well as conceding eight goals in the Champions League group stage against Barcelona, Inter Milan and Slavia Prague.

PSG have let in just 15 goals in 23 Ligue 1 matches and kept five clean sheets in their European group, conceding only away at Real Madrid.  

The 2020 January transfer window may barely have been laid to rest, its skin still warm to the touch, but we're already looking ahead to the summer iteration.

That's when major transfers happen; when serious plans are enacted among the big clubs; and when transfer records are broken, with gargantuan sums of money changing hands.

This week, clubs will reflect on what they did (or didn't) do this winter and figure out how that impacts their summer shopping list. Which positions can be upgraded? Which names should be targeted?

Here, we've attempted to do the work for them (how generous!), assessing some of Europe's major teams' weaknesses and suggesting some targets. It's an attempt to give you a lay of the land for each team and highlight who could be on whose radar come June.

         

Atletico Madrid

They failed in their pursuit to land him in January, but why not try again in the summer? After all, Edinson Cavani feels like the perfect Atletico Madrid striker.

He and Diego Simeone will be a match made in heaven, as Cavani will play with the type of intensity Diego Costa used to be able to, back when he led the line for Los Colchoneros so magnificently. He'll be available for free this summer.

Adding him to the ranks would improve their goalscoring threat tenfold while giving Joao Felix a consistent platform to work off. Two birds, one stone?

The rest of the squad is OK. This team are in a transitional period having lost a series of legends last summer, and chucking a load more players into the mix probably won't help.

The list: Edinson Cavani (PSG)

      

Barcelona

Part one of this equation depends on who the manager is next season. Will it be Quique Setien, or someone else?

Part two is how they see Antoine Griezmann's future (positionally) and how much faith they are willing to pour into academy products, like Riqui Puig or Juan Miranda.

The answers to these two questions will shape Barca's shopping list, but one player who they should be after regardless is Lautaro Martinez of Inter Milan.

With Luis Suarez recently turning 33 and suffering a knee injury that could end his season, the need for a refresh in the No. 9 position has never felt more stark. Griezmann, it seems, is a support function, not a line-leader.

Martinez offers a similar grit and aggression to Suarez, as well as goalscoring prowess and extreme team ethic, and therefore won't come cheap. But whatever he costs, he'll be worth it; he's one of the finest young forwards in world football.

The list: Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)

      

Bayern Munich

Bayern are a difficult one to gauge.

They have a deep squad, several stars and, under Hansi Flick, things are really starting to come together. There's a cohesion and a relentlessness to this side that we haven't seen since—dare we say it—Pep Guardiola's reign.

A defensive line that looks like it should be all out of sorts—with a winger at left-back, a left-back at centre-back and a centre-back at right-back—has actually fully clicked. That's allowed Joshua Kimmich into midfield, strengthening that area, too. 

The attack is purring, with Robert Lewandowski leading a stellar cast. So, what's left to strengthen?

Bild (h/t the Daily Mail's Jordan Seward) reported Ivan Perisic's loan won't be made permanent, and with Kingsley Coman battling injuries on a yearly basis, there's certainly room for a left-winger. If Bayern try to sign one this summer there's no prizes for guessing who that might be: Leroy Sane of Manchester City, a long-term target.

Other needs may crop up between now and the end of the season, with Champions League knockout-stage football likely to highlight them, but for now, the list contains just one name.

The list: Leroy Sane (Man City)

       

Borussia Dortmund

Dortmund's typical style of transfer has changed a little. They used to be among the most proactive in recruiting teenagers, but while they still do it, they've realised there's value to be had in buying teams' off-cuts or ageing players, too.

The January window was a good illustration of that: They bought 19-year-old rising star Erling Haaland and rescued down-on-his-luck Emre Can from Juventus.

So that leaves the market wide open for them this summer as they search for a few pieces: A right-back, to replace outbound Achraf Hakimi, and perhaps a winger to bed in for if/when Jadon Sancho leaves.

They should keep a keen eye on how Alvaro Odriozola (Real Madrid) handles the Bundesliga while on loan at Bayern Munich, because he'd feel a great fit at right-wing-back in the current 3-4-3 system. 

But if they really want to replace Hakimi's marauding, powerful runs forward, Youcef Atal (Nice) is the way to go. 

On the wing, a player who already looks rather good in yellow—Samuel Chukwueze of Villarreal—could be a fine addition to the corps and protect against a Sancho exit.

Centre-back must be a consideration, but the recent switch in formation, Leonardo Balerdi's potential and the fact Can may play at the back mean we have to wait to see how that situation develops.

The list: Youcef Atal (Nice), Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal)

         

Chelsea

By the time June rolls around, it will have been 12 months since Chelsea bought a new player. Mateo Kovacic was last summer's only addition because of a transfer ban, and this winter brought zero new faces.

As commendable as the faith in youth Frank Lampard has shown is, it's clear that can be balanced with some quality additions. 

According to Dean Jones on B/R Football Ranks, they're considering options at pretty much every position, with the five listed above seen as important. Indifferent form or lack of depth have led to a wide array of needs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VU0IDezch4

Dropped this weekend and in possession of the worst save percentage in the league, Kepa Arrizabalaga has come in for major criticism this season. He's the right style—happy to sweep, happy to use his feet—but has fallen short of the standard.

Andre Onana (Ajax) and Koen Casteels (Wolfsburg) would both be upgrades, but given how much was invested in Kepa, is it right to give up on him? Perhaps it's best to find a more experienced head to steady the ship while they work on him; in that case, Antonio Adan (Atletico Madrid) could be a good option.

They can afford to look younger elsewhere, though. Jadon Sancho is just 19 years of age but is already verging on the elite tier of wingers; he and Christian Pulisic holding the wing slots down would set the Blues up for years to come.

Nathan Ake's £40 million release clause has expired, according to The Athletic's David Ornstein, meaning he's no longer a potential bargain repurchase. Perhaps, then, it's worth testing Barcelona's resolve for Samuel Umtiti, who is still third-choice in the pecking order?

Tammy Abraham needs help up top, and it's clear from Frank Lampard's non-usage of Olivier Giroud this season that any new face through the door needs to be mobile enough to lead the press as well as be good in front of goal. Maxi Gomez (Valencia) would be a good fit.

Finally, left-back is a long-term need, with Emerson and Marcos Alonso both defensively questionable, the former weak in attack and the latter unable to play in a back four. Ben Chilwell (Leicester City) is a long-term target and is interesting the Blues, per inews' Ally McKay—even with a £60 million-plus price tag on his head.

And that concludes one seriously expensive summer.

The list: Antonio Adan (Atletico Madrid), Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona), Ben Chilwell (Leicester), Jadon Sancho (Dortmund), Maxi Gomez (Valencia)

        

Juventus

Another squad packed with talent and options. If this exercise has confirmed anything, it's that Europe's best have done a phenomenal job padding out their rosters and securing top young talents.

But when comparing this set of players to the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Liverpool and the like, two areas flash up where they don't quite compete with the best: central midfield and right-back.

There are plenty of different directions you could go in to help midfield, depending on the style of player desired. Brescia's Sandro Tonali's name will be blinking brightly near the top of the shortlist, though, as he looks like Italy's next potentially great deep-lying creator. You can reorganise the rest around him.

After the Bianconeri missed out on Marco Verratti's signature when he left Pescara in 2012, they might feel extra-motivated to secure Tonali's.

At right-back, Juan Cuadrado has been far better than most expected, ensuring it's not a problem position for the Old Lady this season. But he's no long-term solution (he's 31), and neither Danilo nor Mattia De Sciglio have set the world alight.

Recruiting a genuine top-tier right-back could elevate Juve even further. It wouldn't be easy to pry him away, but imagine if they managed to secure Ricardo Pereira from Leicester City, pairing the Portuguese with Cristiano Ronaldo at club level?

They may wish to look at centre-back, with two players—Giorgio Chiellini and Merih Demiral—both out with serious knee injuries, but the remainder of the campaign may well iron out how urgent that need is.

The list: Sandro Tonali (Brescia), Ricardo Pereira (Leicester City)

        

Liverpool

Liverpool are such a complete, well-constructed side, picking out areas for them to improve is quite difficult. When you've got best-in-class options in almost every position, where do you even start?

The arrival of Takumi Minamino last month means they're no longer arguably a body short in the forward areas. The only light spot remaining is probably full-back, where the Reds are perhaps a little reliant on Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

James Milner can deputise there, but particularly when it comes to the left flank, that's hardly optimal. The club looked at options in that position last summer and should do so again 12 months later. 

They can't offer any potential recruit guaranteed playing time; they'd have to accept a back-up role to Robertson, so that removes top-shelf names from the shortlist.

Philipp Max (Augsburg) replicates some of what Robertson offers with regard to crossing, stamina and determination. Jay Dasilva (Bristol City) is a left-field shout, but he again profiles quite closely to what Jurgen Klopp seems to want.

The list: Philipp Max (Augsburg)

       

Manchester City

Man City opted against making incoming moves in January, deferring any major squad changes until the summer. Perhaps they'd rather conduct the big shakeup this crop needs in one go. Perhaps if they were closer to Premier League title contention they'd have acted earlier.

Regardless, the positions they need to address this summer are obvious: Centre-back is the big one, then winger (if Leroy Sane leaves) and left-back (because of a seeming lack of trust in Benjamin Mendy) come in just underneath.

What's also obvious is the type of player they'll be in the hunt for, as Guardiola's style is so entrenched and City's budget means they can afford the best.

It'll be no shock if they set their sights on Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli) to fill the spot next to Laporte. He's one of the best in the world and, for the first time, seems purchasable because of Napoli's internal issues.

Left-back is a thin market that costs a pretty penny, but there's a pool to choose from: Ben Chilwell (Leicester), Jose Gaya (Valencia), Alex Grimaldo (Benfica), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), even Robin Gosens (Atalanta). All attack extremely well, but their defensive capabilities are ordered in that sentence via a steep gradient of ability.

A Sane departure would rob City of a big dose of pace—a commodity Guardiola is obsessed with—and it seems likely he'd look for a similarly direct, speedy player. Perhaps he'd even look specifically for another left-footer. Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad) might be the best bet if so; Federico Chiesa (Fiorentina) becomes interesting if not.

The list: Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Alex Grimaldo (Benfica), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad)

      

Paris Saint-Germain

Any major business PSG do over the next few years will depend on who they've sold. As the vultures continue to circle for Kylian Mbappe, and Spain's big guns continue to ask for Neymar, they'd best have a shortlist of replacements to hand.

But until then, it's about brushing up an already strong squad. Forward planning can be done now to ensure they pick up the right players this summer, ensuring the squad stays strong.

Even if they agree to sign Mauro Icardi permanently, they'll need a striker because Edinson Cavani will surely depart. He'll need to be excellent, but probably also have to accept a rotation role. Dries Mertens (Napoli) would fit the bill there, holding them over for another couple of seasons.

De Sciglio was a target of PSG's in January and could come into the reckoning again. His ability to play either flank as a full-back is extremely handy when balancing a squad.

Developments elsewhere may necessitate the need to look at other areas, but for now, PSG's summer shopping list is a short, unglamorous one. It just speaks to how well-stocked they are all over.

The list: Mattia De Sciglio (Juventus), Dries Mertens (Napoli)

      

Real Madrid

What do Real Madrid really need? The summer blitz of 2019 has stood them in excellent stead for the years ahead, and with Hakimi returning soon, they'll be stacked in every position.

Even slight cracks in the squad, like at central midfield or wing, can be solved easily by utilising some of the talent Los Blancos have out on loan. Dani Ceballos, Martin Odegaard, Oscar Rodriguez, Takefusa Kubo...the list is a long one.

Those who have no faith in Luka Jovic as the alternative No. 9 may wish to hit the market for his replacement, but he's worth another year. His problem isn't talent, it's how closely entwined this team is around Karim Benzema; anyone else would hit the same roadblock.

The list is empty

      

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur's winter window delivered two good players in Gedson Fernandes (18-month loan from Benfica) and Steven Bergwijn (€30 million from PSV Eindhoven). 

In a vacuum, it's a good haul, one to be proud of, but in the context of Spurs' needs and season narrative, it didn't really come close to providing what they actually require.

So the task of acquiring those pieces rolls into the summer, and those pieces are: a long-term left-back solution, a long-term right-back solution and a striker happy to back up Harry Kane. If Jan Vertonghen doesn't renew his contract, then centre-back becomes a consideration, but we'll leave that aside for now.

Starting with right-back, there's a situation to be taken advantage of at Paris Saint-Germain this summer. Thomas Meunier is set to become a free agent in July as it stands and feels a good fit for Jose Mourinho's style.

If a bidding frenzy drives his wage demands up too high, Spurs could look at younger options like Alvaro Odriozola (Real Madrid), whose role at the Bernabeu will evaporate further when Hakimi returns, or Atal (Nice), whose rumbling runs down the flank are extremely impressive.

Many of the left-back targets on the table for Manchester City will also be on Spurs' radar, though perhaps Alex Telles (FC Porto), whose set piece prowess can be a game-changer, is more attainable than any of them.

The back-up striker situation is so difficult to solve, hence they've been unable to manage it for half a decade now. Willian Jose (Real Sociedad)—a player they were linked with in January, per the Evening Standard—would be a great fit, though. He can also play slightly deeper, too, giving him extra uses outside of simply backing up Kane.

The list: Thomas Meunier (PSG), Alex Telles (FC Porto), Willian Jose (Real Sociedad)

Listen to Sam every Wednesday on the B/R Football Ranks podcast. Subscribe here. 

       

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All statistics via WhoScored.com

UEFA has named its Team of the Year for 2019, with European champions Liverpool dominating the selection alongside Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo. 

The Reds have five players in the XI, which was confirmed on the UEFA Champions League Twitter account on Wednesday:

🎇 #TeamOfTheYear 2019 revealed! 🎇

More than 2 million votes were cast - thanks for taking part! 🙌

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 15, 2020

Virgil van Dijk was a colossus at the back for Jurgen Klopp's side, while full-backs Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold excelled. Goalkeeper Alisson Becker is at the base, while Sadio Mane is among the forwards selected.

Liverpool posted the following on their Twitter account after the result of the poll was confirmed:

✨ @Alissonbecker, @trentaa98, @VirgilvDijk, @andrewrobertso5 and Sadio Mane have all been named in the @ChampionsLeague Fans’ Team of the Year for 2019 👏🔴 https://t.co/GlT30TFWdx

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 15, 2020

Elsewhere, Juventus and Barcelona have two representatives each. 

Messi and Ronaldo unsurprisingly make the cut after successful years, while Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Light are also included; they both shone for Ajax last term before joining Barca and Juve, respectively.

The remaining two players have enjoyed exceptional starts to the 2019-20 season, with Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski one of the game's best goalscorers this year and Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne arguably the Premier League's standout player.

Liverpool won the Champions League in June, beating Tottenham Hotspur in the final. They've backed up that success by dominating the English top flight this term; they sit 14 points clear of City in the race for the prize.

It's been a long time since any team in English football were able to get the better of the Reds:

History is made as Liverpool F.C set a new club record of 38 games for their longest ever unbeaten league run. Klopp's team surpasses the previous record set in 1894 when #LFC went 37 league games unbeaten.

— Carl Clemente (@clemente_carl) January 11, 2020

Given their dominance in the Premier League and progression into the Champions League knockout stages, at this point it wouldn't be a surprise if next year's team was dominated by Liverpool again.

There aren't many signs of Messi or Ronaldo slowing down on an individual level, though.

Only Lewandowski found the back of the net more often than Messi in European football's top five leagues in the previous calendar year:

BEST SCORERS OF 2019

2️⃣🔝

🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈
🥈🥈ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI🥈🥈
🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈

5️⃣4️⃣⚽️goals
5️⃣8️⃣🏟 games

⚽️48 🏟48 👕BAYERN 🇩🇪
⚽️6 🏟10 👕POLAND 🇵🇱 pic.twitter.com/gSKlGgoVst

— MisterChip (English) (@MisterChiping) December 31, 2019

Ronaldo was crucial to Juventus winning the Serie A title in his debut season at the club and is primed for another big year. Champions League glory will be on his radar, as will success in the summer, when Portugal look to successfully defend their European Championship title.

Despite winning a domestic treble in 2019, City only have one representative in De Bruyne. The Belgium international is on track to break a Premier League record in 2020:

📊| Most assists in a single PL season:

T Henry – 20 assists (2002/03)
M Ozil – 19 assists (2015/16)
Kevin De Bruyne – 18 assists (2016/17)
F Lampard – 18 assists (2004/05)
C Fabregas – 18 assists (2014/15)

KDB has 14 assists this season! Come outside @ThierryHenry 👀 pic.twitter.com/ouTvNMjhaR

— City Chief (@City_Chief) January 12, 2020

De Ligt and De Jong were both sensational for Ajax in the previous season, although they have each had mixed starts to life at their new clubs. 

They will both be expected to make further strides in the coming months, having inspired the Dutch giants to an unlikely Champions League semi-final appearance in the previous campaign.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp does not believe Atletico Madrid counterpart Diego Simeone will have been pleased after they were drawn to face one another in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League. 

They will face off in one of several eye-catching ties following Monday's draw:

Dortmund vs. PSG
Real Madrid vs. Man City
Atalanta vs. Valencia
Atletico vs. Liverpool
Chelsea vs. Bayern
Lyon vs. Juventus
Tottenham vs. RB Leipzig
Napoli vs. Barcelona

The last 16. Bring it. 💥 #UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/4hA0hpMcDa

— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 16, 2019

Klopp told the club's website:

"Really, really good. A good draw, a difficult game like it should be.

"But I don't think Mr. Simeone is running through his living room and is happy that he got Liverpool.

"It will be a tough game. Two teams who are used to playing intense football, different styles and slightly different organisation of course, but both are ready for intensity, and that makes it pretty tough for both."

The German is relishing the prospect of returning to the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, too, per Goal's Neil Jones:

https://twitter.com/neiljonesgoal/status/1206568554851639298

The venue held last season's final, in which Liverpool beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 to win the European Cup/Champions League for the sixth time.

It will be a tough early test for the Reds, who are bidding to reach the final of the competition for the third season running.

Their clash will also mark the first time Klopp and Simeone have faced one another:

1 - @atletienglish's Diego Simeone will face Jürgen Klopp for the first time in his managerial career. Rock. pic.twitter.com/4aXSfotS1C

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) December 16, 2019

Football writer Kaustubh Pandey anticipates a hard-fought contest:

The way Atletico play and their formation is exactly where Liverpool have come up short this season.

The low-block 4-4-2 with two split strikers will always catch Liverpool napping, once their full-backs fly forward. I see this one being very close and it can go either way.

— Kaustubh Pandey (@Kaus_Pandey17) December 16, 2019

Los Rojiblancos have shipped just 10 goals in 17 La Liga matches this season, so breaching their back line will be difficult even for a side of the Reds' attacking capabilities.

They've reached the final twice in recent memory, having done so in 2014 and 2016, as well as a run to the semi-finals in 2017.

However, last season they were eliminated in the round of 16 by Juventus, having taken a 2-0 lead in the first leg. In the campaign before, they were knocked out in the group stage, although they subsequently went on to win the UEFA Europa League.

They've had struggles going forward this season since the departure of Antoine Griezmann to Barcelona in the summer, having netted just 18 goals in La Liga.

Liverpool have been the strongest side in Europe this season—they're the only team still unbeaten in Europe's top five leagues and they've only dropped points once on the domestic front—so they'll be favourites to progress.

Defending champions Liverpool remain among the favourites for the 2019-20 UEFA Champions League after they drew Atletico Madrid in Monday's last-16 draw. 

Manchester City are the leaders in the betting alongside Liverpool, but they have been pitted against Real Madrid in the first knockout round, which was among the toughest challenges Pep Guardiola's side could have asked for.  

Barcelona, meanwhile, have been drawn against Napoli, Juventus are facing Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain have a tough test against Borussia Dortmund. 

Here is the draw in full:

Borussia Dortmund vs. Paris Saint-Germain

Real Madrid vs. Manchester City

Atalanta vs. Valencia

Atletico Madrid vs. Liverpool

Chelsea vs. Bayern Munich

Lyon vs. Juventus

Tottenham Hotspur vs. RB Leipzig

Napoli vs. Barcelona

                           

Tournament Odds (via Caesars)

Man City +350

Liverpool +350

Barcelona +500

PSG +600

Bayern Munich +700

Juventus +800

Real Madrid +1500

Spurs +1800

Atletico Madrid +3000

RB Leipzig +3500

Chelsea +4000

Borussia Dortmund +5000

Atalanta +7500 

Valencia +7500

Napoli +7500

Lyon +20000

                               

Liverpool's 2019-20 domestic campaign has been remarkable. They are top of the Premier League by 10 points and look well set to secure a first English league title in 30 years after winning 16 of their opening 17 games of the season:

The table with 1️⃣ #PL match remaining this weekend pic.twitter.com/GzZcvFL61J

— Premier League (@premierleague) December 15, 2019

In the Champions League, Jurgen Klopp's side advanced as Group E winners, but it was not plain sailing as they earned just one point from two matches against Napoli.

Atleti are unlikely to make things easy for Liverpool. Diego Simeone's sides know how to win in knockout football, and they have the defensive solidity to frustrate even the Reds' superlative trio of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.

Liverpool's form in the Premier League has left City effectively playing for second place domestically this term, and their main focus will surely be on the Champions League.

It is a trophy Guardiola has won twice as a manager, but the last time was in 2010-11 with Barcelona.

As City boss, he has only ever made it as far as the quarter-finals, and a last-16 exit is now a genuine possibility given Zinedine Zidane's remarkable record in the Champions League:

Pep Guardiola and Zinedne Zidane will meet for the first time as managers. #UCLDraw pic.twitter.com/ROMeDIC3NJ

— Squawka (@Squawka) December 16, 2019

The Frenchman led Real to three consecutive triumphs in Europe's premier competition in his first spell in charge of the club, and Los Blancos have recently looked like they are approaching their best form. 

Thomas Tuchel was unable to break PSG's dreadful run in the Champions League last season. 

They were knocked out for a third consecutive time at the last-16 stage in 2018-19, losing to Manchester United after a humiliating reverse at the Parc des Princes.

Now the 46-year-old will have to return to his former club in the hope of finally engineering a decent run in the knockout stages after a fine group campaign.

Dortmund have only met PSG previously in European competition in the 2010-11 UEFA Europa League, when both their group games ended in draws. 

The order of play for this season's UEFA Champions League round of 16 has been decided, with defending champions Liverpool set to face Atletico Madrid in the first knockout stage.

Jurgen Klopp's side are currently in Doha, Qatar, for the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup and discovered their next European foe as they prepare to face Monterrey in that competition's semi-finals on Wednesday.

Premier League rivals Manchester City also topped their Champions League group, and the Citizens will take on Real Madrid in the last 16. They're hoping to build momentum in Europe after falling 14 points below leaders Liverpool in the Premier League, with Pep Guardiola under pressure to advance to the last eight.

Barcelona were drawn opposite Napoli and hope to make up for recent disappointments during the knockout stages.

Paris Saint-Germain beat Real Madrid to first place in Group A and will take on Borussia Dortmund in the last 16. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo's Juventus are on a collision course with Lyon in the next round.

Five-time winners Bayern Munich will meet Chelsea in a reimagining of the 2011-12 Champions League final, when the Blues won 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time.

The round-of-16 first-leg fixtures are scheduled to take place on February 18-19 and February 25-26. The second-leg fixtures begin on March 10-11, and the final round-of-16 games will take place on March 17-18.

Here is a look at the round-of-16 matchups:

Dortmund vs. PSG
Real Madrid vs. Man City
Atalanta vs. Valencia
Atletico vs. Liverpool
Chelsea vs. Bayern
Lyon vs. Juventus
Tottenham vs. RB Leipzig
Napoli vs. Barcelona

The last 16. Bring it. 💥 #UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/4hA0hpMcDa

— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 16, 2019

Visit the UEFA website to see the full schedule.

        

Preview

Liverpool will return to the scene of last season's Champions League final triumph when they visit the Wanda Metropolitano in the first leg of their last-16 clash opposite Atletico.

Almost nine months will have passed since their European triumph in the Spanish capital, and Klopp may welcome a swift return to such a treasured location:

Atletico Madrid v Liverpool! Klopp coming back to the Wanda...

— Dermot Corrigan (@dermotmcorrigan) December 16, 2019

Can't think, have Liverpool played at Atletico's place before?

— Jim Boardman (@JimBoardman) December 16, 2019

City's draw opposite Real has the makings to be the best fixture of the round, pitting Pep Guardiola against Zinedine Zidane in what will be their first meeting as managers.

Guardiola is well-versed against Los Blancos, however, following his four years in charge at Barcelona, per OptaJoe:

17 - No side has Pep Guardiola met more in his managerial career than Real Madrid, with the Spaniard winning nine, drawing four and losing four of his 17 previous meetings with them. Titans. #UCLDraw pic.twitter.com/PGALy3Cill

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 16, 2019

Real won three successive European titles between 2016 and 2018, but they're at risk of successive last-16 exits after they lost 5-3 on aggregate to Ajax at this stage of last season's Champions League.

Commentator Andy West said much will depend on which version of Zidane's side shows up home and away:

Real Madrid are either magnificent or mediocre. If their best version shows up (first 75 minutes vs PSG), they can overcome City, no doubt. If their worst version shows up (last hour vs Valencia last night), they'll be in big trouble.

— Andy West (@andywest01) December 16, 2019

Football writer Carlo Garganese called it a great draw as far as Italian sides Juventus and Atalanta are concerned, though Gennaro Gattuso's Napoli will be less than joyful after drawing Barcelona:

Dream draw for Juventus vs a Lyon team who will be without Depay. The best possible draw for Atalanta, too, who can certainly beat Valencia. Another nightmare for Napoli, who get Barcelona. Juve will also be happy to see Man City draw Real Madrid. A contender goes there #UCLdraw

— Carlo Garganese (@carlogarganese) December 16, 2019

Ronaldo will rate his chances of making it back to the Champions League quarter-finals ahead of Lyon, a team against whom he's lost just once in 10 meetings. The Portuguese averages one direct goal involvement per game against the French team (four goals, six assists), though they haven't met since November 2011.

Dortmund's clash against PSG also has the potential to be a classic affair, with Thomas Tuchel set to return to the Westfalenstadion for the first time since he left in 2017.

Sky Sports News' Michael Bridge warned Jose Mourinho's Tottenham Hotspur ahead of their clash with RB Leipzig, a team that seemed somewhat overlooked among the top-seeded teams:

A reminder, RB Leipzig are top of the Bundesliga and Bayern, who Spurs lost twice to, are fifth. It's a decent & very exciting draw for Spurs but not accepting the 'great draw' headline.

— Michael Bridge (@MichaelBridge_) December 16, 2019

Mourinho is back in the spotlight of European knockout football but could see his campaign extinguished prematurely should last season's Champions League runners-up fail to beat Leipzig.

Spurs lost home and away to German giants Bayern during the group stage, but they'll hope for more luck against the incumbent Bundesliga leaders.  

Jurgen Klopp has criticised a report that Liverpool and the Premier League's other top sides support plans to expand the UEFA Champions League.

Matt Hughes reported in the Daily Mail that the Reds, along with Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Manchester United, are in favour of an expansion to the competition that could mean teams have to play 10 or 12 games in the group stage rather than six.

Per Goal's John Skilbeck, Klopp said:

"Today I read an article [saying that] the top clubs want to do more games in the Champions League or whatever. I am not involved in these plans. So that's absolute bollocks as well.

"That's how it is. We can talk about everything but we have to cut off games, not be putting more in. ...

"The fixtures are like they are. You all like watching us suffering—that's how it is. You look a little bit concerned, but at the end nobody cares really."

Per football writer Manuel Veth, Klopp has previously expressed concerns over the number of fixtures clubs have to deal with and opposed the idea of a European Super League:

Klopp is also against the creation of a European Super League. "I hope that competition never comes," he said.

— Manuel Veth (@ManuelVeth) August 25, 2019

His Reds side have a particularly busy schedule this season because of their Champions League success last season. As a result of winning the competition, Liverpool will be competing in the FIFA Club World Cup, which will be expanded from seven to 24 teams in 2021 and moved from December to June.

This has created a fixture pile-up, as the team also have to compete in the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup, per The Times' Paul Joyce:

Liverpool to play two teams in two continents in 24-hours. The Carabao Cup quarter-final with Aston Villa will be played on Tuesday, December 17 at the club’s request. The semi-final of Club World Cup in Qatar on December 18.

— paul joyce (@_pauljoyce) November 5, 2019

If the Reds reach the final of the Club World Cup, they will have played nine matches in December. Should they beat Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup, they will also have to play a two-legged semi-final in January.

The Champions League is a vital source of revenue for the Premier League's elite, as well as their counterparts across Europe. Per football finance blogger Swiss Ramble, the Reds benefited greatly from their run to the final in 2017-18:

All three #LFC revenue streams increased: broadcasting was a substantial £66m (43%) higher at £220m, due to Champions League participation; match day climbed £7m (10%) to £81m, while commercial rose £18m (13%) to £154m, also largely linked to European success. pic.twitter.com/Yz4iZNyiqw

— Swiss Ramble (@SwissRamble) February 18, 2019

They will likely have done even better after making it to the final and winning it last season.

An expanded version of the competition would bring in even more income.

According to Hughes, the development could have a significant impact on the domestic schedule in England. It's said the two-legged Carabao Cup semi-finals and FA Cup replays could be scrapped, and the Premier League might even be reduced from 20 teams to 18 to compensate for the extra fixtures.

There would still be plenty of strain on the players, though. As such, it's understandable Klopp and other coaches might be opposed to it, but they are unlikely to have much, if any, say when it comes to changes.

Vinicius Jr. has intimated he intends to play at Real Madrid for the remainder of his career, dismissing talk of a loan departure by saying it's his dream to "always play" at the Santiago Bernabeu. 

The 19-year-old moved to Real in July 2018 and played an important role in revitalising the team last season, but speculation of a move away has gathered pace following a slower 2019-20 campaign.

Vinicius spoke to reporters after scoring in a 3-1 UEFA Champions League win away to Club Brugge on Wednesday, insisting his sole target is to succeed with Los Blancos.

He said: "I want to stay, I have never thought about leaving Real Madrid. My dream is to always play here and make history. From last season with [Santiago] Solari to this one with [Zinedine] Zidane, nothing has changed, what happens is that we are now more complete players. Zidane has the support of everyone."

Discussion over Vinicius' place in the team has intensified since fellow Brazilian youngster Rodrygo debuted this season, making a greater impact early on at Real than his compatriot.

Zinedine Zidane fielded a second-string team at Club Brugge having already secured second place in Champions League Group A. Rodrygo, 18, bagged the opener before Vinicius joined in the scoring to make it 2-1 (U.S. viewers only):

https://twitter.com/brlive/status/1204875467595096070

Wednesday was the first time both Vinicius and Rodrygo have scored in the same fixture:

Vinicius—who has two goals and one assist in 13 games this season—is perhaps fortunate Marco Asensio suffered a serious knee injury in pre-season. The Spaniard would most likely be ahead in Zidane's pecking order, while Rodrygo's flying start in Madrid appears to have him in front of his countryman.

The player is beginning to find his place under Zidane:

🤔 Could Vinicius Junior earn a place in the Real Madrid team for El Clasico?

🗣 @andywest01 thinks he is gaining the trust of Zidane

📺 Watch Viva LaLiga live now on LaLigaTV, via the Premier Player! pic.twitter.com/xaQmGDiYHG

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) December 10, 2019

Gareth Bale and Lucas Vazquez have also each endured injury troubles this season to free up competition on flanks, though Vinicius has only started once in Real's last six league games.

Rodrygo and Vinicius posed in celebration of their memorable night in Belgium on Wednesday:

🤳 When the goalscorers take over our accounts...
🤘 @viniciusjr
🤙 @RodrygoGoes #RMUCL | #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/6HbJWHY66s

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) December 11, 2019

Vinicius will hope to keep his place in Zidane's team when Real travel to the Mestalla to face Valencia on Sunday.

Los Blancos are hoping to carve out a lead at the top of La Liga before they travel to Barcelona on December 18, for the first Clasico of the season (and the last of this decade).

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has joked his team are ready to "eliminate" Liverpool in the next round of the UEFA Champions League, should the draw put them together.

Los Blancos had already secured their spot in the last 16 of the competition before their 3-1 win over Club Brugge on Wednesday. They finished in second place in Group A behind Paris Saint-Germain, opening up the prospect of a challenging tie in the knockout stages.

Speaking about to the media his side, Zidane said he would fancy their chances up against anyone, even defending champions and Premier League leaders Liverpool.

"If we play Liverpool, we will eliminate them," the Frenchman said when asked whether the Reds were the team to avoid. "We can't do anything about the draw."

The Merseyside outfit aren't the only difficult team that could come up against Los Blancos in the next round:

CONFIRMED #HalaMadrid #UCL

Real Madrid's possible Champions League round-of-16 opponents will be one of:

BAYERN MUNICH
MANCHESTER CITY
JUVENTUS
LIVERPOOL
RB LEIPZIG

— Dale Johnson (@DaleJohnsonESPN) December 10, 2019

Zidane went on to reflect on the performance in Brugge, with Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr. and Luka Modric on the scoresheet for Madrid.

"We are happy with the victory and with the way we played," he said. "We had difficulty with our game since they usually play with five at the back and, today, they played with four. It took 10 or 15 minutes for the players to adjust. The second half was better in every area."

Here are the highlights from the encounter, in which Zidane made a number of changes to his usual starting lineup:

https://twitter.com/brlive/status/1204873832701534208

https://twitter.com/brlive/status/1204875467595096070

https://twitter.com/brlive/status/1204881847202844680

The group stage saw Madrid produce some inconsistent displays, and Zidane would have been particularly concerned by the 3-0 loss to PSG in Paris. However, there have been some signs of Madrid making improvements recently, and by the time the knockout stages come around, Zidane will be hoping Real are better equipped to deal with the rigours of European football.

While Zidane joked about the prospect of beating Liverpool, there's no doubt they are the side to avoid in the next round of the competition. Football writer Joel Rabinowitz praised the Reds after they qualified for the knockout phase with a win over Red Bull Salzburg on Tuesday:

That was a performance of European champions. Salzburg seriously impressive in lots of ways but kept them at arm's length and eventually wore them out. Thought the midfield were outstanding together.

— Joel Rabinowitz (@joel_archie) December 10, 2019

In his time as manager at Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp has never lost a two-legged European tie. In his first spell in charge at Real Madrid, the same applies for Zidane, who steered the team to three successive Champions League triumphs.

The two clubs have history in the competition too. They went head-to-head in the 2017-18 final, with Gareth Bale netting a memorable brace in a 3-1 win for Los Blancos; Reds star Mohamed Salah was infamously injured early in that game after a tangle with Sergio Ramos.

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi has said the team must "start from scratch" and forget their disappointments in recent UEFA Champions League campaigns if they are to improve this season. 

The Blaugrana are through to the competition's knockout stages for the 19th season in a row, having secured a first-placed finish in Group F with one game to spare:

🌟 The last 16 of the Champions League is set 🌟 https://t.co/uR11kAPleI

— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 11, 2019

Messi, 32, was speaking at an Adidas event when he said (h/t Goal's Tom Webber):

"To be honest, it's always there. But we have to start from scratch. It's a new year, a new competition. Obviously we have to learn from mistakes, but to think of the present and the future. We must forget what happened last year and the year before, it would be a mistake to think of that."

Manager Ernesto Valverde hopes to make up for upsets against Liverpool and AS Roma in recent European campaigns, when Barca were eliminated after losing three-goal cushions.

The Catalan giants beat quarter-finalists Roma 4-1 at home in April 2018 but were dumped out via away goals after they lost 3-0 in Rome. Barcelona fell to another comeback last season when they hammered Liverpool 3-0 before the eventual champions beat Messi and Co. 4-0 at Anfield to progress to the final.

Valverde looks to have learned some lessons since then and changed almost his entire starting XI on Tuesday, when Barca defeated Inter Milan 2-1 at the San Siro to knock out the Nerazzurri (UK viewers only):

Carles Perez scored their first in Italy before Ansu Fati, 17, became the youngest player to score in the Champions League following his late winner off the bench (U.S. viewers only):

https://twitter.com/brlive/status/1204518994729951232

Valverde has encountered scrutiny for failing to properly rotate his team between competitions, but Tuesday's result was a positive test of his squad's strength in depth.

Romelu Lukaku gave Inter a lifeline in their hopes of reaching this season's last 16, but Antonio Conte couldn't prevent his side finishing third in the group and dropping into the UEFA Europa League (U.S. only):

https://twitter.com/brlive/status/1204504494014390274

BBC Sport's Andy West recommended Barcelona do away with their three-man defensive structure despite the win over Inter:

Judging by the first ten minutes, Valverde's three-man backline experiment won't be repeated. Not exactly looking secure

— Andy West (@andywest01) December 10, 2019

Valverde's side are level on points with Real Madrid at the top of La Liga and are well placed to defend their domestic crown, but Barcelona haven't reached a European final since he took charge in 2017. Their most recent appearance in a Champions League decider was when they won the tournament in 2015.

The club might have won Europe's premier club competition twice under Valverde were it not for two shock losses, but Messi isn't dwelling on that as he hopes to turn the page and get Barcelona out of their Champions League rut this term.