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After the hectic domestic festive season fixture list, the focus on Champions League football is set to return, with the knockout stages to be played next month.
England have four representatives in the final 16 teams, with Manchester United, City, Arsenal and Chelsea all eyeing up a place at this year’s Champions League final in Lisbon.
The Premier League sides have been given stern challenges in the next stage, but what are their chances of progression?
Chelsea vs Galatasaray
Jose Mourinho has experience of lifting the Champions League crown with Porto and Inter, and will be charged with bringing Europe’s top trophy to west London this season.
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The Blues have been handed the task of 180 minutes against Turkish champions Galatasaray, with a number of familiar faces set to feature for the opposition.
Didier Drogba will return to face his former club, while ex-Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is at the helm of the eastern European outfit. With a former Mourinho favourite in the form of Wesley Sneijder also in Gala’s ranks, it should be a test for the London side.
However, despite Galatasaray’s progression at the expense of Juventus in the group stages, Chelsea will fancy their chances of making the quarter-finals.
Arsenal vs Bayern Munich
Defeat to Napoli in their final group stage fixture has come back to haunt Arsenal, with the Gunners facing European champions Bayern in the next round. That said, Arsenal fans will have rushed to buy Champions League tickets when the draw was made, as the tie should be of the highest order.
Pep Guardiola’s star-studded squad will be motivated to retain their crown, and eliminated the north Londoners on the way to the title last term.
Arsene Wenger will be buoyed on by his side’s win at the Allianz Arena in the tie last season, and will look to improve on home soil this time round.
In what is set to be an explosive encounter, the Emirates Stadium side will need to be at their best to progress.
Manchester City vs Barcelona
A real glamour tie, this one pits a new force in European football against one of the perennial mainstays.
The sheer quality on both sides will make this a top-notch encounter, with Lionel Messi and co’s visit to fortress Etihad sure to be an eye-catching clash.
Yaya Toure will feature against his former club, while City’s credentials will be thoroughly put to the test at Camp Nou.
The winner of this tie will be confident of making it to the latter reaches of the tournament, and the clash could go either way.
Manchester United vs Olympiakos
The easiest of the four ties was handed to Manchester United, who face Greek side Olympiakos over two legs.
With domestic form the cause of agony for David Moyes, the Scottish manager will hope for a comprehensive progression through to the quarter-finals of the European tournament.
The opposition have one deadly striker in their midst in the form of Kostas Mitroglou, who has the ability to end United’s dream on the continent.
Despite a hostile environment in the away leg, anything other than a United progression would be something of a shock here.
