The Champions League is back and the serious stuff starts now, with eight round-of-32 matches to be played this week.
Some of the 16 teams involved are still hurting from their failure to automatically reach the last 16 after stuttering in the league phase. Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid certainly won’t be grateful for the extra matches and jeopardy.
Other sides, however, are relishing the chance to take on a member of Europe’s elite in a knockout tie — see Bodo/Glimt and Qarabag.
The Athletic runs through three fixtures from the Champions League’s round of 32 that deserve your attention.
Benfica vs Real Madrid
Estadio da Luz, Tuesday, February 17, 8pm GMT
The memory of Anatoliy Trubin’s stoppage-time winner to send Benfica through to the last 32 is still fresh and Jose Mourinho will do everything in his power to ensure his team enjoys a similar outcome against Real Madrid.
Perhaps we should not expect another Trubin goal, but Benfica did enough in last month’s encounter to suggest they can cause Real Madrid more problems.
Gianluca Prestianni, Andreas Schjelderup and Giorgi Sudakov all posed a threat with their direct running and willingness to get forward. In attack, Vangelis Pavlidis was effective as a penalty box presence.
Benfica created eight Opta-defined ‘big chances’ against Real Madrid, and the Spanish giants, who weren’t helped by red cards to Raul Asencio and Rodrygo, created only three of their own.
Fredrik Aursnes will miss Tuesday’s match due to a muscle injury, which is a blow for Benfica. Real Madrid will be without Asencio and Rodrygo through suspension, and Jude Bellingham is still recovering from a hamstring injury.
Kylian Mbappe didn’t feature in Saturday’s 4-1 win against Real Sociedad, but could be fit to face Benfica. Trent Alexander-Arnold demonstrated his passing range over the weekend and will start again on Tuesday.
Qarabag vs Newcastle United
Azersun Arena, Wednesday, February 18, 5.45pm GMT
By many metrics, Newcastle were handed a favourable last-32 draw.
Qarabag finished 22nd to make the knockout rounds from the league phase and only scraped through thanks to other results following a 6-0 thumping at the hands of Liverpool in their final match.
However, Eddie Howe and his players won’t be relishing the 2,529-mile journey to Azerbaijan for Wednesday’s first leg, making this the longest possible trip they could have faced in this season’s Champions League.
Qarabag only lost one of their four Champions League home matches, beating Copenhagen and Eintracht Frankfurt and drawing 2-2 against Chelsea. They have scored two or more goals in every home match, including their 4-2 defeat against Ajax.
Newcastle have won just five times away from home in all competitions this season, although two of those victories have come in their last two away games (Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa).
Howe has come under pressure in recent weeks. Newcastle’s performances in the Champions League have offered encouragement, but Qarabag could present a tougher test than many expect.
Bodo/Glimt vs Inter
Aspmyra Stadion, Wednesday, February 18, 8pm GMT
Bodo/Glimt have already provided one of the best storylines of this season’s Champions League campaign, beating Atletico Madrid and Manchester City to make the last 32.
Inter are hoping to avoid becoming the next European heavyweight to be humbled in the Arctic Circle by a Bodo/Glimt side that must be taken seriously. They aren’t your average minnows.
Indeed, the Norwegian’s have serious pedigree in continental competition, reaching the semi-finals of the Europa League last season and making the knockout rounds of a European competition in each of the last five seasons.
Under Kjetil Knutsen, Bodo/Glimt have a clear identity. They are well-organised and difficult to play through in defence, but are rapid in transition. This was a winning formula against Atletico and City.
Inter have used a similar game plan to make the Champions League final in two of the last three seasons and are on a six-game winning run in all competitions. They are Italy’s best side right now.
Nonetheless, Kasper Hogh, Jens Petter Hauge and Patrick Berg have already shown their quality at the top level of European football and could do so again on Wednesday, with temperatures forecasted to be -4C (25F).