Real Madrid face Man City again as Arsenal and Chelsea head to Europe on blockbuster Wednesday
Real Madrid vs Manchester City (8pm GMT)
For the fifth consecutive season, Real Madrid and Manchester City will meet in the Champions League knockouts. The venue is the Bernabeu, but the circumstances are unusual. Real Madrid are managed by interim coach Alvaro Arbeloa, promoted from the Castilla job after Xabi Alonso was sacked in January. They arrive here without Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, Eder Militao, David Alaba, and Dani Ceballos through injury. That is a spine-and-a-half missing from their squad.
City, by contrast, are flying. Pep Guardiola's side are on an 11-match unbeaten run across all competitions, winning nine of those. They beat Real Madrid 2-1 at the Bernabeu during the league phase earlier this season and finished eighth in the standings, just enough to not need a playoff round before reaching the last 16.
With so many key players missing, this is as vulnerable as Real Madrid have looked in a Champions League knockout tie in years. City will know it.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal (5:45pm GMT)
Arsenal were the standout team of the Champions League league phase. Eight games, eight wins, 23 goals scored, four conceded. No other side went through without dropping a point. Mikel Arteta has built something that looks genuinely equipped to win this tournament, even if injuries to Martin Odegaard, William Saliba, and Mikel Merino have thinned the squad.
Leverkusen, under Kasper Hjulmand since September after Erik ten Hag lasted just two Bundesliga matches in charge, qualified through the playoffs. Alex Grimaldo remains their biggest creative threat from left wing-back, having created 23 chances in the competition this season. Arsenal will be wary of that left flank, but they will back themselves to control the game through Declan Rice and the midfield.
PSG vs Chelsea (8pm GMT)
This one has edge. PSG are the reigning Champions League holders, but Chelsea beat them 3-0 in last summer's Club World Cup final. Luis Enrique's side needed a playoff win over Monaco to reach this stage and lost 3-1 at home to Monaco in Ligue 1 recently, so their form is patchy.
Chelsea, managed by Liam Rosenior, came through the league phase directly and have lost only twice under their new boss, both times to Arsenal. They will be without Estevao and Mykhaylo Mudryk, but Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez give them quality through the middle. The Parc des Princes will be loud, but Chelsea have recent experience of winning big games on this ground.
Bodo/Glimt vs Sporting CP (8pm GMT)
The night's quieter fixture sees Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt host Sporting CP. It is a remarkable achievement for the small club from northern Norway to reach the last 16, though Sporting will be heavy favourites to advance.
