Champions League last-16 ties begin: Opta predicts Liverpool win
Club Brugge v Aston Villa (17:45): Emery's comments | McGinn's comments |
PSV v Arsenal (20:00): Rory Smith's analysis | Arteta's comments | Timber's comments | PSV's players to watch
Borussia Dortmund v Lille & Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid (both 20:00)
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live - on Europe, dealing with injuries & form
Get Involved: #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
Plenty to unpack from today's news.
To look back on all that then click on the links below:
Follow our Champions League live text from 16:45 GMT using this link.
Borussia Dortmund v Lille (20:00 GMT)
Borussia Dortmund won five of their league phase games, finishing 10th on the table, they played Celtic in the knock-out round where they won 3-0 on aggregate.
In the Bundesliga, Dortmund are 10th, winning just 10 games out of the 24 played.
Lille's journey in the Champions League began with the qualifying and play-off rounds before the league stage. They have also won 5 games in the league stage, including a 1-0 win over Real Madrid.
In Ligue 1, Lille are currently fifth, winning 11 games out of 24.
The winner of the round of 16 will face either Benfica or Barcelona in the quarter-final.
Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid (20:00 GMT)
Image source, Getty ImagesKylian Mbappe's brilliant hat-trick inspired holders Real Madrid to a comfortable victory over Manchester City and place in the last 16.
Pep Guardiola's side were attempting to reverse a 3-2 deficit from the play-off first leg, but lost 3-0 at the Bernabeu.
Real Madrid struggled in the league phase, losing three of their eight games, before kicking to gear in the knockout phase.
Atletico Madrid finished fifth in the league phase after six wins to comfortably qualify for the last 16.
Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid (20:00 GMT)
Real Madrid faced city rivals Atletico Madrid in the 2014 Champions League final.
For Real it was a chance to secure a long sought-after 10th European title, known to fans as 'La Decima' - but what really happened behind the scenes on one of the most famous nights in the club's history?
A rerun of that classic happens later.
How to Win The Champions League: The story of Real Madrid's 'La Decima' win
Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid (20:00 GMT)
Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid last met in Champions League back in 2016-17.
That was the fourth win in a row for Real over their rivals in the competition.
Results:
2013-14: Real Madrid 4-1 Atletico Madrid (AET)
2014-15: Real Madrid 1-0 Atletico Madrid
2015-16: Real Madrid 1-1 Atletico Madrid (Real win 5-3 on pens)
2016-17: Real Madrid 4-2 Atletico Madrid
Image source, Getty ImagesPSG v Liverpool (Wed, 20:00 GMT)
Paris St-Germain
Paris St-Germain
Paris St-Germain manager Luis Enrique on the importance of playing the first leg at home: "The first game will not determine who gets through.
"If we were to lose at home and then win [and qualify] at Anfield, of course I would take that."
PSG v Liverpool (Wed, 20:00 GMT)
Paris St-Germain
Paris St-Germain
Paris St-Germain manager Luis Enrique, speaking to the media ahead of his side's game against Liverpool: "It will be intense. On paper, it is one of the best matches you can watch in Europe. They're one of the best teams in terms of counter attacking.
"We have to be careful that we don't suffer from their transitions. They have three fighter jets in attack, it's not easy to stop them if we don't impose our game on them."
"We will need the ball. Maybe we're not as tough physically but we are one of the best teams in possession in Europe."
If you're just joining us, here's the major news lines so far today:
Image source, Getty ImagesSpeaking at a press conference last month, Liverpool manager Arne Slot said: “I think what happened was that the extra time, that additional five minutes that ended up being eight, a lot happened, and the emotions got the better of me.
"If I look back at it I would love to do it differently. I am hoping to do it differently next time as well.”
Following the two-game touchline ban, Liverpool boss Arne Slot missed the league leaders' home game with Newcastle last Wednesday.
He will also not be on the touchline for the visit of Southampton on 8 March.
Slot however will be in the technical area for the Champions League last-16 first-leg tie with Paris St-Germain tomorrow, as the ban is for domestic matches only.
Slot's first domestic game back in the dugout will come after the international break when Liverpool face Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final on 16 March.
As for his Premier League return? That comes against Everton on 2 April at Anfield. Tasty.
Image source, Getty ImagesLiverpool's assistant manager Sipke Hulshoff has also been alleged to have entereed the field of play at full-time in an "extremely aggressive manner."
Hulshoff was also alleged to have made comments to referee Michael Oliver, including that the referee was "[expletive] [expletive]", and "gave them everything" in relation to Everton and that was a "[expletive] disgrace."
Hulshoff was later alleged to have followed Oliver, contuing to shout "[expletive] [expletive]" at Oliver before the referee sent him off.
Arne Slot has disputed the FA's reasons for the punishment.
In response to his alleged comments towards Michael Oliver, Slot states that he actually said “if we don’t win the league, I will have you to thank for that.”
Image source, Getty ImagesWhile shaking the hand of referee Michael Oliver, the report alleges that Slot used abusive words towards Oliver.
Slot is alleged to have said to Oliver that he "[expletive] gave them everything" in relation to Everton. It also alleged that Slot said to Oliver that he hoped he was "proud of that performance."
Slot is also stated to have said "if we don't win the league, I'll [expletive] blame you" before shouting "a [expletive] disgrace" twice at Oliver.
The Football Association (FA) have published their written reasons for the two-match touchline ban and £70,000 fine Liverpool manager Arne Slot received following his red card at the end of Everton's 2-2 draw with Liverpool last month.
The report states that Slot's manner was "confrontational and aggressive" when approaching referee Michael Oliver.
We will bring you the details of what Slot allegedly said to Oliver next.
Image source, Getty ImagesNottingham Forest 1-1 Ipswich (Forest win 5-4 on penalties)
Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter
There is little point of whispering it quietly anymore. Nottingham Forest are on the brink of something extraordinary.
The spirit and unity was evident at the City Ground on Monday during the penalty shoot out, with Morgan Gibbs-White giving Matz Sels an encouraging fist bump after scoring Forest's second spot kick.
That is not for show. The togetherness has been evident all season.
Last month at the training ground, when the players were set a social media task to spin an American football for as long as possible several, including Gibbs-White, hung around to play a game of catch with each other when he would have been easy to head home.
It was clear those close alliances helped Forest over the line against Ipswich and could produce something special in the final few weeks of the season.
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester City defender Nathan Ake has had surgery on a fracture in his left foot.
Ake was substituted off in City's FA Cup victory over Plymouth Argyle on Saturday.
The club said: "He will now rest and recover before starting a period of rehabilitation"
Club Brugge v Aston Villa (17.45 GMT)
The winner of the round of 16 clash between Club Brugge and Aston Villa will face the victor of the tie between Paris St-Germain and Liverpool in the quarter-finals.
Should Villa or Brugge get past their Paris or Liverpool-based quarter-final opponents, a meeting with one of PSV, Arsenal, Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid would await in the semi-finals.
The other side of the draw - where the other finalist will come from - consists of Benfica, Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Lille, Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Feyenoord and Inter Milan.
Club Brugge v Aston Villa (Tue, 17:45 GMT)
Image source, Getty ImagesIt has been almost four months since Club Brugge were 1-0 winners over Aston Villa in the Champions League league phase.
But how have the clubs fared since their last meeting?
Club Brugge have played in 27 matches in the four months between meetings. Of those, they won 14, drew 10 and lost only three.
Meanwhile, Villa have had 25 matches in that time. Unai Emery's side have won 11, drawn seven and lost seven.
If all of the two side's matches in that time were in league competitions, Brugge would have averaged 1.93 points per game, while Villa's average is significantly lower at 1.6.
Club Brugge v Aston Villa (Tue, 17:45 GMT)
Image source, Getty ImagesClub Brugge head into tonight's meeting with Aston Villa second in the Belgian Pro League table, nine points behind leaders Genk.
Brugge have not won any of their last three games in the league, but did recently beat Atalanta in both legs to progress into the round of 16.
In the Champions League's league phase, they finished 24th and claimed the final play-off spot prior to knocking out Atalanta.
Club Brugge v Aston Villa (17.45 GMT)
Aston Villa have won two away game in this year's Champions League, one of those away defeats came against tonight's opponents Club Brugge.
Full results in Champions League:
Young Boys 0-3 Aston Villa
Aston Villa 1-0 Bayern Munich
Aston Villa 2-0 Bologna
Club Brugge 1-0 Aston Villa
Aston Villa 0-0 Juventus
RB Leipzig 2-3 Aston Villa
Monaco 1-0 Aston Villa
Aston Villa 4-2 Celtic
Their form away from home does not improve in the Premier League.
Unai Emery's side have lost their past three away games, with back-to-back away wins in the league last coming in August.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 5 | 12 | 21 |
| |
| 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 28 | 13 | 15 | 19 |
| |
| 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 3 | 13 | 19 |
| |
| 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 10 | 19 |
| |
| 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 18 |
| |
| 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 16 |
| |
| 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 16 |
| |
| 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 16 |
| |
| 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 20 | 6 | 14 | 15 |
| |
| 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 22 | 12 | 10 | 15 |
| |
| 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 15 |
| |
| 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 15 |
| |
| 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 15 |
| |
14 PSV | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 14 |
|
| 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 13 |
| |
16 Benfica | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 13 |
|
| 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| |
18 Brest | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 11 | -1 | 13 |
|
19 Feyenoord | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 21 | -3 | 13 |
|
| 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 12 |
| |
| 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 14 | -1 | 12 |
| |
| 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 14 | 4 | 11 |
| |
23 Sporting CP | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 11 |
|
24 Club Brugge | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 11 | -4 | 11 |
|
25 Dinamo Zagreb | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 19 | -7 | 11 |
|
26 Stuttgart | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 17 | -4 | 10 |
|
27 Shakhtar Donetsk | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 16 | -8 | 7 |
|
28 Bologna | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 6 |
|
29 Red Star Belgrade | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 13 | 22 | -9 | 6 |
|
30 Sturm Graz | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 14 | -9 | 6 |
|
31 Sparta Prague | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 21 | -14 | 4 |
|
| 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 15 | -7 | 3 |
| |
33 Girona | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 13 | -8 | 3 |
|
34 Red Bull Salzburg | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 27 | -22 | 3 |
|
35 Slovan Bratislava | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 27 | -20 | 0 |
|
36 Young Boys | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 24 | -21 | 0 |
|
