Bournemouth

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We've been hearing from Bournemout manager Andoni Iraola this morning. He's been speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live.

In case you are just joining us, here's the best of what he said.

• On competing for European football, Iraloa said he thinks Bournemouth "fighting with the teams" that will get European places, but said it will be difficult. He added that his side have to "earn the right" to be still be challenging for Europe at the end of this season.
• On form this season despite major injury issues, he said he has been "very lucky" at how his players have adapted to being used out of position and still getting results. Iraola puts that down to the "attitude" of his players.
• He called this season's win at home to Manchester City his one highlight of being Bournemouth's manager, putting the recent win at Newcastle among his highlights.
• Iraola also said that his side have been "much better" this season compared to his debut campaign in charge of the Cherries.

The Opta supercomputer has been doing its thing.

It predicts Liverpool to win the Champions League, with Barcelona the next favourite.

After hammering Manchester City, Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid are fifth favourite - just how Ancelotti likes it...

Aston Villa have a 0.9% chance of winning their second European Cup, while Arsenal are in fourth.

Image source, Opta

Club Brugge v Aston Villa - First leg: 4 March (17:45 GMT), Second leg: 12 March (20:00 GMT)

Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid - First leg: 4 March (20:00 GMT), Second leg: 12 March (20:00 GMT)

Borussia Dortmund v Lille - First leg: 4 March (20:00 GMT), Second leg: 12 March (17:45 GMT)

PSV Eindhoven v Arsenal - First leg: 4 March (20:00 GMT), Second leg: 12 March (20:00 GMT)

Feyenoord v Inter Milan - First leg: 5 March (17:45 GMT), Second leg: 11 March (20:00 GMT)

Paris St-Germain v Liverpool - First leg: 5 March (20:00 GMT), Second leg: 11 March (20:00 GMT)

Bayern Munich v Bayer Leverkusen - First leg: 5 March (20:00 GMT), Second leg: 11 March (20:00 GMT)

Benfica v Barcelona - First leg: 5 March (20:00 GMT), Second leg: 11 March (17:45 GMT)

Now let's look ahead to tonight's action, in the Champions League where both Arsenal and Aston Villa are in round of 16 first leg action...

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The votes are back open.

You have already chosen who you think will make the quarter-finals of the Champions League, now it's time to to vote for your semi-finalists.

You have until 10:30 to pick your quarter-final winners in our round by round Champions League poll.

The results will again be revealed here soon after,.

Bournemouth

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live on his highlights of being Bournemouth's manager: "Probably the games against the top teams. Last season, we were quite solid against the teams around us, but we lacked points against the big teams.

"This season, very good results. If we have to take one game, it would probably be the first win against City at home or maybe Newcastle away recently, a great game from the team. Overall, we have been quite consistent."

Bournemouth

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live on his side's form this season: "I think to be in the second season is very important. We have been much better, they know me much better, I know them much better. I know where they can perform better, the positions they can cover.

"It took some time at the beginning, but I think people talked up that we were bad at the start but we still had 25 points in the first half of last season. They took it quite fast, but we have been solid since then.

"The Premier League is very challenging, there are eight or nine teams that are very good and it is difficult. We are fighting with them, but we are not so far.

Bournemouth

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live on his side having a brilliant season despite his team's injury problems: "Especially because of the player attitude, we’ve been very good at adapting. I’ve been very lucky because I’ve put players out of position and they’ve performed really well. Everyone is ready to cover for whatever is needed.

"It’s true that we’ve been especially without a number nine, no right-backs. The ones that have been healthy have given their part and a little bit extra and has allowed us to keep the performance levels good."

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Bournemouth

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live on being in contention for European football: "I think it’s very difficult honestly. I think we are there fighting with the teams that are going to be in the challenge in the end but we have been very good, we’ve performed very good and very well. We’ve been on the verge every time so if you have a small dip, it’s going to be impossible.

"We have to keep this level until the end and it’s going to be very close. I hope we can talk about this when we have three or four games remaining, but we still have to earn the right to be in this challenge until the end."

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport

At the end of January, Bournemouth were blazing a trail through the stratosphere, seemingly on an unstoppable, rocket-propelled journey to dreamland - an unfathomable place in the Champions League.

By the end of February, the Cherries have woken up with a jolt, with their more pessimistic followers wondering if they were only ever crawling along towards mid-table on a rail replacement bus service.

Having sailed through January with four wins and a draw, collecting the Premier League's manager, player and goal of the month awards on the way, February was crueller.

Defeats by Liverpool, Wolves and Brighton have dropped the Cherries down the table, and of more immediate concern is that despite having welcomed some players back from injury, Andoni Iraola's side are now stretched in a couple of positions.

But make no mistake, Bournemouth are still in a position for which most fans would have bitten off their own hands, let alone anyone else's, to be in after this many league games.

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Bournemouth

Bournemouth's fine form under Andoni Iraiola has seen him linked with several major European clubs, from Real Madrid to Tottenham.

Cherries fans will be hoping he stays for as long as possible.

Bournemouth

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live on the penalty shootout win over Wolves: "Obviously nervous. I think penalties are nice once it's finished and you’ve won, but during the process it’s a difficult process."

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You have had your say. The Champions League last-16 results are in.

Here is how you voted

Liverpool (86%) will beat PSG

Aston Villa (83%) will beat Club Brugge

Real Madrid (79%) will beat Atletico Madrid

Arsenal (76%) will beat PSV

Inter Milan (84%) will beat Feyenoord

Bayern Munich (78%) will beat Bayer Leverkusen

Borussia Dortmund (84%) will beat Lille

Barcelona (96%) will beat Benfica

The quarter-final votes will open at 09:30 GMT.

If you're just joining us, here's the major news lines so far today:

• Nottingham Forest completed the octet of clubs in the FA Cup quarter-finals last night as they beat Ipswich Town 5-4 on penaltes.
• Jurrien Timber says Arsenal can "change the narrative" of their season as they face PSV in their Champions League round of 16 first leg. We'll bring you more quotes from Timber and manager Mikel Arteta later.
• Aston Villa are in Belgium to face Club Brugge for the second time in their Champions League campaign, following a 1-0 league phase defeat. We'll dip into the Villa camp later before their 17:45 kick-off.
• Liverpool will hold open training at 12.30 GMT ahead of facing PSG tomorrow, and you can watch it live on this page.
• Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has been speaking to Rick Edwards on 5 Live Breakfast, we'll bring you what he's had to say shortly.

Bournemouth

The standard positions that earn European places in the Premier League are Champions League for the top four and Europa League for fifth. However, depending on who wins the domestic cups the top seven could qualify.

According to Opta, Bournemouth have a 10.8% chance of finishing in the top four this season, and a 23.4% shot of coming in the top five.

If you'd offered Cherries fans a one in 10 shot of Champions League qualification at the start of the season, it's likely they would have taken those odds.

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Don't forget, here's your chance to plot your route to European glory..

BBC Sport are running a round-by-round vote all morning to see who you think will be lifting the trophy in May.

The last-16 vote is underway and you can vote for your winners here.

The vote closes at 09:00 GMT and your last-16 winners will be revealed on this page before the quarter-final vote opens.

Image source, Getty Images

Andoni Iraola took charge of Bournemouth at the start of the 2023-24 season, and was not an immediate success.

In his first season in charge of the Cherries, Iraola guided them to a 12th placed finish despite having started the season without a win in any of his first nine matches.

But this season, they have been challenging for European football and with 12 games remaining, they are in a great place to do so.

The Cherries currently sit seventh in the Premier League table, a point behind Newcastle in sixth and three behind fifth-placed Chelsea.

Between November and January, Bournemouth went on a 12-match unbeaten run in the league.

Bournemouth

Former Spain right-back Andoni Iraola began his managerial career with a seven-month stint in Cyprus with AEK Larnaca, before spending a season with Spanish second tier side CD Mirandes, where he took them to the semi-finals of the Copa Del Rey.

After his contract expired, Iraola joined fellow Segunda Division side Rayo Vallecano, where he would manage 136 games. He won promotion to La Liga in his first season with Los Franjirrojos, and also led them to the last four of the Copa Del Rey.

Despite keeping Bournemouth in the Premier League, Gary O'Neil was sacked in June 2023 in favour of the forward-thinking Iraola.

That bold call is proving massive!

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