Image source, AFP

It would be a big surprise if Juventus manage to replicate last season's run to the Champions League final this campaign. Never say never, though. Massimiliano Allegri's team may be having something of an inconsistent season on all fronts, but they did beat group winners Manchester City twice and are into the last 16.

Andrea Pirlo and Carlos Tevez may have gone but Mario Mandzukic has come in and in Paul Pogba they have arguably the most sought-after young player in Europe. Add to that the likes of Alvaro Morata, Paulo Dybala and Gianluigi Buffon and it is clear The Old Lady remain a potent force.

Their Achilles heel could well prove to be a lack of goals. They scored just six in six group games. 

Group record: W3 D2 L1 GD3 P11

CL top-scorer: Mario Mandzukic and Alvaro Morata (two)

European Cup best: Winners (twice)

Nick Hope
BBC Sport, Olympic Sport reporter

We are dedicating 30 minutes to each of our contenders for the Overseas Sports Personality of the Year vote. The next contender is Dan Carter.

Age: 33. Country: New Zealand. Sport: Rugby union.

Achievements in 2015: The All Blacks became the first side to win consecutive Rugby World Cups when they beat Australia in a thrilling final at Twickenham in October.

Carter scored 19 points in the final and was named man of the match, completing a superb individual tournament in which he kicked 23 conversions, 10 penalties and two drop-goals.

Why should Dan Carter win BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year? Send us your thoughts using #BBCSportsday.

Voting will require signing up for a BBC iD, but it only takes a few seconds and voting now will mean you are ready to vote for the main Sports Personality of the Year award on 20 December.

Image source, AFP

Defender Eliaquim Mangala believes Manchester City can challenge Europe's best after reaching the last 16 of the Champions League as group winners. 

"We finished top of the table. We will see what happens after the draw but we have to improve in this competition. We have to work towards that," he said. 

"But if you start a game like we did in the second half we can beat a lot of teams. It depends on what we have to do but if we start to work like we did in the second half we can do something good." 

Jesse Thompson: He's been injured for two years, decides to go to the championships even though he wasn't the favourite, wins the sprinting treble.

Tight as Levy: Bolt should win Overseas SPOTY purely based on the 'P' in the acronym along with his outstanding achievements.  

Send us your thoughts using #BBCSportsday.

Image source, Getty Images

Gary Neville makes his managerial debut on Wednesday as he leads out Valencia for the first time in a must-win Champions League clash against Lyon.

The former England and Manchester United defender joined his brother Phil over in Spain last week. taking on the head coach role. 

Valencia, third in Group H, need to win and hope that second-placed Gent fail to beat Zenit St Petersburg in order to qualify for the knock-out stages for the first time in three years. 

"I'm focused on staying calm," said Neville. "It is impossible to get all your ideas through to your players within 48 hours. We have to keep it simple and we have been working on very basic things."

Calm? Gary Neville? How times have changed. 

Over the next three hours we will be dedicating 30 minutes to each of the six nominations for the Overseas Sports Personality of the Year vote, which closes on Friday. First up is Usain Bolt.

Age: 29. Country: Jamaica. Sport: Athletics

Achievements in 2015: Usain Bolt enjoyed another stellar year in the big competitions, winning three gold medals at the World Championships in Beijing to ensure he successfully defended the trio of titles he won in Moscow in 2013.

He beat doping offender and clear favourite Justin Gatlin in both the 100m and 200m - ending the American's 28-race unbeaten run in the former in a time of 9.79 seconds.

Why should Usain Bolt win BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year? Send us your thoughts using #BBCSportsday.

Voting will require signing up for a BBC iD, but it only takes a few seconds and voting now will mean you are ready to vote for the main Sports Personality of the Year award on 20 December.

Image source, AFP

There is something different about Manchester City in Europe this year. They look, well, like they fit in. In previous seasons since their financial fortunes improved dramatically they have looked every bit the newcomer, desperately searching for foothold. But now, they look capable of taking on the big boys.

Granted, they were beaten twice by Juventus in Group D, but the Italians were the only team to take points off them and the wins at Sevilla and last night against Borussia Monchengladbach were impressively ruthless.

Kevin de Bruyne and Raheem Sterling have added a new dimension and threat to City, although they will definitely need a fully fit Vincent Kompany, David Silva and Sergio Aguero when they return to European competition in 2016.

This could be City's breakthrough year in Europe. If they fall again at the last 16 hurdle, you fear for manager Manuel Pellegrini.

Group record: W4 D0 L2 GD4 P12

CL top-scorer: Raheem Sterling (3)

European Cup best: Last 16 (twice)

Voting for the BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year closes on Friday.

The six nominations are... 

• Usain Bolt (athletics)
• Dan Carter (rugby union)
• Novak Djokovic (tennis)
• Katie Ledecky (swimming)
• Jordan Spieth (golf)
• Serena Williams (tennis).

Over the next few hours we will be profiling all six competitors, but we want your thoughts as well.

Who deserves to win, and why? Contact us on Twitter, using the hashtag #BBCSportsday. 

The route of the 2016 Tour de Yorkshire has been revealed.

Split into three stages, the cycle race covers 515.5km (320 miles), and will see riders weave across the Yorkshire landscape.

The race starts on Friday, 29 April in Beverley, East Yorkshire, and will end on Sunday, 1 May in the North Yorkshire resort of Scarborough.

The event was launched after Yorkshire hosted the Tour de France Grand Depart in 2014.  

Image source, Getty Images

The results are in.

We asked you whether Manchester United are better than they were this time last year.

A whopping 70% of you said no, they have gone backwards.

Sorry, Louis. 

Image source, .

Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo has posted a picture on Instagram, external from his hospital bed after undergoing shoulder surgery.

The 25-year-old Argentina international said: "My operation was a success. Thank you to my beautiful wife, always with me. Thank you everyone for your messages of love and support."

Image source, Marcos Rojo Instagram

Our friends over at Opta have crunched some number and decided that Bournemouth are the fittest team in the Premier League as they run further than anyone else.

The Cherries, who are 17th in the table, have covered more ground than any other top flight side this season and midfielder Andrew Surman has run 183.54km in total - the furthest of any Premier League player. 

His team-mate Matt Ritchie is third on the running list with 176.67km covered and he told BBC Radio Solent: "I think we have all really upped our fitness since last season.

"We do not often look like we are getting outmuscled or bullied so that is a good sign."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, AFP

In recent seasons, Benfica have made something of a habit of departing the Champions League at the group stage before going on a run to the Europa League final. However, after last seasons bottom-place group finish, they have turned their fortunes around this campaign to reach the last 16 for the first time since 2011-12.

Two defeats, one at Galatasaray, the other in their final game at home against Atletico Madrid, meant they had to settle for second place in Group C. But they will provide a challenge to whichever group winner draws them in the first knockout round.

Nicolas Gaitan remains a key player for the Portuguese side. He scored three in the group stages, while Raul Jimenez and Kostas Mitroglou (remember him Fulham fans?) netting twice each.

Group record: W3 D1 L2 GD2 P 10

CL top-scorer: Nicolas Gaitan (3)

European Cup best: Winners (twice)

...in 2010, Alan Pardew was confirmed as Newcastle manager on a five-and-a-half-year contract.

He took charge of 185 games - winning 71 and drawing 41 - before leaving to join Crystal Palace in January. He's doing pretty well there.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Have Manchester United improved this season? Manager Louis van Gaal thinks so.

Have your say on #bbcsportsday, external or on Facebook. , external

Jean-Paul Breyer: It feels as if United have built a castle wall but with no-one to throw the arrows. Great defence but no attack threat.  

Simon: We have improved a little but not £200m+ improved! Overspent and underachieved so far. Need more world class players!  

Tun King Toby: I don't see United qualifying for the next Champions League with the way we are playing right now . We will either end up 5th or 6th or down the line. It's really heartbreaking. Van Gaal must go .

At 11:30 GMT, the route for next year's Tour de Yorkshire will be announced. 

BBC Leeds are raring to go at the big unveiling. We'll bring you the news on Sportsday when it's announced.

Image source, AFP

It seems like every year, Diego Simeone has his successfulAtletico Madrid team pillaged, leaving the Argentine to rebuild again. And yet, every season, he produces a highly-competitive outfit. This year is no exception. Last summer, the likes of Arda Turan and Mario Mandzukic departed the club for big money, yet in came Jackson Martinez and Luciano Vietto, among others, and again Atletico are in the mix.

Simeone's men are second in the La Liga table and cruised into the last 16 of the Champions League. Their only defeat in Group C came at home to Benfica, a result they made up for by beating the Portuguese side away in their final match.

Their dangerman? Has to be the sought-after Antoine Griezmann. If he continues to perform to his current level, Simeone will be doing another rebuilding job next summer.

Group record:W4 D1 L1 GD8 P13

CL top-scorer:Antoine Griezmann (4)

European Cup best:Runners-up (twice)

Image source, Getty Images

You've been spotted, Saido Berahino.    

West Brom's 22-year-old striker, who wanted to leave the Baggies in August, has 'liked' a series of tweets criticising his club.

And the Daily Telegraph, external have screen-grabbed the lot of them.

Get your daily fix of football gossip on this link.

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Image source, Getty Images

Exeter will be able to cope without injured England centre Henry Slade, says Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter. 

Slade is out for at least four months after breaking his leg in Sunday's 41-27 win at Wasps. 

"Ian Whitten and Sam Hill have been fighting it out for one centre spot really, now they're going to get to fight it out for two," Baxter said. 

"We've got another international centre in Michele Campagnaro waiting in the wings, Jack Nowell's an international player who can play at centre."