Champions League 2016/17: Round of 16 previews
The UEFA Champions League kicks back off with a bang tomorrow morning (AEST), with four mouth-watering round of 16 ties over the next two days.
Wednesday morning sees Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona renew their fierce rivalry, while Benfica host the free-scoring Borussia Dortmund.
Then on Thursday it's holders Real Madrid up against Napoli, while Bayern Munich entertain an Arsenal side looking to end their last 16 hoodoo.
Wednesday, February 15
Paris v Barcelona
Round of 16 1st leg - Parc des Princes, Paris (6.45am)
Arguably the pick of the fixtures, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona square off for the fourth time in the last five campaigns.
PSG have reached the quarter-finals in each of the past four seasons but they face a tough task in keeping that run going against a Barcelona side that is beginning to hit their straps.
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The Spanish Champions come into the clash on the back of a 6-0 thumping of Alaves in La Liga and have lost just once in their last 22 matches.
Barcelona got the better of the French side in the 2013 and 2015 quarter-finals but in Edinson Cavani the Parisians have one of the hottest strikers in Europe right now.
With 14 goals in his last 12 games and 33 strikes this season, Cavani is in even more ominous form than his fellow Uruguayan Luis Suarez, who's netted 25 times for Barca.
Prediction: PSG 2 - 1 Barcelona
(At home in the first leg, PSG will be disappointed with anything other than a win and should benefit from Lionel Messi-led Barca's willingness to stick to their attacking instincts)
Benfica v Dortmund
Round of 16 1st leg - Estadio da Luz, Lisbon (6.45am)
On the surface it looks like a lop-sided tie; Benfica scraped through the group stage with the lowest points tally (eight), while Dortmund set a new goal-scoring record (21) to top the group ahead of Real Madrid.
But form is temporary and since December Dortmund have only managed two wins from nine games in all competitions, crashing to a shock 2-1 loss to Bundesliga bottom club Darmstadt 98 at the weekend.
Benfica, in contrast, remain top of the Portuguese league after beating Arouca last weekend and have Greek forward Kostas Mitroglou in scintillating form with 12 goals in as many games.
Both sides are missing attacking talent with Dortmund playmaker Mario Gotze ruled out with injury alongside Benfica pair Jonas and Lisandro Lopez.
Will it be the Bundesliga Dortmund that shows up or the Dortmund that are yet to lose in this season's Champions League (W4, D2)? The answer could go a long way to determining who progresses.
Prediction: Benfica 2 - 2 Dortmund
(Both teams know how to find the net and Benfica's need to attack at home will play into the hands of Dortmund's counter-attacking nature)
Thursday, February 16
Bayern v Arsenal
Round of 16 1st leg - Allianz Arena, Munich (6.45am)
Arsenal's reward for topping their group ahead of PSG (a feat they've been criticised for failing to do in previous seasons) was a date with old foes, Bayern Munich.
The German giants have knocked the Gunners out at this stage in two of the last four seasons, and Arsene Wenger's side haven't reached the quarter-finals of the competition since 2010.
With back-to-back defeats against Watford and Chelsea all-but ending Arsenal's EPL title hopes, the Gunners will be out to reverse their fortunes in Europe.
Bayern aren't free of problems themselves, despite being on a record run of 15 consecutive home wins in the Champions League.
The Bavarians haven't scored more than two goals in their last five matches with Robert Lewandowski off colour and Thomas Muller having only netted once in 15 games.
On the flip-side though, it's been 12 games since Carlo Ancelotti's miserly defence has shipped more than one goal, meaning Arsenal will need Mesut Ozil to rediscover his form if they're to trouble the hosts.
Prediction: Bayern 3 - 1 Arsenal
(The Bavarians' impressive home form will continue even if Arsenal grab a crucial away goal, with Bayern capitalising on a stuttering and unconvincing Arsenal rearguard)
Real Madrid v Napoli
Round of 16 1st leg - Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid (6.45am)
Napoli head to the cauldron that is the Bernabeu to take on a Madrid side sitting atop La Liga and aiming to become the first club in the Champions League era to retain the title.
The Italians did what Madrid failed to do by winning their group (ahead of Benfica) but it was far from convincing and they'll need lynchpin Marek Hamsik to be at his best if they're to stand any chance here.
Madrid warmed up for this clash with a 3-1 win over Osasuna that saw them leapfrog Barcelona into first place in La Liga, while Napoli's 2-0 win over Genoa cemented third spot in Serie A.
One thing Napoli will be grateful for is the absence of Gareth Bales for Madrid, with the Welshman not expected to return from injury until at least the second leg.
However, Zinedine Zidane's side have reached the semi-finals in the last six seasons and it's hard to see them failing to at least progress through to the final eight of the competition, even without Bale.
Prediction: Madrid 2 - 0 Napoli
(The Italians will look to stifle Madrid's heralded attack, but Ronaldo and co. should have enough firepower to take a solid lead into the return match in Naples)