Champions League 2016/17: Round of 16 previews
The Champions League round of 16 resumes on Wednesday morning (AEDT) with heavyweights Atletico Madrid and Manchester City both involved.
All four away sides (Atletico Madrid, Monaco, Juventus and Leicester) will be hoping to break the pattern from last week's ties that saw each home team come away with a first leg win.
Wednesday, February 22
Bayer Leverkusen v Atletico Madrid
Round of 16 1st leg - Bay Arena, Leverkusen (6.45am)
Both coaches have singled out Javier 'Chicharito' Hernández as a potential danger man, and Leverkusen will be hoping the former Manchester United ace can deliver in front of goal.
The Mexican warmed up for the contest with a brace in his side's 3-1 win against Augsburg in the Bundesliga and will take plenty of confidence into the match against Atleti after scoring five times in three games.
Diego Simeone's men are always hard to break down though, and will be especially determined to return to Spain for the second leg with a clean sheet.
Atletico's Kevin Gameiro went one better then 'Chicharito' however, coming off the bench to net the second-fastest hat-trick in La Liga history (4-minutes and 51-seconds) as his side swept aside Sporting Gijon 4-1.
With the added threat of Antoine Griezmann to contend with and a run of form that's seen Atleti bag 20 points out of a possible 24 in their last eight league games, Bayer will be up against it.
Prediction: Leverkusen 0 - Atletico 1
(Diego Simeone will likely get his tactics spot on for the clash in Germany, as Atleti return to Spain with a slender lead after a classic smash and grab)
Manchester City v Monaco
Round of 16 1st leg - City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester (6.45am)
City boss Pep Guardiola has described Monaco as "killers" in the box and the Sky Blues manager will be hoping his sometimes flimsy defence can avoid being slaughtered.
The last thing the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach needed was a 0-0 draw with Huddersfield in the FA Cup at the weekend, that means yet another fixture for City in an already packed schedule.
With Gabriel Jesus out for up to three months, the stage is set for Sergio Aguero to re-establish himself as City's top dog and give the hosts a telling advantage to take into the second leg in France.
Monaco also come into the clash on the back of a draw but they sit atop Ligue 1 as the highest-scoring team in any of Europe's main leagues, with 76 goals in 28 games.
Leading the way for the Principality outfit is Colombian striker Radamel Falcao, who's returned from his stint at Manchester United with a bang - scoring 19 goals in 25 games this season.
Prediction: Man City 2 - 2 Monaco
(City will inevitably try and take the game to Monaco on their home turf, but the French side's goal threat can't be underestimated. Expect goals.
Thursday, February 23
Porto v Juventus
Round of 16 1st leg - Estádio Do Dragão, Porto (6.45am)
Porto welcome the Italian champions on the back of a six-game winning run, following their latest triumph against Tondela that saw them take first spot off Benfica in the Portuguese league.
With doubts surrounding the availability of Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli for Juventus, Porto will be hoping to take advantage of a rare aura of vulnerability at the back for the Italian side.
Porto have not beaten Juventus in three previous attempts, however, and come up against a side that is also on an impressive winning streak of its own.
Max Allegri's side notched their seventh straight win last week after beating Palermo 4-1 to extend their lead in Serie A.
Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala are looking like a deadly partnership up front for the Old Lady and they will no doubt prove a handful for the Porto defence.
Prediction: Porto 1 - 1 Juventus
(Porto have only failed to score at home once this season and Juve have conceded in six of their last nine away games. This one should be tight, but a draw will suit the Italians just fine)
Sevilla v Leicester
Round of 16 1st leg - Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium, Seville (6.45am)
High-flying Sevilla will be confident of maintaining their scintillating form against a Leicester side in free fall.
The English champions may have topped their Champions League group, but it's a different story domestically where they sit just one point above the relegation zone in the Premier League.
Throw in a 1-0 defeat against Milwall that saw the Foxes bundled out of the FA Cup, an injury cloud around record signing Islam Slimani and a raft of stars out of form, and it spells trouble for Claudio Ranieri's side.
Sevilla in contrast, are challenging La Liga powerhouses Real Madrid and Barcelona after their highest ever points tally in the first half of a season.
The Spanish side have honed their craft on the continental stage after winning the Europa League three times in a row, and Jorge Sampaoli's side will show Leicester no respite in the Andalusian capital.
Prediction: Sevilla 4 - 1 Leicester