It's been an awfully long time but, at long last, the Champions League last 16 is upon us next week. The draw for the first knockout round has thrown up some mouthwatering ties, and we've picked out a storyline to track in each of the eight games.
From future transfers, reunions, and potential upsets, there's plenty to watch out for in the last 16.
Champions League last 16 storylines
PSG v Real Madrid: Kylian Mbappé faces off against his future employers?
It feels like the rumour that just won't go away. Kylian Mbappé appears to be firmly unhappy in Paris and, with his contract up in the summer, he seems destined for a move to the Spanish capital.
PSG manager Pochettino on Mbappé and Real Madrid: "Mbappé will make a decision on his future after the UCL clash with Real Madrid. I see Kylian focused on doing the best possible for PSG", he told @ellarguero. 🔴🇫🇷 #PSG
"We respect Kylian - it's up to him, to decide his future". pic.twitter.com/V2SvAeTd9w— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 11, 2022
If the clash between two of the favourites for the European crown wasn't already intriguing, it presents the possibility of Mbappé knocking his future employers out of the Champions League.
It will be intriguing to see what kind of reception the Frenchman will receive in Madrid ahead of the second leg.
Atletico Madrid v Manchester United: Atleti face-off with Ronaldo once more
PSG were originally drawn to play Manchester United in the last 16 before the draw was redone due to a technical error when drawing that tie. The English side were ultimately drawn against Spanish champions Atletico Madrid. You could forgive their manager Diego Simeone for dreading the tie, given who is likely to lead the line for United.
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 25 goals in 33 appearances against Atletico in all competitions and, incredibly, was part of the team that knocked Atletico out of the Champions League in five out of six consecutive seasons in the mid-2010s.
⚪️⚫️ Cristiano Ronaldo's record against Atlético in all competitions = 🔥🔥🔥
⚽️2⃣5⃣
👕3⃣3⃣#UCL pic.twitter.com/A94K6bjyK5— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) September 18, 2019
The prospect of facing Ronaldo may carry less fear nowadays, with the Portuguese striker celebrating his 37th birthday last week, but his record against Atleti will be a worry for Simeone and his side.
Villarreal v Juventus: The Yellow Submarine to spring a surprise in the Champions League?
This tie looks the most likely in the last 16 to produce a classic Champions League upset. With plenty of clashes between big sides, this is one of only a handful of lopsided ties.
Villarreal are not averse to an upset, having reached the semi-finals in 2005-06 and beating Manchester United in last year's Europa League final.
🏆2⃣0⃣2⃣1⃣ @VillarrealCF
Who'll be next? 🤷#MondayMotivation | #UEL pic.twitter.com/J5PoUkGxWe— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) August 2, 2021
With Juventus suffering a severe drop-off in form this season, it could be prime material for Unai Emery's industrious side to spring a surprise.
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Inter v Liverpool: Just what is Liverpool's first-choice XI?
With Sadio Mané and Mo Salah returning to Liverpool from the Africa Cup of Nations, Jurgen Klopp finally has a fully fit squad at his disposal for the remainder of the season.
There has been so much chopping and changing in his starting XI this season that it is hard to call who will start. There are a few certainties: Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho, Salah, Mané, and Diogo Jota are unlikely to be dropped.
But with the constant rotation at centre-back and in midfield this season, perhaps the most intriguing moment of this tie will come when the teams are released for the first leg.
A clever Matip assist and a typically clinical @DiogoJota18 finish 💥
Wrapping up all three points in #LIVLEI 👌 pic.twitter.com/jYZEFgp0Q7— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 11, 2022
Lille v Chelsea: Second-season syndrome
Lille enjoyed a miraculous season last season in Ligue 1, as they ended PSG's dynasty with a famous title win. This season has seen a dramatic drop-off in fortunes, with Lille languishing in 11th place in Ligue 1. They have, however, managed to sneak their way into the last 16 of the Champions League, ahead of Sevilla and Wolfsburg in their group.
The drop-off at Chelsea this season hasn't been as severe but, for a team that won this competition last year, they haven't exactly kicked on for 2021-22 either. Thomas Tuchel's defensive style of play has seen some criticism in recent months, and it will be fascinating to see if he will change anything up for the knockouts.
RB Salzburg v Bayern Munich: Champions League records await for Lewangoalski?
The moniker "Lewangoalski" was famously attributed to Pole Robert Lewandowski by his Bayern teammate Thomas Muller, and it continues to become more and more apt.
Lewandowski has an incredible nine goals from just six games in the Champions League this season and, with Bayern expected to go far, he could well beat his record of 15 goals in a single Champions League season (from 2019-20).
🔴 2019/20 top scorer Robert Lewandowski on target again in last 16...#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/QQVrECLJNt
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) July 10, 2020
If Bayern can make light work of Salzburg and progress deep into the competition, as they are expected to do, Lewandowski could even make moves towards Cristiano Ronaldo's overall record of 17 from 2013-14.
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Benfica v Ajax: The clash of the sleeping giants
Benfica could be considered the Champions League's equivalent of the Mayo football team. The side were infamously cursed by their outgoing manager Béla Guttman in the 1960s that they would not win a European Cup for 100 years.
Eight European final losses in the years since have only added to the mystique behind the curse and, though they are unlikely to win the tournament this year, they have already impressed in knocking out Barcelona.
⚪️🔴⚪️ 2021: Playing football the Ajax way...@AFCAjax | #UCL pic.twitter.com/BQ9wgRyARj
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 29, 2021
They face a stiff test against high-flying Ajax, however, who won all six group games with a goal difference of +15. The tournament's top scorer Sebastien Haller will be crucial to Ajax's hopes of going even further than their 2019 semi-final run.
This is subtly one of the most exciting ties in the whole repertoire of the last 16.
Sporting CP v Manchester City: Portuguese connections
We follow the "most exciting" tie with what is perhaps the least exciting. The unstoppable force of Manchester City feel destined to once again go deep into the Champions League and, though Sporting claimed a first national title in two decades last season, it seems a long shot that they will be the ones to halt Pep Guardiola's machine.
That being said, there are a few storylines to follow here. Three of City's star players, Ruben Dias, Joao Cancelo, and Bernardo Silva, are all Portuguese internationals, while one of Sporting's stars Pedro Porro is on loan at the club from City. The Portuguese connections are likely to be the most exciting thing about this tie.
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