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What does the Champions League have in store this week?

What does the Champions League have in store this week?
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Favourites Manchester City are in action against Schalke, while Liverpool travel to Bayern Munich on the back of a goalless draw.

Manchester City, Liverpool and Barcelona are among the clubs bidding to reach the Champions League quarter-finals this week.

Here, Press Association Sport takes a look at the main talking points.

City keeps eyes on big prize

Manchester City have been installed as favourites to lift the trophy after two late away goals clinched them a roller-coaster 3-2 first-leg win over Schalke. City are under investigation by both UEFA and the Premier League for allegedly breaching financial fair play rules and the club's hierarchy will be anxious to keep the spotlight focused on the team's exploits. Pep Guardiola's side chase their 10th straight win in all competitions, but fans will be wary as Schalke posed a serious threat in Gelsenkirchen.

Klopp plots compatriots' downfall

Liverpool's last-16 tie against Bayern Munich hangs in the balance after a goalless draw at Anfield in the first leg. Jurgen Klopp's side spurned several chances to eke out an advantage and the Germans must start as favourites for the return. In Champions League history, only 10 of the 31 sides held at home in the first leg of a knockout match have progressed. Bayern have lost only two of their last 26 home ties in the tournament, but Liverpool excel on the counter-attack and Klopp will relish the challenge in his homeland.

All eyes on Ronaldo

Juventus, two-time winners and beaten finalists in 2015 and 2017, face an uphill battle against Atletico Madrid in Turin. The Bianconeri must overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit and will be pinning their hopes on Cristiano Ronaldo, so often the architect of the Spanish club's downfall during nine years at Real Madrid. The Portuguese, rested in Juve's 4-1 weekend win against Udinese,  has scored 22 goals in 33 appearances against Atletico and aims to be the catalyst in an Italian fightback.

Barca odds-on to keep treble hopes alive

Barcelona are on course for a LaLiga, Copa del Rey and Champions League treble and barring a major upset will secure a place in the last eight of the tournament for the 11th successive season. Lyon's Anthony Lopes produced a goalkeeping masterclass as the first leg in France ended goalless, but Barca have since enjoyed successive cup and league wins over arch-rivals Real Madrid and, seven points clear at the top of their domestic table, appear to be hitting their straps at the business end of the season.

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Barcelona's Luis Suarez celebrates scoring against Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey on February 27, 2019
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool29217169274270
2Arsenal281510352242855
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest28156745331251
4Chelsea28147753361749
5Manchester CityMan City28145953381547
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2814594738947
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton28121064640646
8Aston Villa2912984145-445
9Bournemouth28128847341344
10Fulham2811984138342
11Crystal Palace2810993633339
12Brentford28115124844438
13Tottenham HotspurSpurs281041455411434
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd2897123440-634
15Everton2871293135-433
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2896133248-1633
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2865173857-1923
18Ipswich TownIpswich2838172658-3217
19Leicester CityLeicester2845192562-3717
20Southampton2823232068-489


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