5️⃣ big questions ahead of this week's Champions League action 💫 | OneFootball

The Champions League returns this week with the first legs from four last 16 ties.

Here are five big questions ahead of its return.

Will Real Madrid sound a warning?

There is no name more synonymous with the Champions League than Real Madrid.

Their journey towards a record-extending 15th title continues in Leipzig on Tuesday night and ominously, they come into it on the back of a resounding 4-0 win over Girona in their top-of-the-table showdown.

However, they did lose key man Jude Bellingham to injury in that one and he will be sidelined for two to three weeks, potentially making his return in time for the second leg.

But could the tie already be beyond doubt by then? Leipzig's form in 2024 is less than impressive and if Los Blancos click into high gear as they did on Saturday, it may make for a long night for the home side.

How will Bayern Munich respond?

While Real Madrid were thrashing Girona in Spain's title decider on Saturday, Bayern Munich were crumbling to a 3-0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in theirs.

The fallout has been quite something. Not only are they now seven points behind as their bid for a 12th straight title falters, Thomas Tuchel has came in for heavy criticism and a furious Thomas Müller went viral after giving one of the angriest yet honest post-match interviews in recent memory.

But Europe may offer Bayern the perfect opportunity to put their domestic disappointment behind them.

A Valentine's Day trip to Rome may be top of the bucket list for many but for Bayern, it will all be about business as they look to remind everyone what they are capable of.

Will the UCL's deadly duo put their injuries behind them?

With Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo now having made their bows from the world's premier club competition, we have a new fearsome pair who have been happy to take up the goalscoring mantle.

Between them, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland have racked up a staggering 83 goals in 102 appearances in the Champions League and are set to rip up the record books if they continue on their ridiculous current pace.

Both suffered recent injuries but the Manchester City man put any concerns about his fitness behind him by breaking his Premier League 'drought' (that's what four games without a goal is for him) with a brace against Everton last weekend.

The Frenchman was an unused substitute against Lille that same day after picking up an ankle injury against Brest last week.

"He's fine," Luis Enrique assured fans afterwards. "He'll 100% be ready for Wednesday."

Not the news defenders were hoping for.

Is there any hope for Copenhagen?

The most one-sided tie of the knockout round on paper goes to Copenhagen's attempt to pull off a monumental upset by eliminating defending champions Manchester City.

They are ranked by some oddsmakers as 15/1 outsiders just to win the first game, let alone qualify, but coach Jacob Neestrup did make a very pertinent point when analysing their prospects.

"It is the biggest test we've had because City are the best team in the world right now," he told the media on Monday. "But what do you have the best chance of doing: beating City, or progressing from a group with Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Galatasaray where after four-and-a-half games we were two goals down against United and needed six points to qualify?

"So we've faced and overcome big challenges before. It doesn't bother me how good they are. I have faith in my team."

When you put it like that... he certainly isn't wrong.

Dark horses to keep PSG quiet?

One of the most fascinating ties of the round pits Ligue 1 leaders PSG with Real Sociedad, a side no team would have wanted to draw in the knockout stage.

If anybody was considering taking them lightly or writing them off, remember that the Basque outfit topped a group featuring last season's finalists Inter.

PSG may have a star-studded attack but nobody will be better equipped than Imanol Algacil's side to keep them quiet, having kept a staggering 13 clean sheets in their last 17 games.

Even with Mbappé back and flanked by talents like Ousmane Dembélé, Gonçalo Ramos, Randal Kolo Muani and Bradley Barcola, they will find it very difficult to break down La Real's iron-clad set-up.