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Given the lop-sided nature of the draw, if Liverpool, Chelsea or Man City are to reach the Champions League Final in Budapest on 31 May, the smart money suggests they’ll need to see-off Bayern Munich along the way.

Vincent Kompany’s side finished second in the league phase, winning seven of their eight matches, to reach the last-16 for the 18th season in succession.

Tonight they visit Atalanta, who were 15th and came through the knockout play-offs, stunning Dortmund in the second leg in Bergamo, winning 4-1 courtesy of a stoppage-time penalty to overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit and set up this clash with Dortmund’s bitter rivals.

Bayern have progressed from 13 of their past 14 ties at this stage – the exception coming in 2019 when they were knocked out by eventual winners Liverpool 3-1 on aggregate - and most will fancy their chances of doing so again.

Newcastle legend Alan Shearer says Eddie Howe's side have to believe they can win the Champions League.

Asked about their chances of going all the way in the competition, Shearer said "Why not?"

"What's the point in entering a competition if you don't believe you can win it? Newcastle have to have that mentality."

You can listen to more from Shearer on BBC Radio Newcastle below:

I've got to be honest with you, Kris, if you've not seen criticism of Liverpool for their inconsistent form this season then I'm not sure you've been looking hard enough...

Some encouraging stats for Tottenham fans.

Atletico Madrid have only won one of their last 10 Champions League meetings with English clubs (two draws and seven defeats), beating Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford in March 2022

Tottenham have only lost one of their last five Champions League games against Spanish opponents (two wins and two draws), a 4-2 home defeat to Barcelona in the 2018-19 group stage.

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Tottenham and Atletico Madrid have only met once before in European competition.

That was in the 1963 Cup Winners' Cup final, when goals from Jimmy Greaves, John White and Terry Dyson earned Spurs a 5-1 victory in Rotterdam.

That success marked Tottenham's first European trophy - they have since won the Uefa Cup/Europa League three times, most recently last season.

Alan Shearer
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

It doesn't get much bigger. One of the biggest clubs in the world with some of the biggest players and best players in the world.

It'll be a huge test for Newcastle. They'll have to be right on it on every single position.

Newcastle have worked extremely hard and done extremely well in the Champions League this season - a lot better than they have in the league - they've earned the right to play one of the biggest and it should be a great occasion.

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Anthony Gordon has scored 10 goals for Newcastle in the Champions League this season.

The only players to net more times for an English side in a single edition of the European Cup/Champions League are Erling Haaland (12 for Manchester City in 2022-23) and Ruud van Nistelrooy (12 for Manchester United in 2002-03).

Ciaran Kelly
BBC Sport reporter at St James' Park

Lewis Hall could not help but smile.

Lamine Yamal has given defenders across the globe nightmares, but the Newcastle United left-back grinned at the prospect of coming up against the gifted Barcelona forward tonight.

"He's a special talent," he said before the first leg of Newcastle's last 16 Champions League tie at St James' Park.

"I've seen him play in enough Champions League games. I know what he's about.

"If I'm to be selected, I'm really looking forward to it. I want to test myself against the best players in the world so no better opportunity to do so."

Alan Shearer
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Spurs need to pick up some belief from somewhere because they've been awful all season, are in a terrible position and a realistic chance of being relegated and offered very little encouragement to think they can stay in the Premier League.

Away from the competition of the Premier League, they finished fourth in the league [Champions League league phase] which is a remarkable achievement in itself considering the way they have been playing.

They might just take a little bit of comfort in being away from home and picking up that little bit of belief or confidence because their game against Atletico and their game against Liverpool at the weekend both away obviously.

They're huge game for Tottenham and their fans. With that stadium and with the infrastructure, the training ground and everything else, it would be unbelievable if Spurs were to be relegated.

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Tottenham will be hoping a strong performance in Madrid this evening will give them confidence to take into their Premier League relegation scrap.

Spurs sit just one point above the drop with nine games remaining. The Champions League offers a timely distraction, but manager Igor Tudor says survival is the main focus.

"Every game is important," said Tudor on Monday.

"[A] totally different mentality aspect can be used in this kind of game, so maybe this can help us see which problems we have, and to switch the right way. But always focus on us, to grow as a team, to do things better.

"We need to do our best in terms that we need to grow. Our first aim is the Premier League - this is something that needs to be said publicly. It's a normal thing.

"[The Champions League] is something extra, but that doesn't mean we don't want to pass and don't want to go to the next round."

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The contrast between Tottenham's domestic and European form could not be starker.

In the Premier League, Spurs find themselves one point above the relegation zone having won just seven of their 29 matches this season.

The arrival of manager Igor Tudor has changed little, with the Croat overseeing three defeats in three league outings.

However, Spurs have fared much better on the continent.

They finished in the top eight of the Champions League with five wins from eight games and progressed directly to the last-16.

Tonight will be Tottenham's first European match since Tudor replaced Thomas Frank as manager.

Right, it's a quick turnaround from this early game to the later kick-offs so before we really get stuck into the game in Istanbul, let's have a look at what we've got to look forward to later...

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Liverpool will be delighted to have Florian Wirtz back in the starting XI.

The attacking midfielder has been out with a back injury, making his return off the bench against Wolves in the FA Cup on Friday.

He last started a game on 14 February against Brighton and had been in excellent form for the couple of months prior.

It looks like he'll be starting off the left tonight.

Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk has made one change to the XI that lost to Juventus in the second leg of the play-off round earlier this month, with Wilfried Singo replacing Roland Sallai.

Galatasaray: Cakir, Singo, Sanchez, Bardakci, Jakobs; Torreira, Lemina; Lang, Sara, Yilmaz, Osimhen

Subs: Sen, Guvenc, Sallai, Icardi, Sane, Akgun, Elmali, Gundogan, Kutucu, Asprilla, Ayhan, Boey

Image source, BBC/Opta

Florian Wirtz makes his first start in almost a month as one of five changes from Liverpool's FA Cup win at Wolves on Friday.

The Germany international - who had been sidelined with a back injury - has not started since the Reds' FA Cup fourth round win over Brighton on 14 February.

The former Bayer Leverkusen attacker comes into the XI alongside Giorgi Mamardashvili, Milos Kerkez, Ibrahima Konate and Hugo Ekitike.

They replace Alisson Becker, Andy Robertson, Curtis Jones, Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha.

Liverpool: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Ekitike

Subs: Woodman, Misciur, Jones, Gakpo, Robertson, Frimpong, Nyoni, Nallo, Morrison, Ngumoha

Image source, BBC/Opta

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Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson has been ruled out of the first leg of the Champions League last-16 tie against Galatasaray through injury - but he could be back for the visit of Tottenham at the weekend.

The 33-year-old Brazilian sustained the injury in a training session shortly before Liverpool flew to Turkey for today's match at RAMS Park.

Reds boss Arne Slot told a news conference on Monday that Alisson felt minor discomfort and after consultation with the club's medical staff did not travel to Istanbul with the rest of the squad. Liverpool have not disclosed specifics about the injury.

"Ali, of course, was in the session as many people could see, but unfortunately he felt something towards the end of the session," Slot said.

"People looked at it and we decided, and he decided together, that it wasn't good enough to play tomorrow. And then it's of no use travelling."

That means Giorgi Marmadashvili is set to start in goal for the visitors.

Let's get to the rest of the team news now...

That's right. The knockout phase officially started with the play-off round but now we've reached the last 16, and all the big hitters will be in action over the next couple of days.

We've got four games tonight, starting with Liverpool travelling to Galatasaray in the early kick-off (17:45 GMT).

Newcastle host Barcelona and Tottenham are at Atletico Madrid later, with Atalanta against Bayern Munich completing the 20:00 GMT slate.

Eyes on the prize, people.

Things are about to get serious in the Champions League...

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