Liverpool return to Galatasaray hotspot in Champions League knockout stage

AFP Sport previews Tuesdays Champions League round of sixteen first leg fixtures, with Liverpool travelling to Istanbul for the second occasion this term and Newcastle United set to welcome Barcelona once more:

Galatasaray v Liverpool

Liverpools Premier League championship challenge unravelled amid a dreadful sequence of outcomes from late September onwards, leaving them struggling just to secure a place in next years Champions League. Arne Slots team now travels back to Istanbul, site of their 1-0 defeat to Turkish title holders Galatasaray in the group stage.

A strong performance in the Champions League could provide a significant lift for Slot, who has faced criticism from discontented supporters amid Liverpools poor form. Notably, German creative midfielder Florian Wirtz returned from a back problem as a late replacement in Fridays FA Cup victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Slot dismissed worries about Argentinian midfielder Alexis Mac Allister following the World Cup winners departure with an apparent injury.

Galatasaray overcame Juventus in the playoff ties, following a 5-2 home triumph in the initial match and a 3-2 extra time loss in the away fixture. They top the Turkish Super Lig and secured a 1-0 win at Istanbul opponents Besiktas on Saturday, courtesy of Victor Osimhens goal, marking his 18th of the campaign with seven in European action.

Atalanta v Bayern Munich

Bayern can rightly be viewed as one of the top three or four favourites to claim the Champions League crown, as the German powerhouse pursues a seventh success in Europes premier club tournament. Vincent Kompanys squad arrives in Italy holding an 11-point advantage at the Bundesliga summit and boasting seven victories from eight Champions League outings to date.

With the Bundesliga crown nearly secured, Bayern rested Harry Kane and kept Michael Olise in reserve during Fridays 4-1 triumph over Borussia Moenchengladbach. Kane has notched 45 goals across 37 appearances in all competitions this season, achieving his finest seasonal tally by February. In omitting the England skipper for the first instance this term, Kompany explained that Kane suffered a calf knock and would soon regain peak condition.

Atalanta eliminated Borussia Dortmund in the previous round and defeated Eintracht Frankfurt earlier this season, so they eagerly anticipate facing another German team. Gianluca Scamacca netted a brace as they rallied from a deficit to earn a 2-2 draw with Udinese in Serie A on Saturday.

Atletico Madrid v Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham revisits the Metropolitano, venue of their 2019 Champions League final loss to Liverpool. The present Spurs lineup pales in comparison to Mauricio Pochettinos dynamic squad from that era, positioning them oddly in both European contention and a Premier League drop zone scrap simultaneously.

Trailing far behind in La Liga, Diego Simoness Atletico channel efforts into trophy pursuits for the seasons close. The Argentine manager guided them to Champions League finals in 2014 and 2016, only to fall short against local foes Real Madrid on each occasion, and Atletico yearn to conquer the competition for the inaugural time in club history.

Facing a faltering Spurs, they intend to establish a solid lead in the opening leg and leverage their placement in the brackets milder half.

Newcastle United v Barcelona

After previously overcoming Newcastle 2-1 at St James Park in the group stage via a Marcus Rashford double and lacking young sensation Lamine Yamal, Barcelona approaches Tyneside with optimism.

Hansi Flicks vibrant team exhibits vulnerabilities however, especially their high back line susceptible to swift counters, where Anthony Gordon could pose challenges for the Catalan outfit.

Newcastle has encountered greater difficulties in the Premier League this year despite consistent advancement under Eddie Howe. They triumphed over Manchester United recently prior to faltering in the FA Cup versus a Manchester City side that rotated 10 players.

Nick Woltemade featured against City following a short bout of sickness, with Tino Livramento as a substitute. Howe indicated Lewis Miley remains unavailable for the Barcelona encounter.