PARIS: The Champions League knockout stages continue this week as holders Chelsea host Lille and Manchester United travel to Atletico Madrid.

Chelsea and United will be hoping to follow Premier League sides Manchester City and Liverpool in securing first-leg leads in the last 16, after Pep Guardiola’s men thrashed Sporting Lisbon 5-0 and Jurgen Klopp’s side beat Inter Milan 2-0 last week.

The tie between Chelsea and Lille was the only matchup that stayed the same after the Champions League draw had to be redone after a glitch.

Chelsea will be even more delighted now. The European champions can still host a side that has endured an alarming collapse on Tuesday, with Lille going from French champions least season to midtable now, 23 points behind Paris St Germain at the top.

Recent Club World Cup winners Chelsea, by contrast, have recovered from a wobble to win back-to-back Premier League games to make their hold on third place more secure.

In Tuesday’s other tie, Juventus face Villarreal hoping to return to the quarter-finals after being eliminated by FC Porto and Olympique Lyonnais at this stage in the last two seasons on an away-goals rule that has now been scrapped.

The Champions League remains the last realistic hope of a trophy this season for interim United manager Ralf Rangnick as they face Atletico with both teams having mixed seasons.

Also on Wednesday, two unfancied names for the crown will lock horns as Benfica play host to Ajax.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2022