Champions League returns: What to look out for in 2021-22 knockout stages

A clean sweep of English teams but no Barcelona. No away goals either.

The Champions League last 16 starts this week with Paris St-Germain v Real Madrid and Sporting Lisbon v Manchester City on Tuesday.

Let's jog your memory on who is still in it and what to look out for.

This is the first time in 18 years that Barcelona are not in the Champions League knockout stages.

Spanish newspaper AS called it Barcelona's «resignation from the football elite» as they lost 3-0 to Bayern Munich to finish third (Barca's third 3-0 defeat in their six games).

Instead of competing for club football's most prestigious trophy, they will be facing Napoli (who finished below Leicester) in a play-off for a place in the Europa League last 16.

The last time they were not in the Champions League last 16 was in 2004 when they lost to Celtic in the Uefa Cup.

Their exit might feel strange but could just save them further embarrassment down the line. The last three times they got to the last eight or further ended in farce — blowing three-goal leads against Roma and Liverpool and losing 8-2 to Bayern Munich.

For the fourth time in five seasons there are at least four English teams in the Champions League last 16 — all getting there with a game to spare this time.

And three of them are among the four bookmakers' favourites to win the tournament (Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Chelsea).

All the English sides face domestic champions of four of Europe's next five highest-ranked leagues (Spain, Italy, France, Portugal).

However, none of those currently top their league.

Last season Chelsea beat City in the final — could it be a similar tale this year? Can Pep Guardiola finally get his hands on the trophy without Barcelona and Lionel Messi?

The last