Davies's recovery sets up possible Champions League clash with Canadian national teammate Johnston

The Champions League is the best club competition on Earth, and Canadian soccer fans have more reasons than ever to watch: Three members of the men's national team are playing in the knockout stages, reaching heights beyond dreams.

Earlier this week, Alistair Johnston, who plays right-back for Canada and Scottish giants Celtic, acquitted himself well in a heated first leg against Bayern Munich at a crackling Celtic Park in Glasgow.

Bayern is home to Alphonso Davies, Canada's captain and star left-back. He missed the opening match with a hamstring injury, but he's resumed team training and there's a good chance he'll play in Tuesday's return leg in Munich.

Bayern's narrow 2-1 win leaves Celtic with hope of an aggregate upset over the 2020 cup winners. Davies' potential return also means that Canadian soccer fans might yet see two of their own start the same Champions League match — on the same flank, no less.

"A chance to play against a fellow Canadian at this level, it's pretty rare for us," Johnston told reporters before the opening leg. "I'm hoping he can be fit for the second leg so we can go at it."

The Feb. 18 return game will determine which side, and which Canadian defender, will advance to the Round of 16.

Another Canadian, striker Jonathan David, has already earned his spot, after his French side Lille finished a surprise seventh in the league phase of the revamped competition. David, Canada's reigning men's player of the year, has run rampant in the Champions League this season, scoring six goals in eight games.

Johnston's sturdy performance against Bayern also bodes well for the national team. With the Nations League finals, the Gold Cup, and next year's World Cup all on the near horizon, it's a win every time