UCL Preview: 'A lot can happen between now and February'

In the first half of Playmaker's Champions League preview, we guide you through this week's fixtures, what's been happening since the group stages, and where does each tie stand heading into the knockout stages?

Dortmund v PSG gets even more mouth-watering

©Getty / Dean Mouhtaropoulos

When this matchup was drawn, there were plenty of sharp intakes of air as arguably the two most attacking, and worst defensive sides meet in an affair that's certain to be high scoring.

What we didn’t know in December though, is that Borussia Dortmund were set to win the Erling Braut Håland sweepstakes and that the Norweigan superstar would start his Bundesliga career with a ridiculous seven goals in three games.

On the posters this tie will be billed as Håland vs Kylian Mbappé as the future Balon d’Or challengers meet for the first time, but in reality there’s so much more on display.

Neymar is playing some of the best football of his career for PSG, while Jadon Sancho became the first player in Europe’s top five leagues to register double figures in goals and assists, leading Dortmund on both counts.

Previous Inter captain Mauro Icardi has settled in nicely in Paris, as former BvB coach Thomas Tuchel has even been experimenting with a 4-2-4 to fit Icardi up front with Neymar, Mbappe, and Edison Cavani.

PSG have dominated Ligue 1 as usual but seem to have found some level of balance in midfield with the signing of Idrissa Gueye going a long way to solving their issues, meanwhile Dortmund continue to show their lack of defensive ability in Germany, four points short of leaders Bayen, coach Lucien Favre squandering one of their best chance for a title win eight years.

While Dortmund certainly outweigh PSG in terms of imbalance between attack and defence, they have the firepower to punish Tuchel’s side, and ensure this clash is an absolute can’t miss.

Tricky Atlético stumble towards faultless Liverpool meeting

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Since December though, Atléti have done the best possible job of quashing Liverpool’s fears with some of their worst play under long time coach Diego Simeone winning just four games to Liverpool’s 10.

Atlético sit fourth in La Liga, 13 points shy of the top of one of the worst quality Spanish title races in recent years, and for the first time in nine year spell as coach, fans are asking questions of the legendary former player Simeone.

A gigantic summer turnover triggered by the departure of Antoine Griezmann certainly gives Simeone some excuse, but constantly limiting flair players like €126 million João Félix show his limitations as a coach, yet to get a handle over his squad this season.

Liverpool’s record since the group stages finished is well known, winning every single league game, but the Champions League is a different animal with teams who dominate domestic leagues often getting caught cold.

Liverpool though, face a side that should be difficult tactically for them, but are in the perfect place to get bullied, yet we’re still talking about the two time Champions League runners-up under Simeone who will be putting all their eggs in one basket, get an early body blow in, and we might see Liverpool startled for the first time this season.

Atalanta to continue establishing themselves against unfancied Valencia

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Atalanta becoming the first side to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League after losing their opening three games was certainly headline making, but more than anything it’s symbolic of one of the most unique and exciting sides in European football right now.

Since achieving knockout qualification during their debut Champions League campaign, Atalanta haven’t taken their foot off the gas in their quest to upset the order in Italy, currently with a six point top four cushion aided by 14 goal Josip Iličić and 12 goal Luis Muriel.

Only Bayern, Dortmund and PSG have scored more than Atalanta’s 26 league goals since the group stages, and they come up against a Valencia side who sit seventh in La Liga in a glut of sides short of leaders Madrid and Barça. 

Valencia did well to qualify from a competitive group including Chelsea, Ajax and Lille, and their form shows one of the most well supported teams in Spain love the big time with a win against Barcelona and a draw against Atléti in their last four league games.

Two squads packed with players who see themselves as very much Champions League level have the chance to make a name for themselves, and although Atalanta might be favourites, this could be a game of small margins where stars from the World Cup and Euros will be looking to make headlines.

Mourinho faces ultimate test in Julian Nagelsmann

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Four years ago, a 28-year-old Julian Naglesmann became the youngest coach in Bundesliga history when taking over Hoffenheim and it’s been a steady climb to the top since. In taking a small club from a small town from the bottom of the table to European football, Nagelsmann received plaudits from all over, but most notably from his players.

A master tactician who will change game plans drastically multiple times during the 90 minutes, Nagelsmann has taken faltering players to their highest potential, much like Mourinho used to, but in a far different fashion.

Now at Leipzig in the throws of a first ever Bundesliga title push and Champions League run, the 32-year-old German recently hit a rough patch in form, losing twice to Eintracht Frankfurt in the league and cup while also drawing against title rivals Bayern and Gladbach, but it hardly distracts from a fascinating season. 

Adding very highly rated Dani Olmo to 25 goal Timo Werner, Leipzig will fancy their chances against a Spurs side that have improved under Mourinho, but still flattered to deceive. 

Mourinho introduced Steven Bergwijn and Gedson Fernandes to his ranks in January and both have looked decent as Spurs have closed in on the top four, but they're now without Harry Kane and Son Heung-min likely out for the season. 

Right now, Tottenham would be a reasonable bet for Champions League football next season, but this tie, and the battle on the touchline, may well determine Mourinho’s future as one of the elite.