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Champions League Power Rankings: Liverpool, Barcelona & the last 16 ranked

With a fully fit squad, Lyon would have fancied their chances of at least troubling Juventus in their last-16 tie. After all, the French outfit have once again assembled a panel of young, talented footballers.
Moussa Dembele is expected to move to the Premier League sooner rather than later, Houssem Aouar and Lucas Tousart are two tremendously talented midfielders, while the 16-year-old Rayan Cherki looks like a superstar in the making.

However, Lyon are currently languishing in 11th place in Ligue 1 for a reason: season-ending injuries to Dutch forward Memphis Depay, their best player, and midfielder Jeff Reine-Adelaide.

The January signing of Bruno Guimaraes has lifted spirits around the Groupama Stadium but without Depay, it's virtually inconceivable that Lyon could become only the second French team to win the Champions League.

Lyon

It's been a topsy-turvy campaign for Valencia, who surprisingly sacked Marcelino just before their Champions League opener against Chelsea last September.
Amid the all-too-familiar climate of chaos at Mestalla, successor Albert Celades led Los Che to victory at Stamford Bridge and, ultimately, into the knockout stage after another fine win on the road on matchday six, this time at Ajax.

So, this is a team capable of upsetting better teams, as they've since hammered home by recently taking four points off Real Madrid and Barcelona in La Liga.

Captain Dani Parejo continues to lead by example in midfield, Ferrar Torres is developing rapidly into a fine winger, while Maxi Gomez is in decent form up front.

However, Valencia's seventh-placed ranking in La Liga represents an accurate reflection of their current strength. On the face of it, Atalanta are a good draw for Celades' side but one fears for the most porous defence in the top half of the Primera Division table against Papu Gomez &amp; Co.

Valencia

Nothing can be taken for granted when it comes to Napoli.
This is a side that can lose at home to Serie A strugglers Lecce and then beat leaders Inter in the Coppa Italia four days later, so it's difficult to know what to expect from the Partenopei in the last 16.

Barcelona represent a rotten draw for a team that really should have topped their group, after taking four points off Liverpool, but Napoli were in utter disarray at the time because of a dispute between chairman Aurelio de Laurentiis and Carlo Ancelotti's players.

Rino Gattuso has restored some order but all is still not right at the San Paolo.

Still, the former home of Diego Maradona will be packed to the rafters for the visit of the Argentine's heir, Lionel Messi, and Napoli are undoubtedly one of those sides that rise to the occasion.

Napoli

Frank Lampard remains on course for a successful first season as Chelsea boss. The Blues are fourth in the Premier League and looking forward to a mouth-watering Champions League last-16 tie with Bayern Munich, the side they defeated on penalties to famously lift the trophy in 2012.
However, that is not to say that all is rosy at Stamford Bridge. Having been unable to sign any new players when he returned to west London last summer, Lampard understandably expected new signings in January after Chelsea's transfer ban had been halved on appeal.

The legendary Blues midfielder was, thus, bitterly disappointed by the lack of incoming transfers, not least because it became clear during the first half of the season that his young and patchy squad needed an adequate understudy for Tammy Abraham and a dominant centre-half.

In fairness, Chelsea have subsequently announced that Hakim Ziyech will arrive in the summer to belatedly fill the creative void left by Eden Hazard's departure for Real Madrid last summer, but the fact remains that Lampard's side struggle to break sides down, while the defence looks ill-equipped to deal with the likes of Robert Lewandowski.

Chelsea

Atletico Madrid really could have done without drawing Liverpool in the last 16. The Rojiblancos are arguably as industrious, defensively sound and well-drilled as Jurgen Klopp's side; it's just they don't carry anything like the same attacking threat.
Atleti have scored just 25 times in 24 games in La Liga this season. It's a wonder they're as high as fourth in the table when one considers that no other side in the top eight has netted so few goals.

Of course, Joao Felix has had his injury issues since joining from Benfica for €126m (£105/$136) last summer but it's not as if the Portuguese has performed well anyway. The same could also be said of Diego Costa and Alvaro Morata, with Angel Correa having proven the only attacker at Aletico capable of scoring on something resembling a regular basis.

There is still great quality and heart in Simeone's side, as they underlined in their come-from-behind win over Barcelona in the Supercopa de Espana, but their focus is likely to be more on finishing in the top four in La Liga than finally conquering Europe with a team that is not on the same level as the ones that reached finals in 2014 and 2016.

Atletico Madrid

Atalanta really shouldn't be here. Firstly, they took just one point from their first four group games. Then there's the fact that this is a club with just the 13th biggest budget in Serie A.
In that context, what Atalanta are doing, both in Italy and in Europe, is truly miraculous. What's even more impressive about the fact that they're on course to qualify for the Champions League for the second consecutive season is the way in which they play the game.

Pep Guardiola is a massive fan of Gian Piero Gasperini's wonderfully creative side, which is capable of troubling any top team due to the genius of Papu Gomez and Josip Ilicic, and formidable centre-forward Duvan Zapata.

Atalanta, who sit fourth in Serie A, may not win the Champions League but given the Bergamascans have drawn Valencia in the last 16, don't be surprised if there are a few more chapters still to be written in this remarkable fairy tale.

Atalanta

RB Leipzig were undoubtedly the top seed that every group-stage runner-up wanted to draw in the last 16 but Jose Mourinho and Tottenham certainly won't be taking lightly the threat posed by Julian Nagelsmann's side.
Indeed, while Nagelsmann might not be as outspoken as Mourinho, what he is doing at the Red Bull Arena has evoked memories of the Portuguese coach's achievements as a young man at Porto, with Leipzig currently battling it out with Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga.

Leipzig are also in possession of one of the most coveted strikers in Europe, Germany international Timo Werner, who has struck 25 times in just 29 outings in all competitions this season.

There is more to this team than just a prolific forward, though.

Dayot Upamecano is a commanding young French defender already attracting attention from Europe's top clubs, compatriot Christopher Nkunku has been a revelation in midfield since joining from Paris Saint-Germain, while new signing Dani Olmo is considered one of the most exciting young wingers in world football.

RB Leipzig

How quickly things change in football. Just over five months after leading Tottenham to their first Champions League final, Mauricio Pochettino was sacked as manager and promptly replaced by Jose Mourinho.
The Portuguese, of course, has an excellent European pedigree. He won the Champions League with two relatively unfancied sides, in Porto and, to a lesser extent, Inter, while he even lifted the Europa League during his time in charge of Manchester United – which now looks like an excellent achievement in light of the current chaos at Old Trafford.

However, while the draw has been relatively kind to Mourinho, even he could struggle to take this Tottenham side to the promised land.

Yes, there is no shortage of talent at Spurs, but Harry Kane's unavailability through injury is a colossal problem despite Son Heung-min's impressive efforts to fill the void up front, the midfield still looks unbalanced and the defence remains unusually porous for a Mourinho side.

Still, as Tottenham showed in their recent Premier League win over Manchester City, Mourinho's teams are at their most dangerous when their backs are against the wall.

Tottenham

A veritable Champions League wildcard, Borussia Dortmund are a side that virtually guarantee goals – which makes them one of the most entertaining teams in Europe.
Nobody in the Bundesliga's top six has shipped as many goals this season as BVB's backline (32), but nobody has scored as many either (63), with January signing Erling Haaland having added a clinical edge to an attack brimming with creative talent.

The loss of Marco Reus to injury – again – is undeniably a setback, given his quality and experience, and Julian Brandt is also a fitness concern for the last-16 tie with Paris Saint-Germain, but Haaland, Jadon Sancho, Achraf Hakimi and Giovanni Reyna are all young, fearless and gifted.

If recent arrival Emre Can and Axel Witsel can do a decent job in midfield protecting the defence, Dortmund's fantastic forwards could do some serious damage to the Ligue 1 champions, who are under enormous pressure to progress.

Borussia Dortmund

Cristiano Ronaldo is enjoying the most prolific period of his Juventus career but the evergreen Portuguese is just about the only good thing about Maurizio Sarri's side right now.
Ostensibly, the Bianconeri are doing well: top of Serie A, through to the last 16 of the Champions League and a win away from the final of the Coppa Italia.

In reality, though, Juventus are struggling to implement Sarri's possession-orientated style of play, primarily because of their long-standing shortcomings in midfield.

As Sarri himself has admitted, after a bright start to the season, in which Juve displayed the kind of neat interplay for which his sides are famous, the players' progress has stalled. One could even argue they've gone backwards in recent weeks.

With Ronaldo in this form and Giorgio Chiellini back from injury, Juve cannot be discounted, but Sarri needs to work his magic to bring about a rapid improvement amid mounting pressure from fans that were sceptical about his methods even before his arrival in Turin.

Juventus

It's been a strange season at the Allianz Arena.
A month after routing Tottenham 7-2 in the Champions League, Bayern Munich were battered 5-1 by Eintracht Frankfurt, resulting in the dismissal of Niko Kovac, who was succeeded at the helm by his former assistant coach, Hans-Dieter Flick.

The Bavarians are now looking more like their old selves. Having qualified for the Champions League last 16 with a 100 per cent record, Bayern have reclaimed their usual spot at the top of the Bundesliga from RB Leipzig.&nbsp;

Doubts persist about the centre of Bayern's defence – and the fact that Jerome Boateng still features in it – but with Robert Lewandowski in the best form of his career, Flick's side have the potential to beat any side.

The German champions should have too much for Frank Lampard's young Chelsea team but, with Philippe Coutinho still struggling to settle, one wonders if Bayern will be able to create quite so many chances for Lewandowski against Europe's elite.

Bayern Munich

What are we to make of Manchester City?
A year after pipping Liverpool in an epic title race to retain their Premier League crown, Pep Guardiola's side have been left trailing in the Reds' wake. Worse still, they have been hit with a two-year ban from competing in the Champions League for breaching Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.

Consequently, uncertainty now surrounds the futures of their Catalan coach and his star-studded squad. Much will depend on the outcome of City's appeal but there is a feeling that we are approaching the end of a cycle of spectacular dominance.

However, City are still in this season's Champions League and how they would love to win it. They're certainly capable of doing so.

On their day, City remain among the best sides in the world, which is hardly surprising for a team that can call upon the likes of Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Raheem Sterling.

What's more, the defence should benefit enormously from the return of Aymeric Laporte, whose presence was sorely missed during his spell on the sidelines.

Guardiola and his players are now under more enormous pressure than ever before to deliver the trophy that the club's UAE-based owners covet most but a victory over Real Madrid would restore the confidence – and air of invincibility – that the English champions have lost in recent months.

Manchester City

That Barcelona sacked Ernesto Valverde was unsurprising; it was the timing of the decision that was shocking, with the Blaugrana electing to fire their coach while the team were top of La Liga.
Now, they sit second and the fear is that Barcelona may have written off the remainder of the season in the hope that Quique Setien may be able to restore a style of play and sense of identity at Camp Nou that will pay off in the long run.

Not that the Catalans won't be going all out to win a first Champions League since 2015, and finally exorcise the demons of recent embarrassing collapses at Liverpool and Roma.

The defence remains worryingly weak and Lionel Messi is struggling to score since Setien took over. However, at 32, the Argentine will be more determined than most to end Barca's Champions League drought and there have been signs in recent weeks that his partnership with Antoine Griezmann is starting to blossom.

Still, the suspicion remains that Barca will pay for their bizarre transfer strategy, with their lack of adequate cover up front following injuries to Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele particularly concerning.

Barcelona

Is this finally Paris Saint-Germain's year?
We know they have the talent. The French champions are so stacked in attack that they can afford to leave Edinson Cavani on the bench, with Inter outcast Mauro Icardi having proven a shrewd addition to a stellar squad.

Neymar should be fit again after his now annual injury issues and the Brazilian's understanding with Kylian Mbappe is truly terrifying, while Angel di Maria has been in sensational form all season.

Last weekend's crazy 4-4 draw at Amiens aside, the Ligue 1 leaders are quite solid at the back too, as underlined by the fact that they conceded just two goals in the group stage – fewer than any other side in the tournament.

However, as ever, the big question mark hangs over the PSG mentality.

They have repeatedly capitulated in Europe and although they sent out a warning to the rest of the competition by dismantling Real Madrid back in September, doubts remain over Thomas Tuchel and his team.

Their last-16 showdown with the German's former club, Borussia Dortmund, promises to tell us much about PSG's mettle.

Paris Saint-Germain

After a rather underwhelming start to Zinedine Zidane's second spell at the Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid are starting to find their feet again under the French coach that led them to a historic three consecutive Champions League titles.
Indeed, Sergio Ramos &amp; Co. have provided the platform upon which the Blancos' ascent to the summit of La Liga was launched, while centre forward Karim Benzema has led the attack well in the absence of the injured Eden Hazard.

However, unusually for Real, creativity is something of a problem. Isco has rediscovered his best form but Gareth Bale is a shadow of his former self while Brazilian youngsters Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior are gifted but inconsistent wingers.

What Zidane really needs is for Hazard to show why he pushed so hard for the Belgian's arrival from Chelsea last summer now that the gifted attacker has finally returned to full fitness.

If Hazard makes a timely return to his brilliant best for the mouth-watering last-16 tie with Manchester City, Madrid will have serious momentum in their pursuit of a fifth European Cup in seven seasons.

Real Madrid

Can anyone stop Liverpool from claiming a second consecutive Champions League?
Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid will undoubtedly provide a stern test in the last 16 but the Reds have been transformed into a winning machine by Jurgen Klopp.

Liverpool are the reigning world and European champions, and presently running away with the Premier League title – a staggering 25 points clear at the top of the table thanks to Alisson's great goalkeeping, the commanding Virgil van Dijk, the relentless full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson, the leadership of Jordan Henderson and the best front three in the game today: Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.

If Manchester City can’t even compete with the Merseysiders, what chance do the rest of Europe's elite have?

As Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said last week, "There are no unbeatable teams in football... except for Liverpool."

Liverpool

Champions League Power Rankings: Liverpool, Barcelona & the last 16 ranked | Goal.com

Goal evaluates the 16 remaining sides in this season&apos;s Champions League, taking into account the strength of their squads and their recent form