REAL MADRID
For only the third time in the current iteration of the Champions League (dating from 2003-04), Real proved pitch perfect in the group stage, winning all six of their matches in a pool that comprised Italian champions Napoli, Portuguese upstarts Braga and German surprise packages Union Berlin. Not that Los Blancos will have any grounds for complacency. On the two other occasions when they gained maximum points (2011-12 and 2014-15), first round full houses did not translate into silverware, beaten at the semi-final stage by Bayern Munich and Juventus respectively. Should Real collect their 15th Champions League crown, coach Carlo Ancelotti will deserve a substantial bonus. ACL injuries to goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and centre-backs Eder Militao and David Alaba have stripped bare the team’s defensive options and the Italian will have to be at his most ingenious to plug the gaps. Heaven forbid anything untoward should happen to goalscoring tyros Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, where finding adequate replacements would prove far more difficult.
RB LEIPZIG
Undoubtedly aided by a favourable draw – giving them the opportunity to devour the limited Red Star Belgrade and Young Boys – Leipzig had no problem qualifying as Group G runners-up behind runaway table-toppers Manchester City.
A last-16 tie versus the mighty Real Madrid will be a huge challenge for Marco Rose’s side, but they will take heart from their strong performances in defeat to City in the autumn. For long periods in both games, they more than held their own and, after taking a two-goal lead early on at
