Team-by-team guide to the Champions League knockout stages

Atalanta

Strengths: Serie A's highest scorers produced a minor miracle to qualify following a dreadful start on their Champions League debut. Papu Gomez and Josip Ilicic are a joy to watch and last season's deadly striker Duvan Zapata has recently returned from serious injury.

Weaknesses: Playing their home games at San Siro is a handicap and the commitment to attack can be an issue as they conceded five at Manchester City and four at Dinamo Zagreb.

Atletico Madrid

Strengths: A feared side in this competition and their defensive attitude should be suited to knockout games. Diego Costa is nearing a return to full fitness to add bite to the attack.

Weaknesses: Totally lost their way in La Liga and were knocked out of the Spanish Cup by lower-league opposition. It is possible that Diego Simeone's message is not being heard although a more likely scenario is that the huge summer overhaul has seen them go backwards.

Barcelona

Strengths: Lionel Messi remains at the club and as long as he is fit they have a chance. Barcelona are remarkably consistent, qualifying for at least the quarter-finals in 13 of the last 15 years.

Weaknesses: Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele are injured, Messi is at war with sporting director Eric Abidal and coach Quique Setien has never managed in the Champions League. They also need to sort out their away form – Barca have won only six of their last 16 European road trips and suffered humiliating collapses at Roma and Liverpool.

Bayern Munich

Strengths: A spine that is a match for most from Manuel Neuer in goal to leading scorer Robert Lewandowski in attack. Coach Hansi Flick has been described as a "gem" by Jupp Heynckes and a manager who can "shape an era".

Weaknesses: Centre-back Niklas Sule is out for the season and, despite the positive vibes, novice boss Flick needs to prove his tactical prowess at this level.

Borussia Dortmund

Strengths: Dortmund are built to attack with Jadon Sancho flying down the wings and new recruit Erling Haaland an absolute goal machine. Emre Can looks a clever signing in midfield.

Weaknesses: Marco Reus is out for a month and will miss the first leg of a difficult tie against PSG while defensively they are a shambles at times. Lucien Favre's men have conceded four to Bayern Munich and Leverkusen and three to Leipzig.

Chelsea

Strengths: A nice balance to the midfield where Mateo Kovacic, N'Golo Kante and Jorginho should be able to control matches.

Weaknesses: Inexperienced manager Frank Lampard has not been happy with his goalkeeping options and also bemoaned the lack of activity in the transfer market as Chelsea failed to bring in support for Tammy Abraham.

Juventus

Strengths: Cristiano Ronaldo looks as good as ever at the age of 35 and Maurizio Sarri has a huge squad which means he is able to rotate the likes of Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala in attack.

Weaknesses: Sarri has been accused of ruining the team dynamic to get the best out of Ronaldo and there have been too many average performances. Matthijs De Ligt has struggled and keeper Wojciech Szczesny has never truly convinced at elite level.

Leipzig

Strengths: Blistering on the counter-attack, a strength only increased by the January capture of Spanish speedster Dani Olmo to support star striker Timo Werner. Coach Julian Nagelsmann is destined to reach the very top.

Weaknesses: Lack European experience and kept just one clean sheet in a weak group alongside Benfica, Zenit and Lyon. The recent 0-0 at Bayern Munich was a step in the right direction but lively Leipzig are still suspect defensively.

Liverpool

Strengths: Broke the record for the best start ever to a major European league and the holders are looking great in every department. Anfield is an absolute fortress on European nights.

Weaknesses: Slightly more vulnerable on the road, losing away to Napoli in each of the last two campaigns.

Lyon

Strengths: Moussa Dembele continues to impress up front and the rapid Karl Toko Ekambi offers a new forward threat.

Weaknesses: Memphis Depay and Jeff Reine-Adelaide are costly injury absentees. Don't defend anywhere near well enough to go deep in a competition of this quality.

Manchester City

Strengths: At their best City can claim to be Europe's finest with Kevin De Bruyne able to run the show from midfield. They have goals in them from all over the pitch and Pep Guardiola remains in the dugout.

Weaknesses: Some have questioned Guardiola's credentials seeing as his two Champions League triumphs came with the brilliant Messi, the last of which was in 2011. Commitment to attack leaves City vulnerable at the back and they have also been wasteful in front of goal this term.

Napoli

Strengths: The San Paolo stadium can be a hostile venue and Napoli have beaten Liverpool and Juventus at home this season. Centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly is a class act.

Weaknesses: Rino Gattuso has made little impact in the league since replacing Carlo Ancelotti. They are only mid-table in Serie A and appear to be going seriously backwards.

Paris St-Germain

Strengths: Blessed in the final third with Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, Mauro Icardi, Edinson Cavani and Angel Di Maria. Thrashed Real Madrid in the group stage and Marco Verratti is a midfield pass master.

Weaknesses: Can coach Thomas Tuchel keep all the egos in check and ensure everyone is happy? The temptation will be to use as many of the stars as possible but that could unbalance the team and PSG are proven chokers in this competition.

Real Madrid

Strengths: The most successful side in the history of the European Cup have won the Champions League in all three seasons under returning boss Zinedine Zidane. Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane and Thibaut Courtois are all in top form and Federico Valverde adds new dynamism to midfield.

Weaknesses: Zidane seems unhappy with his wingers, other than Eden Hazard, and they have become a narrow side who can be easier to defend against. Few goalscoring options other than Karim Benzema with set-pieces an avenue Real often rely on to break opponents down.

Tottenham

Strengths: Coach Jose Mourinho has won the Champions League with Porto and Inter so is well suited to the role of underdog. High-class midfielder Giovani Lo Celso's influence on the team is growing.

Weaknesses: Harry Kane is ruled out of the Leipzig tie and they don't have another number nine at the club. Spurs have not defended particularly well for a year and don't seem entirely suited to Mourinho's demands to hit longer balls.

Valencia

Strengths: An inconsistent but capable side. Los Che have picked up points against Barcelona, Real and Atletico Madrid this season.

Weaknesses: Collapse away from home too often to be trusted and recent road trips include three-goal losses at Mallorca and Getafe.

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