UEFA Champions League round of 16

The four-time defending Bundesliga champions are no strangers to Champions League success, reaching at least the semifinals six of the last seven years. But they are in an awkward position this season, having finished second in their group for the first time since 2009. They are also currently second in the Bundesliga as new coach Carlo Ancelotti tries to find his feet.

Of late, PSG were trying to model themselves as Champions League contenders, but they have begun to regress since Zlatan Ibrahimovic left. Though they won the French league in record fashion last season, the Parisians currently sit third behind Nice and Monaco. They remain big fish in the Champions League pond, but a fifth consecutive trip to the quarterfinals will be tough.

The Naples-based club are making just their second ever appearance in the Champions League knockout stages. Their last appearance there in 2012 did not go so well as they surrendered a 3-1 first leg lead to lose in extra time in the second leg. They will hope for better fortunes this time around, and do at least go into the draw as group winners.

Benfica made an impressive run to the quarterfinals a season ago, but were victims of their own success as they had to sell two of their best players. However, they still have many players with loads of experience in European competition, which could make a difference in the knockout stage. The Portuguese champions lead the league once again, two points ahead of city rivals Sporting CP.

As long as Lionel Messi is around, Barcelona are always contenders. They have advanced out of the last 16 in each of the last nine seasons, making them heavy favorites to do so again this season. But their defense is conceding goals at an alarmingly high rate - they have allowed 15 goals in 14 league games this season after conceding less than a goal per game the previous three seasons.

Last season, Manchester City reached the semifinals of the Champions League for the first time in club history. They recruited former Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola to help them take the next step. But they failed to best Barcelona for the Group C victory and are struggling at home, winning just three of their last eight Premier League games after a six-game win streak to start the season.

Bayern Munich's semifinal vanquishers last season doubled down by winning Group D in the current campaign at Bayern's expense. They have built a lot of European success under coach Diego Simeone, reaching two of the last three finals. But they have fallen behind early in Spain's La Liga, currently sitting fourth, which could be an indicator of struggles to come in Europe.

With 49 goals in 16 French league games, no European team is scoring more than Monaco right now. This prolific strike rate has not quite carried to the Champions League (nine goals in the six group stage games), but they nevertheless topped a rather tight group E. Monaco reached the quarterfinals two seasons ago, and with their scoring track record, they have the potential to do so again.

Currently in ninth place, Leverkusen are off to their worst Bundesliga start in 10 years. Yet they still progressed out of a tricky group with Monaco, Tottenham and CSKA Moscow. However, Leverkusen's last-16 experiences in the Champions League tend to be bitter reminders of the gulf between them and Europe's very best - they've not reached the quarterfinals in 14 years now.

BVB have come back to the Champions League with a bang, topping their group with a comeback 2-2 at the Bernabeu in Madrid. Second-year coach Thomas Tuchel has relied on a lot of young players, and now some of his best players are returning to fitness as well. Despite some of their inconsistent form in the German league, they should be one of the favorites to reach the quarterfinals.

They may have lost Group F by surrendering a two-goal lead to Dortmund this week, but Real Madrid are starting to return to the dominance of the "Galacticos" era. They are unbeaten in their last 26 games in all competitions and have an early six-point lead on rivals Barcelona in the Spanish League. Even group winners will want to avoid them in the last 16.

After their Cinderella title season in England, Leicester have brought some of that success to their new continental adventure, topping Group G. At home, however, their gilded carriage has turned back into a pumpkin, currently in 16th place in the Premier League with seven losses in 14 games. Claudio Ranieri might even prefer league points to a European quarterfinal spot.

Much like compatriots Benfica, Porto are victims of their own success. A quarterfinal run two seasons ago forced the club to part with a lot of their best players, but they are back in the Champions League knockouts this season thanks to a light group. They are not the same force they once were though as they currently sit third in the Portuguese league after finishing third last season.

As they win title after title in Italy, Juventus have struggled to keep up with the elite in Europe. They reached the final against eventual treble winners Barcelona two seasons ago but stumbled against Bayern Munich in the last 16 last season, losing 6-4 on aggregate. They lead Italy's Serie A once again, a sign that they could still be able to compete with the elite.

Winners of the last three Europa League titles, Sevilla finally have a chance in Europe's top competition. They have also taken a step forward in Spain too, currently in third place after finishing outside the top four in the previous five league campaigns. The club has never made the quarterfinals of the Champions League.

The last 16 regularly serves as the end of the road for perennial participants Arsenal, whose last quarterfinal apperance came in the 2009-10 season. But after winning their first Champions League group in five years, Arsenal have shown clear signs of improvement. They currently sit second in England's Premier League and have lost just twice in all competitions.