After the Champions league knockout phase was opened by teams with a combined 24 European titles, the spotlight shifts to those with far less of a continental pedigree.
Just one of this week's four Round of 16 matches features former European champions, with FC Porto and Juventus — both two-time winners — meeting in Portugal on Wednesday.
Atletico Madrid, which has the undesired record of being a three-time losing finalist, plays its first leg away at Bayer leverkusen the previous night. A return to European action should provide some respite from domestic struggles for leverkusen, which is mid-table in Germany.
leicester's plight at home in England is far more perilous. The ailing Premier league champions are only one point above the relegation zone as they resume their first Champions league campaign with a trip to Sevilla, which is flying high in third place in Spain.
There's a first-leg meeting between the Premier league's second-place team and France's top team on Tuesday when Manchester City hosts Monaco. Although City has been one of world football's biggest spenders over the last decade, it has yet to progress beyond the semifinals in the Champions league as it seeks European silverware to firmly establish itself in the elite.
lEVERKUSEN vs ATlETICO
leverkusen's inconsistent season - the team is 20 points behind Bayern Munich after 21 Bundesliga games - has led to persistent speculation on the future of coach Roger Schmidt, now in his third season at the club. Two victories have eased the pressure on Schmidt somewhat, while the emergence of 17-year-old Kai Havertz has also provided a welcome distraction.
leverkusen's youngest ever player in the Bundesliga, Havertz provided three assists in the last two games and displayed technical ability and maturity.
Regardless of Havertz's presence, leverkusen striker Stefan Kiessling sees Atletico, which lost to Real Madrid in last season's final, as the favorite on Tuesday. "Atletico has strengthened further since our duel two years ago," Kiessling said, referring to the 2015 shootout loss in the same Round of 16.
CITY vs MONACO
City's top priority will be to keep attacking midfielder Bernardo Silva quiet. Diminutive in stature, but extremely quick, the skillful Silva also has an eye for goal, a lethally accurate shot from outside the penalty area and makes great runs into the box to score with his head.
Silva has already scored against Premier league opposition this season, when Monaco 2-1 won against Tottenham during the group stage at Wembley Stadium.
"He's our little phenomenon," Monaco fullback Djibril Sidibe said. "He can dribble past two or three players and he's unpredictable."
City, in Pep Guardiola's first season in charge, is equally unpredictable. Having established a four-point lead early in the season, it is now eight points behind leader Chelsea. City also experienced a setback in the FA Cup on Saturday, when it was held by second-tier Huddersfield, although Guardiola made eight changes for the game as he rested players. Guardiola has won all seven previous Round of 16 matches in charge of Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
‘Teamwork is key’
Monaco midfielder Joao Moutinho emphasised teamwork was the key to victory over English football giants Manchester City in UEFA Champions league last-16 first-leg on Tuesday.
"To beat City, we have to play as a team," he told the club's website on Monday, a day before the clash at the Etihad Stadium, reports Efe news agency. Moutinho, joining Monaco in 2013, enjoyed his life during the past four years, especially when the team was at the top of the table.
"I've enjoyed playing for Monaco for almost four years now. Undoubtedly it's more fun to play when you're on a winning path, which is our case this season. We're currently at the top of the league," said the Portuguese midfielder. "We have a good team, a young squad that gives its all. Every day we want to give our 100% to win the game," he added.
The matchup against Manchester City will bring Moutinho reminiscent of days at the Portuguese side Porto as he will reunite with his former teammates Fernando and Nicolas Otamendi.