After a break of more than two months, the Champions League returns with four games that you can't afford to miss. We'll analyse the trajectory of these eight teams since the end of the group stage and attempt to answer some questions, including; How did they get to this round of 16? Have any suffered a major downturn? Which team has the best scoring record?

 

PSG-Barcelona (Tuesday, February 14)

Paris Saint-Germain finished their group stage with a draw against Ludogorets (2-2) but had already qualified before that game. Since then, the French club have endured a small crisis. Their fourth loss in Ligue 1 against Guingamp on December 17 did nothing more than reopen the debate over the future of Unai Emery. However, the Spanish coach has not lost again. Ten wins and a draw in league and cup competitions see them second only to Monaco in Ligue 1.

For their part, Barcelona haven't slowed down and since the end of the group stage have managed to get into the cup final and keep the pressure on Real Madrid in LaLiga Santander. In December, Luis Enrique's side were seven points behind. Now, the gap is just a point, though Madrid still has two games in hand (Celta Vigo and Valencia).

 

Benfica-Dortmund (Tuesday, February 14)

Benfica come into the key month of February with two unexpected defeats in both the League Cup and the Portuguese league. In the first competition, they lost 3-1 to Moreirense, a team that is struggling not to be relegated to the second division. In the league, a defeat to Vitoria Setubal on January 30 caused Porto to narrow the gap.

Borussia Dortmund have had an irregular start to 2017. Three consecutive draws in the Bundesliga and then a defeat to Darmstadt 98 means they're now fourth and 15 points off of the leaders. Dortmund are more concerned with not falling into the Europa League positions than fighting to get closer to Bayern.

 

Real Madrid-Napoli (Wednesday, February 15)

Real Madrid finished second in the group stage. In December, they managed to conquer the Club World Cup, but lost to Celta Vigo in the Copa del Rey. They remain leader in LaLiga and with two games in hand which, if won, would see them seven points ahead of the chasing pack.

Napoli have improved remarkably since last December. Sarri's team has not lost a single game since the draw for the last 16. In addition, the Italian's have scored the most in Serie A with 57 goals. Mertens (16), Hamsik (9), Callejon (8) and Insigne (7) are their main weapons in attack.

 

Bayern-Arsenal (Wednesday, February 15)

Since their last Champions League match against Atletico Madrid, Bayern haven't lost either. Neither in the Bundesliga nor in the German cup. The Bavarians have managed to widen the gap win their domestic championship. In December, RB Leipzig were three points behind and now that has increased to seven.

Meanwhile, Arsenal have blown hot and cold. In the same week as the Champions League draw, the north Londoners lost against Everton and Manchester City in the Premier League. A five-game losing streak followed, and they face Bayern having lost to Watford and Chelsea but beating Hull City - a rather uneven track record. The Gunners are still alive in the FA Cup after eliminating Southampton.