BERLIN – Holders Liverpool have a tough challenge to overcome a
1-0 deficit to Atletico Madrid in the return leg of their last 16 tie
in the Champions League on Wednesday.
However, this week's games are taking place in the shadow of the
coronavirus emergency which sees two matches behind closed doors:
Valencia's Tuesday home leg against Italian side Atalanta, and Paris
Saint-German v Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.
RB Leipzig discussed Monday with health authorities a possible
closed-door game against Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday but it was
decided to go ahead with the match as normal.
Liverpool's game at Anfield was also to go ahead as planned pending a
meeting between sports governing bodies and government officials.
After losing against a defensively tough Atletico in Madrid,
Liverpool will need all the backing of the Kop, which has helped them
to so many magical European nights, if they are to progress against
Diego Simeone's side.
Manager Juergen Klopp will hope his team can build on a 2-1 win over
Bournemouth in the Premier League after a dip in form and is waiting
on the fitness of captain Jordan Henderson, who has returned to
training following a hamstring injury. Keeper Alisson Becker is still
out with a hip injury.
Simeone should have a fully-fit squad and will be out to avoid a
repeat of last season's exit when his side surrendered a 2-0 lead by
losing the second leg at Juventus 3-0.
Midfielder Marcos Llorente dismissed the idea that Liverpool's first
defeat in the Premier League recently would affect them in the second
leg.
"That's one tournament and the Champions League is another," he said.
"It will be difficult. It was very tough for us at home and it will
not be any easier there. We have to start the game at full power
because that is exactly what they will do."
Borussia Dortmund take a slender 2-1 lead to Paris as one of the
Bundesliga trio, along with Leipzig and Bayern Munich, trying to
reach the quarter-finals.
The Bundesliga has not had three sides in the last eight of the
competition since the only previous occasion in 1997-98, but Dortmund
will need to be defensively at their best against ex-Dortmund coach
Thomas Tuchel's side.
PSG have lost only three of their past 54 home games in Europe but
the absence of home support in Parc des Princes could work to the
advantage of the German visitors.
"We need to believe in ourselves and be 100 per cent present from the
beginning," midfielder Emre Can said.
Valencia have to overcome a 4-1 defeat against surprise package
Atalanta in an empty Mestalla stadium as the Bergamo side travel to
Spain from Lombardy, one of Italy's zones heavily hit by the
coronavirus outbreak.
Valencia captain Dani Parejo said he could not understand the
decision to play without spectators as the city is preparing for its
biggest street festival, Las Fallas, when crowds gather in the street
to celebrate the arrival of spring with bonfires and fireworks.
"We are able to walk around the streets full of people because of Las
Fallas but we can't play our most important game of the season in
front of our supporters," he said on social media.
Leipzig are in the driving seat thanks to Timo Werner's penalty for a
1-0 win at Tottenham, who are still missing forwards Harry Kane and
Son Heung Min.
But Spurs overcame Ajax in last season's semi-final when in a similar
position, and midfielder Dele Alli said: "We've showed the character
we have in this squad throughout the years we've been together, and
this is a tough period for us in terms of results, but I believe we
can turn it around."
The round will be completed next week with the return legs Juventus v
Lyon, Manchester City v Real Madrid, Bayern Munich v Chelsea, and
Barcelona v Napoli.