Below, The National Sportsdesk staff offer their take on why various teams can win the Uefa Champions League ahead of the competition's return for the last 16 stage next week.
Andy Mitten, European football correspondent, Barcelona
They are already the best team in the world, while Luis Suarez and Neymar have improved in the last year. With Lionel Messi, the planet’s best player, there is not a front three to touch them. Barca have lost Xavi, but he wasn’t as integral to their last treble. They have also added Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal. Coach Luis Enrique remains highly motivated and on track in every competition this season, just as he was last term. If they avoid serious injuries, the only thing which will stop Barca is the knock-out format of the competition – as they found out in 2010 and 2012 when confronted by obdurate Inter Milan and Chelsea sides.
Richard Jolly, English football correspondent, Bayern Munich
They are one of the two best teams in Europe. The others are the defending champions Barcelona and history shows how hard it is to retain the trophy. Pep Guardiola may have learned the lessons of successive semi-final exits and the fact this is his last chance to win the Champions League with Bayern may render them still more dangerous.
Greg Lea, Premier League correspondent, Barcelona
While no club has retained the Champions League in its current format, Barcelona look pretty well placed to make history this season.
Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar is a frighteningly good front three, and Barca seem to have developed an ominous knack for winning games without playing particularly well of late.
Thomas Woods, Sports editor, Bayern Munich
Bayern are about the only side who can match Barcelona in terms of possession football and, providing their defensive injuries clear up, they have the backline to shut out the European champions. Just look at their semi-final meeting in 2013, when Bayern beat the Spanish side 7-0 on aggregate. Pep Guardiola’s side also have two star additions this season in wingers Douglas Costa and Kingsley Coman, who can run any side ragged.
Jon Turner, Web editor, Paris Saint-Germain
Barcelona are understandably favourites, but such is the task of winning back-to-back Champions League titles, PSG are as well-equipped as any to land the trophy. Zlatan Ibrahimovich, Edinson Cavani, Angel Di Maria, and Lucas Moura are a formidable attack, and having all but wrapped up the Ligue 1 title already, the club’s focus and energy will be fixed firmly on Europe. There is a case of PSG being undercooked such has been the ease of the domestic campaign, but on the flip side, 20 wins and three draws in 23 league games has bred an invaluable winning mentality. Concerns over the defence remain, but this is the same defence that conceded just once in the group stages, away to Real Madrid.
Steve Luckings, Senior editor, Atletico Madrid
Diego Simeone’s side are perfectly suited to knockout football that more often than not are decided by the odd goal. They boast a stingy defence, are killers on the counterattack and no team shares around the goals like they do. The 2014 runners-up were unbeaten in their three away group games, and travel to the Netherlands to face PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of their last-16 encounter. in fine fettle domestically, although they lost their most recent game to Barcelona to surrender top spot in the Primera Liga. Atletico have a miserable record against Dutch teams in two-legged affairs having lost all four previous ties. However, in Antoine Griezmann they possess perhaps Europe’s most underrated frontman. The 24-year-old Frenchman is rarely mentioned in the same breath as his peers at Barcelona or Real Madrid, but he is just as lethal in front of goal as Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Cristiano Ronaldo. With four goals in the group stages, expect Atletico’s go-to-guy to spearhead their charge to the title.
Jonathan Raymond, Web editor, Manchester City
It wouldn’t be too much fun if we all picked Barcelona, now would it? So here is what is already in Manchester City’s favour – they emerged as winners from perhaps the most well-rounded group, edging out the likes of Juventus, Sevilla and Borussia Monchengladbach. They have proven their quality by stretching across four competitions and yet maintaining a solid run at the Premier League title – six points off the lead with England’s second-best goal difference. They have a simple route into the quarter-finals, drawn against Dynamo Kiev. On top of that Vincent Kompany is set to return soon and reinstill solidity to their defence, and they expect Kevin De Bruyne will be ready to return for the quarter-finals. As Sergio Aguero reaches peak fitness City can boast a weapon on par with any in Europe, and have added the fast-improving Kelechi Iheanacho to their UCL squad. Add it all up and it’s pretty formidable, no? And with Manuel Pellegrini confirmed to be making way for Pep Guardiola, he can impart a no-expectations compsure in his squad.
Graham Caygill, Deputy editor, Real Madrid
The arrival of Zinedine Zidane as Real coach has given them a new lease of life, at least in home games, with 16 goals in their past three Primera Liga games at the Bernabeu.
Zidane is yet to be in charge for an Uefa Champions League game, but with players the calibre of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema at his disposal, they will almost certainly sweep past Roma in the last-16.
They certainly have the quality in attack to win their 11th European Cup in May.
Zidane’s managerial inexperience is a question mark, but with a bit of luck – avoiding Barcelona in two-legged ties – Real have the goalscoring prowess at their disposal to be the side standing tall on May 28 when the final takes place at the San Siro Stadium in Milan.
The Farewell
Director: Lulu Wang
Stars: Awkwafina, Zhao Shuzhen, Diana Lin, Tzi Ma
Four stars
Match info
Bournemouth 0
Liverpool 4 (Salah 25', 48', 76', Cook 68' OG)
Man of the match: Andrew Robertson (Liverpool)
Thank You for Banking with Us
Director: Laila Abbas
Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum
Rating: 4/5
Company%20profile
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Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlmouneer%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dr%20Noha%20Khater%20and%20Rania%20Kadry%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEgypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E120%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBootstrapped%2C%20with%20support%20from%20Insead%20and%20Egyptian%20government%2C%20seed%20round%20of%20%3Cbr%3E%243.6%20million%20led%20by%20Global%20Ventures%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UAE SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Ali Khaseif, Fahad Al Dhanhani, Mohammed Al Shamsi, Adel Al Hosani
Defenders: Bandar Al Ahbabi, Shaheen Abdulrahman, Walid Abbas, Mahmoud Khamis, Mohammed Barghash, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Hassan Al Mahrami, Yousef Jaber, Mohammed Al Attas
Midfielders: Ali Salmeen, Abdullah Ramadan, Abdullah Al Naqbi, Majed Hassan, Abdullah Hamad, Khalfan Mubarak, Khalil Al Hammadi, Tahnoun Al Zaabi, Harib Abdallah, Mohammed Jumah
Forwards: Fabio De Lima, Caio Canedo, Ali Saleh, Ali Mabkhout, Sebastian Tagliabue
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
Key 2013/14 UAE Motorsport dates
October 4: Round One of Rotax Max Challenge, Al Ain (karting)
October 1: 1 Round One of the inaugural UAE Desert Championship (rally)
November 1-3: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Formula One)
November 28-30: Dubai International Rally
January 9-11: 24Hrs of Dubai (Touring Cars / Endurance)
March 21: Round 11 of Rotax Max Challenge, Muscat, Oman (karting)
April 4-10: Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (Endurance)
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Race card for Super Saturday
4pm: Al Bastakiya Listed US$250,000 (Dh918,125) (Dirt) 1,900m.
4.35pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,200m.
5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Conditions $200,000 (Turf) 1,200m.
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,600m.
6.20pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 $300,000 (T) 1,800m.
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Group 1 $400,000 (D) 2,000m.
7.30pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 $250,000 (T) 2,410m.
Racecard:
6.30pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah (PA) | Group 2 | US$55,000 (Dirt) | 1,600 metres
7.05pm: Meydan Sprint (TB) | Group 2 | $250,000 (Turf) | 1,000m
7.40pm: Firebreak Stakes | Group 3 | $200,000 (D) | 1,600m
8.15pm: Meydan Trophy | Conditions (TB) | $100,000 (T) | 1,900m
8.50pm: Balanchine | Group 2 (TB) | $250,000 (T) | 1,800m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) | $135,000 (D) | 1,200m
10pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (T) | 2,410m.
HEY%20MERCEDES%2C%20WHAT%20CAN%20YOU%20DO%20FOR%20ME%3F
%3Cp%3EMercedes-Benz's%20MBUX%20digital%20voice%20assistant%2C%20Hey%20Mercedes%2C%20allows%20users%20to%20set%20up%20commands%20for%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Navigation%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Calls%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20In-car%20climate%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Ambient%20lighting%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Media%20controls%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Driver%20assistance%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20General%20inquiries%20such%20as%20motor%20data%2C%20fuel%20consumption%20and%20next%20service%20schedule%2C%20and%20even%20funny%20questions%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EThere's%20also%20a%20hidden%20feature%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20pressing%20and%20holding%20the%20voice%20command%20button%20on%20the%20steering%20wheel%20activates%20the%20voice%20assistant%20on%20a%20connected%20smartphone%20%E2%80%93%20Siri%20on%20Apple's%20iOS%20or%20Google%20Assistant%20on%20Android%20%E2%80%93%20enabling%20a%20user%20to%20command%20the%20car%20even%20without%20Apple%20CarPlay%20or%20Android%20Auto%3C%2Fp%3E%0A