Champions League: The Spanish Challenge

Three Spanish sides, three group stage winners, three title hopefuls. Their fortunes have varied at home and abroad of late, but this Spanish trio remains serious about lifting the trophy in Moscow. First up, though, comes the knockout stage...

Roma v Real Madrid (Tue 19th Feb, 20:45 CET)

The Champions League may have been on hiatus since December, but hype ahead of this game has kept the tournament alive in spirit for the past two months.

The two sides have shared a CL group three times already this decade, with no love being lost between the two after a series of eventful encounters.

Madrid are ahead on recent head-to-head, but that's merely spurred Roma on further. More than one prominent giallorosso has come out swinging in the media, stating that the Spaniards' poor road form in the CL will be their undoing in the Eternal City.

Still, the blancos are no shrinking violets, either. They've been building up to their game for some time, which has given them an uncommon amount of focus, but it's perhaps also affected their Liga form.

For a Madrid side that looked nigh-invincible earlier in the season has stumbled a bit since New Year, scraping through matches against Zaragoza and Levante, before finally succumbing to defeats at Almeria and Betis.

Roma will be smacking their lips in anticipation of giving the blancos another going-over on the road - knowing full well that they've failed to win away in Europe so far - but they cannot be complacent by any means.

After all, Madrid have rested some of the squad for this one over the past couple of weeks, and have already left the Italian capital with a draw this season.

That 2-2 tie at Lazio may not have been ideal at the time, but a repeat result would put the Bernabeu men firmly in the drivers' seat as they welcome the Romans for a return game at their fortress.

This point is key. Madrid have won all their Liga and Champions League games at home this season, stumbling only in "lesser" cups. If they can leave Rome with a draw, they're in fine stead to advance. Roma will know this, and thus Iker Casillas will be under bombardment from the word go on Tuesday.

Celtic v FC Barcelona (Tue 19th Feb, 20:45)

Barcelona, meanwhile, face a tough test in Glasgow against home specialists Celtic.

The Bhoys are formidable opposition at their Parkhead base, as any European observer will know. Indeed, just like Madrid, Celtic hold an enviable 100% home record in the group stage.

The blaugrana do, too, with Celtic's fellow Glaswegians Rangers being among their scalps at Camp Nou. As such, they'll feel that they can dismiss the Celts in the second leg. However, they will also remember the goalless draw at Ibrox against the Bears, which will hardly be encouraging ahead of this game.

First, then, comes the trip to Celtic Park, a place to which Barcelona are no strangers. As recently as the 2004-05 campaign, the blaugrana left Glasgow with a win, but one need go back only another season to remember the Bhoys defeating Barcelona en route to their historic UEFA Cup final.

Much has changed since then, with Barcelona manging to lift the famous Champions League trophy in the interim. Frank Rijkaard, who is sai to be under pressure at Camp Nou, is eager to do so again, particularly in order to make up for a disappointing Liga campaign last season.

It seemed as if the stage was set for disappointment again this time as the blaugrana fell eight points off the pace in the Liga, but on Saturday evening, Barcelona's close-fought win at Zaragoza cut the deficit to five. Thus, unlike Madrid, Barcelona come into their CL game on the back of a win. Whether this serves to exhaust them, or spur them on to more success, remains to be seen.

Fenerbahçe v Sevilla (Wed, 20:45)

Finally, Sevilla travel to meet Istanbul outfit Fenerbahçe, who are the lowest-ranked side left in the competition.

However, their relatively modest standing in European football, and their associated coefficient, masks what could be a tough game for the Andalucians. The Yellow Canaries, after all, lost just once in the group stage, and that was away to Italian giants Inter.

Indeed, they managed a home victory over the nerazzurri, showing that the Turks' reputation for creating a fearsome atmosphere at the Şükrü Saracoğlu is far from unwarranted.

In just a few short seasons, though, Sevilla have styled themselves no longer as also-rans but as seasoned European campaigners, and with several intmidating arenas already left humbled by the Andalucians, coach Manolo Jimenez knows that his side neednot fear anyone.

Indeed, by topping a group containing Arsenal, Sevilla have already shown that they have what it takes to dine at Europe's top table, and not merely enjoy the fruits of the UEFA Cup.

Their Liga form has been mixed this season, with the tragic death of Antonio Puerta and eventual departure of coach Juande Ramos throwing things off-kilter, but the rojiblancos have recovered of late to claw into the UEFA Cup zone, and within touching distance of the Champions League spots.

Such domestic concerns will distract them a bit ahead of this clash, but it's worth noting that Sevilla fought successfully on three fronts last season. It's a big, tough squad in Andalucia - but one that may be broken up by wealthy suitors come the season's end. Whether this is a last hurrah or a gateway to better things for the club remains to be seen, but Fenerbahce must be overcome before any plans can be made.