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It has been four months since he kicked the ball to the last time in the Champions League, but now all matches have been confirmed for the remainder of the competition.
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European Champions League draw
It has been four months since he kicked the ball to the last time in the Champions League, but now all matches have been confirmed for the remainder of the competition.
Football has been suspended around the world for a coronary virus pandemic and for some time it seemed as though the rest of the current season might not be playing at all.
However, the sport gradually returned and the biggest European football teams discovered their destiny for the knockout stages in the UEFA Champions League this season in Friday's draw.
The first quarter-finals saw the 16th winner of Real Madrid and Manchester City beat Leon and Juventus.
Real faces a daunting task to reach the next round, after losing 2-1 to City at the Bernabeu in February in one of the most entertaining games of the season so far.
However, Real returned from the forced separation with revenge and was one of the most significant teams in shape in Europe.
Zinedine Zidane's team looks much more balanced than it was four months ago, and some brilliant football saw it open four points to Barcelona at the top of La Liga.
On the contrary, Manchester City has seen ups and downs since restart - Liverpool crushed 4-0, but then lost 1-0 in Southampton - but with Jurgen Club now the Premier League champions, there is no doubt that Pep Guardiola and his team will be fully focused On the Champions League
The Spaniard has not won the title since leaving Barcelona in 2012 and will hope to lead Manchester City to the first European Championship ever.
City also has a two-year UEFA Champions League ban on UEFA's suspension of its head for breaching Financial Far Play regulations, although the club denies any wrongdoing and objects to the decision in the sports arbitration court.
The second quarterfinals present a clash of different styles as RPG faces Leipzig Atlético Madrid, Liverpool's last year's killer.
The young Leipzig team tore Tottenham's soccer player Jose Mourinho into the round of 16, winning 4-0 in both games and playing some of the most expansive and exciting football on the continent under the leadership of 32-year-old Julian Nagelsman.
The German side is one of the dark horses of this year's crown, but lack of experience at this stage of the competition - particularly against coach Diego Simeone Atlético - could become a hindrance.
On the other hand, Atletico know exactly how to navigate in the final stages of the Champions League. Against Liverpool in February - and at Anfield not less - Atlético made an impressive performance that distinguished everything good from Simeone's time at the club.
The La Liga shows were dwindling and many thought his tenure may have been fading, but this victory over the ruling champion proves that there may be enough life remaining for another challenge to the UEFA Champions League title.
The stadiums are used despite the event cancellation 01:00
Read: Messi will end his career in Barcelona, according to the club president
It can be said that Napoli vs Barcelona is the most interesting tie that still plays in the round of 16.
After a 1-1 draw in Naples, most of them would not have given Napoli a great opportunity to bring back Camp Nou, but these two teams have enjoyed different fortunes since football returned.
Barcelona have fought for results since the La Liga resume and lost four points behind Real Madrid at the top. But perhaps most importantly, she had trouble finding an identity under Quique Setien.
The former Real Betis coach was brought in to bring some excitement back to the Catalan club. Instead, he appears to be already fighting to keep his job.
Napoli continued to return under the leadership of new coach Gennaro Gattuso after the closure, as the club won nine of its last 11 Serie A matches.
His good form culminated in the historic Italian Cup victory over Juventus in June, where he won the club's first major title since 2014.
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