NOW it gets serious as the Champions League reaches the quarter-final stage.
Liverpool and Manchester City remain to fly the Premier League flag and could play each other.
From this stage it is a free draw, so you could be paired with teams from the same country.
Or even those that you have played in the group stages.
The English duo will discover their fate in Nyon this morning.
SunSport runs the rule over the eight teams left standing:
BARCELONA
LIONEL MESSI remains the master and Luis Suarez is a deadly assistant.
Can concentrate on the Champions League with an eight-point advantage in La Liga.
But Chelsea exposed defensive deficiencies which suggest they are not invincible.
If this is Andres Iniesta’s swansong he would love it to be a triumphant one.
MANAGER: Ernesto Valverde
STAR MAN: Lionel Messi
TOURNAMENT BEST: Winners 1992, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2015.
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BAYERN MUNICH
BOSS Jupp Heynckes has won it with Real Madrid and Bayern. Now he wants a hat-trick.
Their domination at home may be boring but the destruction of Besiktas suggested they remain motivated.
Robert Lewandowski is the main goal threat but they also have Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery along with many of Germany’s World Cup squad.
MANAGER: Jupp Heynckes
STAR MAN: Robert Lewandowski
TOURNAMENT BEST: Winners 1974, 1975, 1976, 2001, 2013
JUVENTUS
NOUS and cutting edge were the difference as they were outplayed by Tottenham but still emerged triumphant.
Boss Massimiliano Allegri’s tactical tweaks worked a treat.
And any team with Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Higuain and Mario Mandzukic has a chance.
The grit of warhorse Giorgio Chiellini sums up their refusal to give up any cause as lost.
MANAGER: Massimiliano Allegri
STAR MAN: Paulo Dybala
TOURNAMENT BEST: Winners 1985, 1996
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE When is the draw and what channel is it on?
LIVERPOOL
FAR too strong for Porto in the last 16 and still unbeaten.
The front three of Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane almost guarantees goals.
But despite Virgil van Dijk’s £75million arrival, big doubts remain over their defence and resilience.
Will hope Anfield can be a big factor like in 2005 and 2007, when they were winners and runners-up.
MANAGER: Jurgen Klopp
STAR MAN: Mohamed Salah
TOURNAMENT BEST: Winners 1977, 1978, 1981, 1984, 2005
MAN CITY
BOSS Pep Guardiola is a course and distance winner and has shaped a team of thoroughbreds.
With the Premier League all but won, City will make Europe their main focus.
What they lack is a winning pedigree in continental competition.
There is one easy way to sort that out though and Guardiola will not compromise on his principles.
MANAGER: Pep Guardiola
STAR MAN: Kevin De Bruyne
TOURNAMENT BEST: Semi-finals 2016
REAL MADRID
QUESTIONS over boss Zinedine Zidane’s future but they will be banished if he can make it three in a row.
The knock-outs have sharpened Real’s desire.
Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up against Paris Saint-Germain and the winning spirit of Sergio Ramos was a huge factor too.
Winning the crown for a fourth year in five would make Zidane a coaching immortal.
MANAGER: Zinedine Zidane
STAR MAN: Cristiano Ronaldo
TOURNAMENT BEST: Winners 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2014, 2016, 2017
ROMA
OUTSIDERS when pitted against Chelsea and Atletico Madrid but topped the group and beat Shakhtar on away goals in the last 16.
Boss Eusebio Di Francesco has proven to be one of Italy’s most promising coaches in his first season.
Brazilian keeper Alisson is on plenty of transfer wish-lists and they defend with typical Italian ruggedness.
MANAGER: Eusebio Di Francesco
STAR MAN: Edin Dzeko
TOURNAMENT BEST: Runners-up 1984
SEVILLA
AFTER last reaching the final eight in 1958, Sevilla are back after stunning Manchester United.
They are not the side that won three straight Europa Leagues but have responded well to former AC Milan boss Vincenzo Montella.
Steven N’Zonzi is the midfield powerhouse and Wissam Ben Yedder, who scored two against United, has been a real surprise package.
MANAGER: Vincenzo Montella
STAR MAN: Wissam Ben Yedder
TOURNAMENT BEST: Quarter-finals 1958, 2018
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