After 69 days away, the Champions League resumes again this week with four round of 16 first-leg matches..
Spurs will be looking to pick up from where they left off when they return to San Siro for the second time in four months. Having waited 38 years to revisit the Milanese fortress, Harry Redknapp’s side lost 4-3 to Inter Milan in October.
AC Milan really struggled to score goals in the group stages, scoring only seven times. But over the last two months Milan have rediscovered their scoring touch in Serie A and will test a Spurs team that is not known for its defensive strength.
Tottenham’s big North London rivals Arsenal are also in action this week as they play probably the best team in Europe, Barcelona for the second consecutive year. Last years games were two footballing classic’s with the first leg ending up 2-2 at the Emirates. Barca then won 4-1 at Camp Nou as Lionel Messi scored all four Barcelona goals on that night, On Wednesday, Messi will be looking to add to his 40 goal total this season.
Another player looking to add to his goal scoring total this week will be Raul. The former Real Madrid star is now playing for Schalke and his team meet Valencia, a side that Raul scored 12 league goals against during his time in Spain.
In totally uncharted waters are Shakhtar Donetsk, who have progressed to the knockout stage for the first time in six attempts. Shakhtar travel to Rome to meet Roma. It will be interesting to see how Shakhtar do as they have not played a competitive game since late November because of their domestic winter break.
