Liverpool look for turnaround and Spurs on damage control - Wednesday's Champions League talking points

The final four  Champions League  Round of 16 ties conclude tonight with the second evening of action in the second leg ties. 

There was plenty of drama on Tuesday, and that's set to continue as Liverpool look to turn around their clash with Galatasaray, while Newcastle aim for European glory in Spain. 

Here's what to look out for in the quartet of games on Wednesday. 

L

Slot needs to silence critics 

Of all of the disappointments for England sides in the first legs, there's confidence in Liverpool of being able to turn around their 1-0 deficit against Galatasaray - and it's a win Arne Slot really could do with. 

Another late goal conceded against Spurs on Saturday saw the Reds drop points in the race to be in the Champions League next season, and it looks like the only thing stopping serious questions over the Dutchman's position is a top-five finish and perhaps a trophy, too. 

The good news for the Merseysiders is that their Turkish opponents don't tend to travel well. They nearly threw away a three-goal advantage at Juventus in the play-off tie, and given that Hugo Ekitike and Mohamed Salah should be back to lead the attack, Liverpool should have more than enough firepower to kill this game off. 

Another disapointment though, in a season where Slot has continued to frustrate fans, could ramp up the pressure on the title-winning coach. 

Getty Images

Newcastle aim for Camp Nou triumph 

One of the most exciting ties of the night comes from Spain, with the game between Newcastle and Barcelona finely poised at 1-1 after the first leg. 

The Magpies have saved their best performances for the Champions League this season and were unlucky not to have taken a lead to the Nou Camp after conceding a last-gasp penalty last week. 

Their win over Chelsea at the weekend could be a blueprint for how Eddie Howe sets up against the La Liga champions, aiming to frustrate Barca and try to hit them on the break with the pace of Harvey Barnes and Anthony Gordon - both of whom have starred in Europe this term. 

Yet Hansi Flick's men have lost only once at home this season, to PSG in the league phase, and can offer an attack featuring Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, who netted a hat-trick in the win against Sevilla on Sunday. 

Book this one as your main game to watch, as it could go either way. 

Getty Images

Spurs to stop the rot? 

Things can not go any worse for Tottenham in their second leg against Atletico Madrid as they did last week against the Spanish side. 

3-0 down inside twenty minutes and a rookie goalie taken off after an error-ridden opening, Spurs are lucky to have left the capital with a 5-2 scoreline and nothing even more embarrassing. 

However, don't expect any Champions League magic in North London, because this will be more about the performance than the result, because Igor Tudor's men are unlikely to pull off a miracle turnaround. 

Without a league win in 2026 and an injury list that could fill out a whole team sheet and bench, Spurs just need to get through this one without any more damage being done. 

Serie A out with a whimper 

Not much to see here, other than Serie A limping out of the Champions League after a dismal showing from Italy's representatives this campaign. 

Just when you thought Atalanta gave the league a glimmer of hope after the disappointing exits of Napoli, Juventus and Inter, they came completely unstuck by the Bayern Munich machine. 

The Germans thrashed Raffelle Palladino's men 6-1 in Bergamo, and even left Harry Kane on the bench in a stunning victory. 

It was a victory that showed Bayern's credentials to win this season's competition, but also showed the gulf between Italy and the rest of Europe's elite leagues right now. 

Watch the Champions League on DAZN

Every Champions League match this season can be watched on DAZN in Canada and New Zealand. 

For US soccer fans, watch Tottenham vs Atletico Madrid and Manchester City vs Real Madrid in the Last 16 exclusively on DAZN, in Spanish language.