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UEFA Champions League updates: 11-17 Feb
All the latest news from the best club competition in the world.
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Welcome to UEFA.com's live UEFA Champions League blog, which contains all the build-up to the opening of the round of 16 on Tuesday − including the latest news and updates from the press conferences and a taste of the atmosphere in Glasgow, Valencia, Donetsk and Madrid.
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Ahead of Valencia CF's home encounter with Paris Saint-Germain FC tomorrow, full-back João Pereira said that the Liga side would be looking to establish an important first-leg advantage against Carlo Ancelotti's men. "We're not going to play for a draw − we're at home and want to win because I am sure that the return game in Paris will be even more difficult," the Portuguese international explained.
Valencia warmed up for the match with a 1-0 victory away to RC Celta de Vigo at the weekend, a result obtained thanks to substitute Nelson Valdez's added-time goal. The only downside for Ernesto Valverde's team was an ankle injury to left-back Aly Cissokho, who Pereira came on to replace in the first half.
"Tuesday's match against PSG is one that the whole world wants to see and I think it will be fantastic," the defender continued. "Our opponents have signed great players and the longer they spend together the better they are as a team."
Kris Commons has urged his Celtic FC team-mates to grasp the opportunity of reaching the last eight of the UEFA Champions League by taking a first-leg lead against Juventus tomorrow. The 29-year-old scored the penalty versus FC Spartak Moskva that ensured the Hoops' progress from the group stage (pictured below) and having reached the last 16, the Scotland midfielder cannot wait to sample Celtic Park's unique European atmosphere once again.
"Once the music starts and the crowd gets behind us, it's moments like that you really feel blessed as a footballer," Commons told today's Scottish Sun. "In the three Champions League games we've played at Celtic Park we have stood up, been counted and raised our games.
"There's nothing you can overlook – tactics, meetings, all of it has to be done to the bone – but when it comes to the crunch, all 11 men on the park have to raise their game a little bit more. This is the biggest game of my career. I don't think many guys in our dressing room could say they've had a chance before to qualify for the last eight of the Champions League, so it’s the biggest game I've had a chance to be part of." (@UEFAcomAlexO)
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After watching his Real Madrid CF side defeat Sevilla FC 4-1 on Saturday, coach José Mourinho travelled to England to take in his third Manchester United FC game since the round of 16 draw was made shortly before Christmas. The 50-year-old was busily taking notes as United posted a 2-0 win at home to Everton FC to increase their Premier League lead to 12 points, and had plenty of good words to say about his opposite number Sir Alex Ferguson afterwards.
"I feel privileged to be his friend because he is one of the most important people in the world of football and, more importantly, because he is a good person," Mourinho said. "I have always had a fantastic relationship with him and feel very proud because of that." The Madrid coach is back in the Spanish capital and putting his side through their paces ahead of Wednesday's encounter at the Santiago Bernabéu.
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Valencia CF defender Adil Rami is looking forward to the challenge of containing Paris Saint-Germain FC striker Zlatan Ibrahimović, who has provided a competition best five assists so far this season. "I know he is physically a very strong opponent," the former LOSC Lille player told French TV. "I'm ready to fight for 90 minutes, that's what I'm used to."
Regarding the tie itself, the first leg of which takes place tomorrow in Spain, the centre-back said: "We're below them in terms of big names and budget, but at a certain points, such as when you're on the pitch, milions are nothing and team spirit matters. I think we're above them in that respect. They have great strikers, but we have an unsung one [Roberto Soldado] who is really good, too. We'll see."
- Watch highlights from Wednesday's games:
AC Milan 2-0 FC Barcelona
Galatasaray AŞ 1-1 FC Schalke 04 - Review Tuesday's games here:
Arsenal FC 1-3 FC Bayern München
FC Porto 1-0 Málaga CF - Look back over famous past matches in our Ford Classics feature, with a chance to win final tickets.
- Follow our @ChampionsLeague Twitter feed and have your say on the action.
- This season, for the first time, Champions Matchday is available before every round of the UEFA Champions League, with the latest issue out now. Subscribe here.
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Matches played: 104
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