The 2011/12 UEFA Champions League resumes with four round of 16 first legs this week. UEFA.com will bring you all the latest teams news and press conference quotes as we count down to the return of Europe's premier club competition.

All times CET

20.05, John Leonidou from Nicosia
Owing to the freezing conditions in Lyon, the UEFA team at the Stade de Gerland asked APOEL to train on the ground's secondary pitch so as to protect the surface of the pitch ahead of tomorrow's game.

19.30, Steffen Potter at the BayArena
Barcelona full-back Daniel Alves spoke to the press about the unrelenting pressure on the Spanish and European champions for whom "the double is not really enough". The treble-chasers suffered a setback in that respect with their weekend loss to Osasuna and Alves admitted that "away from home, we have problems in the league".

"Our opponents are always 200% motivated," he added. "I have noticed this during the time I have been playing here. Many opponents are extra motivated against Barça. We are seen as the best team in the world and it is a dream for many players to beat us."

Leverkusen have that same goal tomorrow but Alves is confident Barcelona will bounce back: "We have an enormous will to put things right. Within the team we are used to winning, so the mood is a bit weird. We are used to having so much success. We have difficult moments ahead of us and have to sort it out ourselves."

Monday 19.00, Steffen Potter at the BayArena
Josep Guardiola says that he was pleased with his side's performance in the second half of the 3-2 league defeat at CA Osasuna last weekend. Several times during the press conference he mentioned the difficult pitch conditions in Pamplona though it is quite possible that the conditions will not be to his liking here in Germany either.

A two-week spell of arctic cold has just ended today, but the media in Leverkusen are speculating about the possibility of heavy snowfall tomorrow night, which would likely hinder Barcelona's movement of the ball more than it would Leverkusen. The hosts' midfielder, Simon Rolfes, has already suggested as much: "We would not mind strong snow tomorrow."

Monday 18.45, UEFA.com newsdesk
At Manchester United FC and Real Madrid CF, David Beckham's dead-ball ability once dazzled the globe, but who is the heir to his throne as the world's set-piece supremo? UEFA.com investigates.

Monday 18.15, Steffen Potter at the BayArena
The press conference room here in Leverkusen is packed to capacity and beyond. The attendance is three times that of a normal UEFA Champions League match and first Daniel Alves will address the assembled media, before he will leave the stage for coach Josep Guardiola.

Monday 18.10, Xavier Cerf in Lyon
Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was at pains to echo the sentiments of his coach when he spoke at this afternoon's press conference. "Many people have said they are not a prestigious opponent," he said. "Maybe, but they finished first in their group in front of Porto. I can assure you it's a well-organised team and dangerous on the counterattack. If we make the same mistakes as we did in recent games, we could have some problems."

Monday 17.35, Xavier Cerf in Lyon
Garde has finished speaking to the media and was keen to stress that his side will not be taking APOEL lightly. "Whoever the opponent, you have to improve your level to perform well in the Champions League," he said. "We know a lot of people believe we will easily win against APOEL. Of course, it's not our opinion. APOEL have had a wonderful group stage, they deserve a lot of respect. My players are aware of their strengths and especially their ability to counterattack, as they have watched several videos of them."

Monday 17.10, John Leonidou from Nicosia
The APOEL team touched down in France at around 13.30 this afternoon after a four-hour flight from Cyprus. According to the club, the players and coaching staff were resting ahead of tonight's press conference and training session at the Stade de Gerland. Around four to five thousand travelling APOEL fans are expected to swell up the French city tonight. Eleven flights were chartered out of Cyprus while Cypriot students studying in London will also be heading into Lyon tonight and tomorrow.

Monday 16.35, Matthew Spiro en route to Lyon
With Tuesday's game against APOEL not yet sold out, and more freezing temperatures predicted, Lyon have taken the unprecedented step of offering free tickets to supporters under the age of 18. The region has been covered in snow for the past week and Saturday's evening game against Caen was brought forward to 15.00 in order to avoid playing on a frozen surface. Even then, the temperature was -5C before kick-off.

Monday 16.10, José Nuno Pimentel in Lisbon
Benfica coach Jorge Jesus has called on a squad of 22 players for Wednesday's game against Zenit. Full-back Joan Capdevila and forward Yannick Djaló have both been included for the trip to Russia having been absent for the group stage. Uruguay full-back Maxi Pereira, meanwhile, is also back in the reckoning having missed out on league action over the weekend because of suspension. Javi García, though, will not be available having picked up a knock in training on Friday.

Monday 15.40, UEFA.com newsdesk
Lyon coach Rémi Garde will be next to speak to the media, at 16.45, with Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola following suit at 18.15. APOEL's Ivan Jovanović finishes the day's proceedings off at around 19.30.

Monday 15.20, John Leonidou from Nicosia
Speaking to the club's official website, APOEL striker Aílton – who scored three times in Group G – said: "It was very important to take the three points [in Friday's league fixture against Ethnikos Achnas] and now we look towards the upcoming games and of course the big one against Lyon. Everybody is really excited. This is another great opportunity for us to continue to show what can do in the eyes of the whole world. I hope we can go there and get a good result."

His compatriot, Gustavo Manduca, added: "We are ready for this game, which has been highly anticipated. It's a big opportunity for us, a big game and everybody is focused and wants to be part of this match. We will try our best to bring back a good result from France."

Monday 15.05, Paul Bryan in Madrid
Barça defender Gerard Piqué suffered a small fright on his way to join his team-mates for their trip to Germany this morning when the door of his car was struck by a passing bus. The 25-year-old pulled out of his drive at around 09.00 before realising he had left a bag in the garage of his home. Hopping out to retrieve it, the defender left the car door open and on his return was met by the irate driver of the No64 bus who had failed to avoid smashing into it. After the pair exchanged pleasantries, Piqué managed to arrive at team headquarters on time.

Monday 14.45, Paolo Menicucci in Milan
Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has a lengthy injury list to deal with ahead of the visit of Arsenal, but at least Kevin-Prince Boateng, Alessandro Nesta, Pato and Mathieu Flamini have all trained as normal today, as well as Christian Abbiati. "I miss you fans and I miss the atmosphere in the stadium… I promise I'll be back soon," Boateng, who could return on Wednesday, wrote on twitter.

Monday 14.30, Tom Kell in London
Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger has vowed to go on the offensive when his team visit San Siro on Wednesday. "You always have to push for a goal when you play away in the first leg because it gives you a cushion for the second," he said. "We will try to score, of course – we always do. The system rewards the audacious away from home. The way it is with the away goal, you have to be focused to score and therefore it is important that you play your game."

Monday 14.15, Steffen Potter in Leverkusen
Leverkusen midfielder Simon Rolfes has been speaking to the assembled media this lunchtime. "It is a dream draw for everyone, but it would have been even more so had it come one round later," he said. "It was an outstanding success for us to reach the knockout stage from such a difficult group. Barcelona have not only been successful in the past three or four years, they have amazed everyone with the football they are playing. It is clearly a match between David and Goliath."

Monday 14.00, José Nuno Pimentel in Lisbon
Benfica captain Luisão celebrates his 31st birthday and told newspaper A Bola that the best present he had received was the strength of support the team has enjoyed of late. "The fans have been great," he said, adding that they played a "crucial" role in Saturday's 4-1 defeat of CD Nacional.

Record newspaper carries an exclusive interview with coach Jorge Jesus, meanwhile, after he oversaw his 100th win in all competitions at the helm over the weekend. "It's a proud moment and the mark of a group, but what counts are the titles," he said. "We have reached this point together as a team."

Monday 13.40, UEFA.com newsdesk
Leverkusen centre-back Manuel Friedrich is determined his team embrace facing champions Barcelona rather than fearing their opponents. "In my eyes they are the best team in the world, so what better draw could you get?" he said.

Monday 13.30, John Leonidou in Nicosia
APOEL captain Constantinos Charalambides, who scored both goals in the 2-1 win against Ethnikos Achnas FC on Friday, has been praising his side's support, saying: "The fans of APOEL live and breathe for the team." Striker Aílton added: "If we can avoid defeat [in Lyon], then it will be a great result for us."

Monday 13.05, Paul Bryan in Madrid
European champions Barcelona boarded their flight to Germany at 10.30 this morning and looked in determined mood to put the disappointment of Saturday's 3-2 defeat by CA Osasuna behind them. With rivals Real Madrid CF winning over the weekend, the gap between the clubs at the top of the Liga is now ten points, but Josep Guardiola called on his team to redirect their focus towards Tuesday's encounter with Leverkusen.

"We are heading to Europe to defend our title and [despite losing at the weekend], we played a second half that was worthy of a club looking to retain the UEFA Champions League," he said. The coach, along with defender Daniel Alves, will greet the press at 18.15 tonight, with the team scheduled to begin training at the BayArena shortly afterwards.

Monday 12.45, en route to Lyon
Lyon coach Rémi Garde has a difficult choice to make between youth and experience for Tuesday's match against APOEL. With Déjan Lovren injured, teenage defender Samuel Umtiti and captain Cris are competing for a centre-back berth alongside Bakary Koné. Cris, who turns 35 in the summer, has had to contend with a string of injuries this term. Garde's alternative option, meanwhile, is youth-team graduate Umtiti, who has generally looked assured but did not enjoy the best of games as the Gones lost 2-1 at home to SM Caen on Saturday.

Monday 12.30, Steffen Potter in Leverkusen
The Frankfurter Rundschau is sure that Leverkusen are 'Ready for Barça' despite their 1-0 defeat by Borussia Dortmund at the weekend. "With their modern zonal defence, Leverkusen made attacking hard for BVB which raises hope for the Champions League match against FC Barcelona," read the German newspaper.

"They proved that even as underdogs, it is possible to register a narrow loss against a side that is better in every department. With this knowledge, they can play a bit better in the UEFA Champions League against supposedly the best side in the world."

Monday 12.15, Christian Châtelet in Paris
France and Lyon right-back Anthony Réveillère said APOEL should not be underestimated when the two sides meet at the Stade de Gerland. "It's weird because at the draw everybody wanted to play them but today everyone tells me they are a super team," the 32-year-old told L'Equipe. "APOEL saw off Donetsk and Porto, two teams we met last summer in our preparations who are strong. Our luck is not being drawn against Nicosia but to have qualified considering our group."

Monday 12.00, UEFA.com newsdesk
The UEFA Champions League is back! Before the day's business gets under way, starting with Leverkusen press conference in around an hour, a gentle reminder that there are a number of ways to win great prizes with UEFA.com, including Predictor, Player Rater, and Classics.

Tuesday's matches
Olympique Lyonnais v APOEL FC
Bayer 04 Leverkusen v FC Barcelona

Wednesday's matches
FC Zenit St Petersburg v SL Benfica
AC Milan v Arsenal FC