Hello! The UEFA Champions League returns with the first batch of round of 16 matchups, perhaps most notably with the latest edition of the Madrid derby on Tuesday. I'm Pardeep Cattry with an update to start your week.

It is not without irony that Bayern Munich's last victory over Bayer Leverkusen was a factor in the appointment of Xabi Alonso as Leverkusen coach. Bayern's 4-0 in September 2022 was the last match for Gerardo Seoane as Leverkusen coach as he was repalced by Alonso,

Former Bayern munich midfielder and current Bayern Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso is well aware of the mystique that his ex-club hold in the Champions League. While Bayer Leverkusen has done well against Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga (two draws) and the DFB-Pokal (win),

Regional matchups between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen headline this week's action

With the old group stage scrapped, teams in the Champions League now battle all 35 other clubs in the hunt for a knockout spot. That first elimination stage begins this week.

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Real Madrid against Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 grabs the headlines on the March 4 schedule. The defending champions stormed past Manchester City in the playoffs - to remind the rest of Europe just how strong they are on the biggest stage - and Carlo Ancelotti is ready for another battle.

Real Madrid will lock horns with neighbours Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash on Tuesday at the Santiago Bernabeu.Having failed to beat Los Rojiblancos