Real Madrid have one foot in the Champions League last 16 after a 1-0 win over Benfica in their play-off. Alvaro Arbeloa's side host the Portuguese giants in the second-leg at the Bernabeu tonight.
Should Los Blancos get the job done and advance to the knockout stages of the tournament they will meet either Manchester City or Sporting CP. The two European clubs automatically progressed to the last 16 and will face the winner of tonight's play-off.
The draw for the Round of 16 takes place on Friday morning (local time) and Arbeloa will be eager for his team to be included. They are the most successful club in the competition's history but it wouldn't get any easier should their participation continue.
Who may Real Madrid face in the Champions League Round of 16?
Next up for Real Madrid is either Manchester City or Sporting CP if they beat Benfica. A collision with Pep Guardiola's Cityzens is the tougher of the two potential ties given Los Blancos suffered a 2-1 loss at the Bernabeu against the Premier League club in the league phase.
Manchester City
Madrid and City have a storied history facing one another in Europe's elite club competition. In fact, the two sides are tightly poised at five wins apiece and five draws in their 15 meetings.
Los Blancos beat the Cityzens in the quarter-finals en route to Champions League glory in the 2023-24 campaign. That saw the La Liga giants avenge a semi-final loss to the English heavyweights the season before.
Guardiola's side booked their place in the last 16 with an eighth-placed finish. The Sky Blues are in a rebuilding phase and haven't been at their best this season, trailing Arsenal in the Premier League title race.
Sporting CP
Madrid have a good record against Sporting in UEFA competition, beating the Portuguese club three times in four meetings. Their most recent encounter saw Los Blancos win 2-1 away in the group stages of the 2016-17 campaign.
Cristiano Ronaldo started his career with Sporting before becoming a five-time Ballon d'Or winner at the Bernabeu. He is always a talking point when the two sides meet but won't be in action should they draw one another in the last 16.
Sporting finished one place above City during the league phase and picked up several impressive wins. A 2-1 win over reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain was their biggest win of the season.
Will Jude Bellingham be available for Real Madrid's last 16 tie?
Should Madrid advance to the last 16 they will likely still be without Jude Bellingham. The English midfielder is struggling with a hamstring injury suffered at the start of February.
The 22-year-old had been a mainstay in Arbeloa's team and has since missed important games, including the first leg against Benfica. Reports suggest he will be back in April, meaning he will sit out the next round of the competition.
Bellingham could return for the quarter-finals which occur in mid-April. He will be eager to do so ahead of the World Cup with England in the summer.