Monday 23 February 2015 11:06, UK
We preview the opponents of Arsenal and Manchester City as they seek to reach the Champions League quarter-finals...
Monaco
Current form
A 1-0 win away to Nice on Friday night was a typically tight victory for Monaco as Bernardo Silva's late strike lifted them to fourth in Ligue 1.
Leonardo Jardim's side have founded their domestic and European challenges on strong resolve. They possess the joint-best defensive record in France's top flight - along with leaders Lyon - while a run of nine consecutive clean sheets until the start of February highlighted the tough test that awaits Arsenal.
Thirteen teams have scored more than Monaco's total of 26 goals in Ligue 1, though, suggesting the Gunners should be able to keep them at bay.
How did they get here?
Solid defensive performances in Ligue 1 have translated to the Champions League, where Monaco conceded only one goal in the group stage. That 1-0 defeat to Benfica didn't prevent the principality club from topping Group C, however, thanks to a 2-0 home victory over Zenit St Petersburg and back-to-back 1-0 wins against runners-up Bayer Leverkusen.
Monaco scored four goals in total, with only two teams - Roma in 2002/03 and Villarreal in 2005/06 - progressing to the knockout rounds with poorer goal-scoring records.
Top scorer: Dimitar Berbatov, 7 goals.
Key men
Along with Dimitar Berbatov's experience and goal threat, Monaco will be looking to winger Yannick Ferreira Carrasco to cause problems for Arsenal. The Belgium Under-21 international has scored five goals and claimed six assists in all competitions and will be eager to impress on the big stage.
Barcelona
Current form
Barcelona's breath-taking 11-match winning run - in which 42 goals have been scored and only eight conceded - came to an abrupt end on Saturday as they crashed to a 1-0 defeat at home to Malaga.
That result leaves Luis Enrique's side four points off the pace in La Liga, with concerns over their ability to challenge on two fronts as the season goes to the wire.
But City shouldn't underestimate Barcelona. Following back-to-back La Liga defeats to Real Madrid and Celta Vigo at the end of November, they have been in formidable form, claiming victories in 21 of 24 matches in all competitions and suffering only two defeat - to Malaga and David Moyes' Real Sociedad.
After scoring a hat-trick and breaking the Primera Division all-time assists record two weeks ago, it seems Lionel Messi is back to his very best, with City left to figure out how they can stop the Argentine.
How did they get here?
A 3-2 defeat to PSG at the Parc des Princes was Barcelona's only blip in the group stage. They won each of the other five matches by a combined scoreline of 13-2, with Luis Suarez helping himself to two goals after returning from suspension.
Top scorer: Lionel Messi, 34 goals.
Key men
Such is Barcelona's quality throughout the first XI that it is difficult to narrow down this selection to a handful of players. Messi is obviously the biggest threat to City, but Neymar and Suarez are also capable of creating chances out of nothing. Sergio Busquets is the main man in midfield now Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez are in the twilight of their careers, while Javier Mascherano will be aiming to keep compatriot Sergio Aguero quiet.
