Champions League returns with Real test for Paris Saint-Germain

dpa Berlin Paris Saint-Germain will resume their bid for a first Champions League crown on Tuesday when they meet the team who have been kings of Europe ...

dpa Berlin Paris Saint-Germain will resume their bid for a first Champions League crown on Tuesday when they meet the team who have been kings of Europe more than any other - mighty Real Madrid.PSG will host the intriguing first leg which kicks off the last 16 at the same time as Sporting Lisbon welcome Manchester City. Red Bull Salzburg then host Bayern Munich on Wednesday alongside a meeting of former winners between Inter Milan and Liverpool.But PSG v record 13-time champions Real is arguably the tie of the round with the beaten finalists in 2020 hoping to take the next step towards the greatest prize of all.Former Real defender Sergio Ramos was one of several stars recruited on a free transfer last year but injury has limited his contribution this season.Veteran Lionel Messi, formerly of Barcelona, will line up for PSG against his old rivals but it is the younger Kylian Mbappe who could grab more headlines with the France World Cup winner continually linked with a move to Real.Mbappe grabbed the injury-time winner over Rennes on Friday which kept PSG massively clear at the top of Ligue 1 to effectively leave the Champions League as their main target for the rest of the term.“We’ve scored a lot of goals in the final minutes and that shows that one of this team’s strengths is that we always fight to the end,” said defender Achraf Hakimi, formerly of Real.“It’s very positive for the team because it shows we have a lot of character and a special talent to win.” Real also top the Primera Division but by only four points after a weekend goalless draw against Villarreal.“Now we’re heading into what is the most beautiful time in football,” said midfielder Casemiro. “We have a coaching staff who are working with us brilliantly and guide us always. We want to win everything we can.” Bayern and Liverpool both won all six matches in the group stage but the German giants suffered a 4-2 meltdown at Bochum on Saturday, though hold a six-point lead in the Bundesliga.Coach Julian Nagelsmann will demand a change after his side were “just too passive” in the defeat.Six-time champions Liverpool meanwhile visit three-time winners Inter in a rare meeting between the two European giants.Liverpool won the last clash between the pair in 2008, a last 16 tie which would have done little to ease the pain of a controversial semi-final loss in Milan in the previous encounter - all the way back in 1965.First legs for Chelsea v Lille, Villarreal v Juventus, Benfica v Ajax and Atletico Madrid v Manchester United take place February 22-23.Second legs begin March 8 with the final in St Petersburg on May 28.Benzema trains with RealKarim Benzema trained with Real Madrid and could make a dramatic return in the Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain.The France international, who is one of Madrid’s club captains, has been absent since suffering a hamstring injury on January 23 against Elche.However, he has been named in Carlo Ancelotti’s 26-man squad for the trip to Paris, where the first leg of the last-16 tie takes place on Tuesday.Benzema has scored 24 times for Madrid already in 2021-22, and without him the goals have dried up.The team have managed just one goal in their three full games since Benzema joined the injured list, drawing a blank most recently on Sunday as they drew 0-0 at Villarreal.Gareth Bale was deployed as a central striker in that game, and after a slow start he became the chief attacking threat, having a game-high six shots and drawing three fine saves from goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli.That came as a pleasant surprise to Ancelotti, who nonetheless indicated Bale was only one of several options for the role against PSG, and he remained hopeful Benzema could be involved.The fact Madrid were able to send 34-year-old Benzema onto the training pitch with team-mates on Sunday augured well for his prospects, and Ancelotti will now closely monitor the former Lyon frontman ahead of the game at the Parc des Princes.Speaking on Friday, Ancelotti had been positive about Benzema’s prospects, although the fact he played no part against Villarreal indicated Madrid are being ultra careful about his fitness.