Despite the painfully protracted league phase running through the first five months of the season and the play-off round providing some drama, for many the Champions League doesn't truly begin until the last 16 gets underway. If you are one of those fans, then you likely loved the past week or so of European action.
Sixty-eight goals were scored across the eight ties at an average of 4.25 per game as supporters across the continent were treated to almost non-stop entertainment. The Premier League were the big losers of the round as four of their six representatives crashed out while a bunch of previous winners set their stalls out for another deep run with some eye-catching performances.
So with the last-16 in the rearview mirror, who is now best placed to go on and lift the trophy in Budapest on May 30? GOAL ranks all of the remaining contenders below...
Previous update: March 12, 2026. Teams eliminated: Bodo/Glimt, Chelsea, Manchester City, Bayer Leverkusen, Newcastle, Atalanta, Galatasaray & Tottenham.