Atletico and Barcelona looking to progress to Champions League quarter-finals

Atletico Madrid and FC Barcelona are looking to ensure that the full complement of Spanish sides make it through to the Champions League quarter-finals this week. After Real Madrid secured their place in the next round last week with a 4-0 aggregate win over AS Roma, the other two Spanish teams will be looking to follow in the footsteps of the 10-time champions.

Atletico will be the first team to take to the pitch, hosting PSV Eindhoven at the Vicente Calderon stadium on Tuesday. Following the goalless draw in the Netherlands, Diego Simeone’s men need to score in order to progress in the tournament. They will go on the offensive against PSV, but they will not have an easy job putting the ball past Jeroen Zoet, who finally conceded a goal on Saturday after going 603 minutes unbeaten.

Good morning, Atléticos! The @ChampionsLeague is back! A spot in the quarter-finals is at stake! #AtletiPSV #UCL pic.twitter.com/tbcqUYK2EM

— Atleti English (@atletienglish) March 15, 2016

The Argentine manager will be without the injured Tiago Mendes and Stefan Savic, but it looks like Fernando Torres will be available again after missing the Liga BBVA game against RC Deportivo on the weekend.

Barcelona, meanwhile, have a less difficult proposition on their plate in the second leg of their last-16 tie against Arsenal. Luis Enrique's side produced a 2-0 win in London thanks to a Lionel Messi brace and only a heavy defeat will prevent them from going through to the quarter-finals for the ninth consecutive season. The Spanish coach will have his full squad available, with the exception of Sandro Ramirez and long-term treatment table occupant Rafinha, and will be able to field his attacking trio of Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, who are on scintillating form in front of goal.

Did you know: FC Barcelona v Arsenal FC: https://t.co/Ew1jeSI7H3 pic.twitter.com/pAUuCX8Hej

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 15, 2016

The Catalan side have gone 37 games unbeaten and enter the match against Arsenal having won eight on the trot in all competitions. Nevertheless, the former Gunner Thomas Vermaelen is not taking anything for granted. “Although we have a small lead, you can never say that they are out. They have very quick players and that makes them dangerous.  We’ll need to concentrate,” said the Belgian.