Friday marks the final night of games for the month of January in the 2024-25 NHL season. In addition to our latest updated Power Rankings, let's check in on how all 32 teams performed this month.

How we rank: A panel of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters and editors sends in a 1-32 poll based on the games through Wednesday, which generates our master list.

Note: Previous ranking for each team refers to the previous edition, published Jan. 24. Points percentages, paces and January stats are through Thursday's games.

1. Washington Capitals

Previous ranking: 1
Points percentage: 72.55%

Alex Ovechkin or no Alex Ovechkin, this team just keeps winning, and January was no different; the Caps racked up 22 points in 14 games, extending their lead atop the Metropolitan Division.

Next eight days: vs. WPG (Feb. 1), vs. FLA (Feb. 4), @ PHI (Feb. 6)

2. Winnipeg Jets

Previous ranking: 2
Points percentage: 70.75%

No, this isn't the dominant team that was setting records in the season's first weeks. But they'll take an 9-3-2 record any month, given the sizable lead they built in October and November.

Next eight days: @ WSH (Feb. 1), vs. CAR (Feb. 4)

3. Edmonton Oilers

Previous ranking: 4
Points percentage: 66.67%

Some teams that lose in the Stanley Cup Final swoon in the following season. That hasn't been the case for Edmonton, and a 10-3-1 January has them atop the Pacific Division.

Next eight days: vs. TOR (Feb. 1), @ STL (Feb. 4), @ CHI (Feb. 5)

4. Carolina Hurricanes

Previous ranking: 5
Points percentage: 65.38%

Carolina's point percentage was the fifth highest in the league in January -- and most of those games were played without Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall. Are those two additions enough to finally get the Canes back to the Stanley Cup Final?

Next eight days: vs. LA (Feb. 1), @ WPG (Feb. 4), @ MIN (Feb. 6)

5. Vegas Golden Knights

Previous ranking: 3
Points percentage: 65.38%

Just as some other teams quietly crept up the standings in the month of January, the Knights stumbled a bit (at least in a relative sense); a 6-6-3 record isn't in line with what we've come to expect out of one of the NHL's elite contenders.

Next eight days: @ NYR (Feb. 2), @ NYI (Feb. 4), @ NJ (Feb. 6)

6. Dallas Stars

Previous ranking: 8
Points percentage: 65.00%

An injury this week to Miro Heiskanen puts his participation in the 4 Nations Face-Off in jeopardy. What's not in jeopardy is the Stars' playoff positioning, particularly as they have gone 10-4-0 in January.

Next eight days: vs. VAN (Jan. 31), vs. CBJ (Feb. 2), @ ANA (Feb. 4)

7. Florida Panthers

Previous ranking: 9
Points percentage: 60.58%

The Panthers started strong this season, which was good because January wasn't their best month ever: the Cats had a 7-6-1 record, despite a plus-6 goal differential.

Next eight days: vs. CHI (Feb. 1), vs. NYI (Feb. 2), @ WSH (Feb. 4), @ STL (Feb. 6)

8. Toronto Maple Leafs

Previous ranking: 6
Points percentage: 60.78%

If the Maple Leafs are playing the long game, dropping to second in the Atlantic might make sense -- they'll likely avoid the Bruins in the first round of the playoffs. In that regard, a 7-6-0 January gets a thumbs-up?

Next eight days: @ EDM (Feb. 1), @ CGY (Feb. 4), @ SEA (Feb. 6)

9. Minnesota Wild

Previous ranking: 7
Points percentage: 63.46%

Given their negative goal differential in January, the Wild are lucky to escape with a record north of .500. And thanks to their early success, there remains a gap between Minnesota and the teams behind it.

Next eight days: @ OTT (Feb. 1), @ BOS (Feb. 4), vs. CAR (Feb. 6)

10. New Jersey Devils

Previous ranking: 11
Points percentage: 60.38%

Some nights, the Devils look as strong as any team in the league; other nights, not so much. (Just look at the two different results against the Flyers this week.) Accordingly, they'll finish January with a 5-5-3 record.

Next eight days: @ BUF (Feb. 2), @ PIT (Feb. 4), vs. VGK (Feb. 6)

11. Los Angeles Kings

Previous ranking: 10
Points percentage: 59.18%

The Kings are looking up at the Oilers and Golden Knights in the Pacific Division, as those two clubs appear to be on another tier at this point. A 5-7-1 January didn't help the cause, and they are teetering close to being caught from behind (though they have games in hand on all the teams chasing them).

Next eight days: @ CAR (Feb. 1), vs. MTL (Feb. 5)

12. Colorado Avalanche

Previous ranking: 12
Points percentage: 57.69%

The Avalanche remain in the driver's seat for a wild-card spot (if not a higher position in the Central Division), although their January results leave a bit to be desired, with a 6-6-2 record.

Next eight days: vs. STL (Jan. 31), vs. PHI (Feb. 2), @ VAN (Feb. 4), @ CGY (Feb. 6)

13. Ottawa Senators

Previous ranking: 15
Points percentage: 56.86%

Is this the season the Senators make it back to the playoffs? An 8-5-2 January -- despite a minus-10 goal differential -- has kept them right in the mix.

Next eight days: vs. MIN (Feb. 1), @ NSH (Feb. 3), @ TB (Feb. 4), @ TB (Feb. 6)

14. Tampa Bay Lightning

Previous ranking: 13
Points percentage: 57.00%

The good news for the Lightning: Racking up a bunch of points earlier this season meant they had some wiggle room. The bad news: a month of 46.90 points percentage hockey has reduced that space to the smallest of wiggles.

Next eight days: vs. NYI (Feb. 1), vs. OTT (Feb. 4), vs. OTT (Feb. 6)

15. Calgary Flames

Previous ranking: 14
Points percentage: 57.00%

The Flames have more or less held serve in January, with a 7-6-0 record. Thanks in large part to rookie goaltender Dustin Wolf, they remain on the wild-card bubble.

Next eight days: vs. DET (Feb. 1), @ SEA (Feb. 2), vs. TOR (Feb. 4), vs. COL (Feb. 6)

16. Columbus Blue Jackets

Previous ranking: 17
Points percentage: 57.00%

It's unquestionable that the Blue Jackets are the best "story" of the 2024-25 season, and their quest for a playoff return was greatly aided in January: a record of 9-3-1 generated the sixth-best points percentage for the month.

Next eight days: @ UTA (Jan. 31), @ DAL (Feb. 2), @ BUF (Feb. 4), vs. UTA (Feb. 6)

17. Vancouver Canucks

Previous ranking: 20
Points percentage: 56.00%

The well-reported locker room strife between Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller was confirmed by general manager Jim Rutherford this week, lending more credence to the idea that one of the two stars will be traded. Hopefully that will spur the team to earn more wins, as a month of .500 hockey isn't a great sign looking ahead.

Next eight days: @ DAL (Jan. 31), vs. DET (Feb. 2), vs. COL (Feb. 4), @ SJ (Feb. 6)

18. Boston Bruins

Previous ranking: 18
Points percentage: 52.83%

The Bruins have gone 5-7-2 this month and appear more in need of the 4 Nations Face-Off break than many other teams. Is there a trade in the works to shake things up?

Next eight days: vs. NYR (Feb. 1), vs. MIN (Feb. 4), @ NYR (Feb. 5)

19. New York Rangers

Previous ranking: 19
Points percentage: 52.00%

As the Rangers collapsed earlier this season, there was no shortage of fan frustration along with takes on how to properly fix them. Quietly, they've charged back up the standings, due in part to an 8-3-3 January.

Next eight days: @ BOS (Feb. 1), vs. VGK (Feb. 2), vs. BOS (Feb. 5)

20. Detroit Red Wings

Previous ranking: 24
Points percentage: 53.92%

Detroit's 2024-25 season has been a bit of a roller coaster, including the dismissal of coach Derek Lalonde and hiring of Todd McLellan. This month has been a high point, with a 10-3-1 record that has the Red Wings back on the wild-card bubble.

Next eight days: @ CGY (Feb. 1), @ VAN (Feb. 2), @ SEA (Feb. 4)

21. Montreal Canadiens

Previous ranking: 16
Points percentage: 51.96%

The fact that the Canadiens remain on the fringes of the playoff race into February is remarkable, and their 7-5-2 record in January is a big part of that. Does the front office add to the roster before the trade deadline, or keep the slow build process going?

Next eight days: @ ANA (Feb. 2), @ SJ (Feb. 4), @ LA (Feb. 5)

22. New York Islanders

Previous ranking: 26
Points percentage: 53.00%

Are we all sleeping on the Islanders? Patrick Roy has his team pointed back in the right direction after a rough start, going 9-3-0 in January.

Next eight days: @ TB (Feb. 1), @ FLA (Feb. 2), vs. VGK (Feb. 4)

23. Philadelphia Flyers

Previous ranking: 22
Points percentage: 49.06%

The Flyers' build back into a contender continues apace, though their minus-8 goal differential for the month would surely be helped if they had better goaltending on a consistent basis.

Next eight days: @ COL (Feb. 2), @ UTA (Feb. 4), vs. WSH (Feb. 6)

24. Utah Hockey Club

Previous ranking: 23
Points percentage: 50.00%

The Hockey Club remains mathematically alive for a playoff berth but will have to reverse trends from a month in which it had fewer standings points (12) than games played (13).

Next eight days: vs. CBJ (Jan. 31), vs. STL (Feb. 2), vs. PHI (Feb. 4), @ CBJ (Feb. 6)

25. St. Louis Blues

Previous ranking: 21
Points percentage: 49.02%

Does this week's Brandon Saad contract termination mean that an addition is on the way? Something must be done if the Blues are going to make a move back into the playoff mix during a 5-7-0 January.

Next eight days: @ COL (Jan. 31), @ UTA (Feb. 2), vs. EDM (Feb. 4), vs. FLA (Feb. 6)

26. Pittsburgh Penguins

Previous ranking: 25
Points percentage: 47.17%

How much of the Penguins' current roster will be on the team after March 7? The club's 4-7-3 record in January was better than only the "fun bad" Sharks; Pittsburgh's results seem way less fun, and simply bad.

Next eight days: vs. NSH (Feb. 1), vs. NJ (Feb. 4)

27. Nashville Predators

Previous ranking: 28
Points percentage: 43.88%

The Predators are no strangers to wild turnarounds within the same season -- they pulled one off last season. It's not entirely out of the realm of mathematical possibility that they make the playoffs, and a 7-4-0 mark since the calendar turned to 2025 is a strong start.

Next eight days: @ BUF (Jan. 31), @ PIT (Feb. 1), vs. OTT (Feb. 3)

28. Anaheim Ducks

Previous ranking: 30
Points percentage: 47.06%

Although it hasn't made a huge dent in the overall standings, the Ducks have been a middle-of-the-flock team in January -- with a 6-7-2 record despite a minus-8 goal differential. In which direction will they fly from here?

Next eight days: vs. MTL (Feb. 2), vs. DAL (Feb. 4)

29. Seattle Kraken

Previous ranking: 27
Points percentage: 46.23%

Goaltender Philipp Grubauer -- one of the Kraken's early, big free agent signings -- was put on waivers recently, and it wouldn't be shocking if the club made additional moves ahead of the trade deadline. A 6-8-1 January record has kept them well below expectations.

Next eight days: vs. CGY (Feb. 2), vs. DET (Feb. 4), vs. TOR (Feb. 6)

30. Buffalo Sabres

Previous ranking: 29
Points percentage: 43.00%

A 45.83 points percentage in January has actually raised the Sabres' seasonlong mark, but it's still not good enough to get them out of the Atlantic Division basement.

Next eight days: vs. NSH (Jan. 31), vs. NJ (Feb. 2), vs. CBJ (Feb. 4)

31. Chicago Blackhawks

Previous ranking: 31
Points percentage: 36.27%

This hasn't been the best season in Blackhawks history. But at least for the month of January, they haven't been dead last. (Chicago's points percentage is 29th for the month.)

Next eight days: @ FLA (Feb. 1), vs. EDM (Feb. 5)

32. San Jose Sharks

Previous ranking: 32
Points percentage: 33.33%

The Sharks began the month among the NHL's basement dwellers in the standings, and that trend will continue into February.

Next eight days: vs. MTL (Feb. 4), vs. VAN (Feb. 6)

Chloe Kelly has accused Manchester City of character assassination and briefing journalists against her as she sought a move away from the club in the January transfer window.

The statement comes a day after the England international made an emotional appeal on Instagram for City to acquiesce her request to leave the club in search of first-team football ahead of Euro 2025.

Sources told ESPN that the club had blocked her move to neighbours Manchester United but late on deadline day, they allowed the forward to join Arsenal on loan until the end of the season.

Following her City exit on Thursday, Kelly wrote: "So disappointed to find out tonight that people at the club are briefing journalists against me if I am to sign at a club before the window shuts.

"They've called reporters to assassinate my character and tried to plant negative stories about me in the football media. Of which is false accusations. Women should look after each other, and build each other up ... not shoot them down to protect their employers. To those responsible, I am disappointed in this.

"As said in my previous statement I just want to find happiness again."

ESPN have reached out to Manchester City for comment.

Along with happiness, the move to north London gives Kelly a chance at proper game-time. The 26-year-old had fallen down the pecking order at City, making just six appearances in the Women's Super League (WSL) this season.

City boss Gareth Taylor has said he hadn't seen Kelly's recent Instagram activity and added that he wishes her the best at Arsenal.

"We're in a selection based business where difficult decisions have to be made for the betterment of the team. And sometimes people and players can fall on the sharp end of that," he told a news conference on Friday.

"But what I would say is that when you take yourself out of the situation and look at the move that's been achieved ... it's a rival and they made the best offer. So we've certainly not stood in the way of a player being able to go and make the move that they want to make."

Incidentally, the two sides faceoff against each other in the WSL on Sunday. City go into the fixture a point and a place ahead of fourth-place Arsenal. However, Kelly will be ineligible to play her parent-club at the Joie Stadium on Sunday.

The 27-year-old came through the Arsenal academy and made 19 appearances for the senior-team before leaving for Everton in 2018.

She was the second deadline day arrival at Arsenal, following the signing of United States international Jenna Nighswonger from NWSL side Gotham.

Manchester City have been drawn to face Real Madrid in the Champions League playoff round, the fourth season in a row that the clubs have met in the knockout stages.

Elsewhere, Bayern Munich will face Celtic, and Paris Saint-Germain will play fellow Ligue 1 side Brest.

City and Madrid met in the quarterfinals last season, drawing both legs before the Spanish giants eventually went through on penalties and went on to lift the title against Borussia Dortmund. The year before, City won 5-1 on aggregate in the semifinals before beating Inter Milan in the final to complete a historic treble.

However, the context is slightly different this time around. City have struggled for their typically imperious form this season, managing only three wins in the Champions League league phase and falling behind in the Premier League title race.

Meanwhile, Madrid also had a shaky start to the season, although Carlo Ancelotti's side, including star Kylian Mbappé, have found better form of late.

The first legs of the playoff round will take place Feb. 11-12. The return legs will be staged the following week (Feb. 18-19).

Friday's draw did not including the top eight finishers from the league phase -- such as Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal and Aston Villa. They have already been advanced through to the round of 16 which will be drawn on Feb. 21.

Ruben Amorim has praised Alejandro Garnacho for his recent performances, claiming the winger has "changed everything" to get himself back in favour.

It is seven weeks since Garnacho and fellow academy graduate Marcus Rashford were surprisingly omitted from the United squad when they came back to beat Manchester City 2-1.

Since then, Rashford has been exiled from the following 11 squads and has dominated the headlines while Garnacho -- although linked with a move away -- has forced himself back into the lineup.

Garnacho impressed again after coming on as a substitute in the 2-0 Europa League win over Steaua Bucharest on Thursday and Amorim said the Argentina international deserves credit.

"I think he's not improving under me [because of me]. He changed right away from that game [against] City," the United boss said, with his comments in stark contrast to those about Rashford, who he has insisted "has to change."

"The way he understands things and understands that I just want to help him, I just want to win games. He changed in everything, the approach when I talk with him, the way he recovers.

"He understands sometimes that I'm a different coach, that I'm demanding in my way, sometimes it's hard the first impact. It's a different kind of coach and he understands that it's never in a bad way, it's always for him, but I'm a different person.

"I think all the merit is from Garnacho and he is improving, and we want to continue to improve with Garnacho. I think he's improving a lot."

Napoli and Chelsea have been linked with a move for Garnacho, who United were rumoured to be shopping due to profit and sustainability requirements. It was the same case for Kobbie Mainoo, who also shone on Thursday with a goal and an assist.

While it looks like Garnacho and Mainoo may now stay at the club in January, Amorim admitted he wants more academy players coming through to help on the pitch, and possibly off it through sales.

"I want players like Kobbie and Garnacho," Amorim added ahead of Sunday's Premier League match against Crystal Palace.

"You have to bring more [academy players through] because that is something that all the clubs in England have to take advantage [of]. The players that come from academy -- to play, to feel the shirt and also to sell."

Former Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) chief Luis Rubiales will stand trial beginning on Monday for his unsolicited kiss of national team player Jenni Hermoso.

Rubiales faces one count of sexual assault and one of coercion for his alleged actions in the aftermath of the kiss.

The offences carry prison terms of one year and 18 months, respectively.

Rubiales, 47, has denied the charges.

Rubiales grabbed Hermoso and kissed her on the lips during the awards ceremony in 2023 after Spain's victory in the women's World Cup in Sydney, making global headlines and causing a national debate in Spain about sexism.

Hermoso and her teammates said the kiss was unwanted and demeaning, but Rubiales argued it was consensual and denied any wrongdoing.

Alongside Rubiales, former women's national team coach Jorge Vilda, former RFEF sporting director Albert Luque and the RFEF's former head of marketing Rubén Rivera are also on trial for their suspected roles in pressuring Hermoso.

The prosecution is seeking 2 years' prison for Rubiales, although in Spain those handed sentences under two years can usually escape incarceration by paying damages instead if they do not have prior convictions.

Rubiales and his co-defendants will testify on or after Feb. 12 once the court has interviewed the rest of the witnesses.

After Spain beat England in Sydney on Aug. 20, 2023, Rubiales clutched his crotch in celebration on the final whistle while standing near Spain's Queen Letizia and her daughter Princess Sofía.

Later, during the medal presentation, he lifted Hermoso off her feet then grabbed her by the head and appeared to pull her toward him to kiss her on the lips in front of a packed stadium and enormous global TV audience.

Hermoso's first reaction was to tell teammates: "Hey, I didn't like it," according to locker room footage.

Prosecutors said she was pulled aside on the bus to the airport and asked to approve a statement in her name downplaying the incident, which she said she refused to do.

Vilda then approached Hermoso's brother Rafael on the plane back to Madrid and warned him that his sister's football career would suffer if she did not agree to record a video backing Rubiales' claim the kiss was consensual, according to prosecutors.

Rubiales initially called his critics "idiots" before later apologising, saying the brief kiss was "without bad faith at a time of maximum effusiveness." He has cast himself as a victim of a campaign by "false feminists."

Controversy grew, with public protests and Rubiales' mother going on hunger strike.

Hermoso's teammates said they would not play again until Rubiales was removed as head of the RFEF.

After Rubiales was forced to step down, his replacement and right-hand man Pedro Rocha was suspended for "very serious misconduct."

The Spanish Supreme Court on Wednesday will hear an appeal by Rafael Louzan, recently elected new football head, to determine if his malfeasance conviction, which bars him from holding public office for seven years, stands.

Rubiales and Rocha are under investigation for corruption in a separate case.

Rubiales lost his job after initially refusing to resign and in October 2023 was banned from all football-related activities for three years by world governing body FIFA.

Rubiales has called his daughters to testify while several of Hermoso's Spanish teammates will also provide evidence.

Hermoso, Spain's all-time top scorer who plays for Tigres UANL in Mexico, will take the stand on Monday.

Real Madrid and Manchester City now know the cost of failing to perform in the reshaped Champions League: a titanic win-or-bust clash between the past two European champions simply to claim a place in the round of 16. Welcome to the Champions League playoffs!

After the nail-biting conclusion of the competition's first league stage, some of Europe's biggest clubs have unexpectedly found themselves facing a two-legged knockout fixture to reach the round of 16.

And while Man City vs. Real is the undoubted tie of the round, fellow heavyweights Bayern Munich, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund and last season's Europa League winners Atalanta must also negotiate tricky ties to make it into the next round.

With UEFA adopting a new tennis-style draw that operates two separate paths (Silver and Blue) to the final, the bracket after the playoff draw has opened up a clear route to the Champions League final in Munich at the end of the season.

So what are the playoffs, and how will they play out?

SILVER PATH

Club Brugge vs. Atalanta

Club Brugge sealed their place in the playoffs with a game to spare after wins against Aston Villa and Sporting CP while also holding Juventus to a draw, but the Belgian club almost shocked Manchester City on Matchday 8 by taking the lead at the Etihad and going close to eliminating Pep Guardiola's team before eventually losing 3-1.

Brugge will be underdogs against Atalanta, however, with Gian Piero Gasperini's team becoming one of the most consistent teams in Europe. Their Europa League final win against Bayer Leverkusen last season underlined their quality and they are a team with plenty of goals from Ademola Lookman, Charles De Ketalaere and Mateo Retegui.

WINNERS: Atalanta

Manchester City vs. Real Madrid

It's the nightmare draw for both clubs: the Champions League winners of 2022 against the 2023 champions. On the past three occasions City and Real have met in the knockout stages, the winners of the tie have gone on to win that season's competition.

This is Erling Haaland vs. Kylian Mbappé, Pep Guardiola going against Carlo Ancelotti, and a tie that could be won by any of Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Júnior or Kevin De Bruyne. It is an epic clash, but Real will go into the tie as favourites. They sit on top of La Liga and Mbappe is now beginning to hit top form, while City continue to underperform in the Premier League and seemingly can't keep a clean sheet against top opposition.

Expect fireworks!

WINNERS: Real Madrid

Juventus vs. PSV Eindhoven

Peter Bosz's PSV proved themselves to be a dangerous outsider during the league stage, winning four games including a Matchday 8 win against Liverpool that ended the Premier League leaders' 100% winning start to the Champions League season. The loss of leading scorer Ricardo Pepi to a knee injury that will rule the USMNT forward out of this tie could be decisive, however. PSV simply have to find a way to replace his goal threat.

Juventus have blown hot and cold so far, but their 2-0 win against Man City in December highlighted their threat on a night when Weston McKennie and Timothy Weah came off the bench to seal Juve's win.

WINNERS: Juventus

Brest vs. Paris Saint-Germain

Brest made a stunning start to their first European campaign by going unbeaten in the Champions League until a 3-0 defeat in Barcelona in November, but the wheels have started to fall off for Eric Roy's team. While their performances have taken a dive, PSG have found form and their qualification was down to two huge wins against Manchester City and Stuttgart in the final two games.

Over two legs, it's difficult to see anything but a comfortable win for PSG against their fellow French opponents, especially as Luis Enrique's team sit unbeaten at the top of Ligue 1 -- 19 points clear of eighth-place Brest, who have lost nine league games already this season.

WINNERS: Paris Saint-Germain

BLUE PATH

Sporting CP vs. Borussia Dortmund

Portuguese champions Sporting looked to be cruising towards a top-eight finish when a Viktor Gyökeres hat trick helped seal a 4-1 win against Manchester City on Matchday 4, but coach Ruben Amorim then left for Manchester United and Sporting slid down the table with three straight defeats until Conrad Harder's late equaliser against Bologna on Matchday 8 saved the team from elimination.

But while Sporting have struggled to overcome Amorim's departure, Dortmund are also in the midst of a crisis, with Niko Kovac becoming their third coach in less than 12 months after replacing the fired Nuri Sahin this week.

Dortmund reached last season's final before losing to Real Madrid, but they have been poor domestically this season. They will be favourites, but this tie could depend on the form of Gyokeres and Dortmund's leading scorer, Serhou Guirassy.

WINNERS: Borussia Dortmund

Celtic vs. Bayern Munich

Bayern will have breathed a huge sigh of relief after being paired with Celtic, knowing they could have faced either the Scottish champions or Manchester City.

By reaching the playoff round, Celtic have exceeded expectations and last October's 7-1 defeat against Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park will be a warning of what can go wrong for Brendan Rodgers and his team against Bayern.

Celtic can be a tough prospect at Celtic Park, but Bayern will be too strong; Harry Kane & Co. also have the added incentive of knowing that this season's final will be staged at the Allianz Arena, which could mean Celtic end up routed by the Bundesliga leaders.

WINNERS: Bayern Munich

Feyenoord vs. AC Milan

Feyenoord have been one of the surprise teams of this season's competition, showing that they have successfully moved on from coach Arne Slot's departure for Liverpool last summer. But this tie could all depend on the outcome of Milan's attempts to sign Feyenoord's leading goal scorer Santiago Giménez, with talks at an advanced stage over the Mexico international's potential transfer.

Without Gimenez, Feyenoord might lack the firepower to beat Milan, but Brian Priske's team will still be tough to beat at the intimidating De Kuip Stadium. Milan are arguably the weakest of Italy's four remaining teams in the competition, so Feyenoord could yet pull of a shock.

WINNERS: Feyenoord

AS Monaco vs. Benfica

Monaco and Benfica finished midtable, one place apart and only separated by goal difference in favour of the Portuguese team, so this tie is as close as you could imagine. Adolf Hutter's Monaco are young and inconsistent, while Bruno Lage's Benfica are exciting but prone to defensive mistakes: just watch the highlights of their incredible 5-4 home defeat against Barcelona for evidence of their strengths and weaknesses.

The experience of World Cup winners Nicolás Otamendi and Angel di Maria is likely to give Benfica the edge in this tie, especially with the second-leg taking place at Estadio da Luz in Lisbon.

WINNERS: Benfica