5 team milestones to look forward to in the 2019-20 Champions League knockout stage

#4 Liverpool could become the 2nd team to successfully defend their Champions League title

Real Madrid became the first team in the Champions League era to win back-to-back Champions League titles a couple of years ago. The then-defending champions beat Juventus in the 2016-17 final to lift their 12th title in the competition.

Liverpool are the reigning Champions League winners right now. Given their tremendous domestic form (18 wins and a draw in 19 games) in 2019-20, the Reds could spill their domestic dominance onto the European stage and become the first team after Real Madrid to successfully defend their Champions League title.

#5 Champions League debutants Atalanta could register a knockout stage win

The only debutants in the Champions League this season, Atalanta became the first team in competition history to qualify for the knockout round after losing their first three games.

Having belied expectations by reaching the competition's Round of 16 despite their indifferent domestic form this season, the Serie A team could also become the first competition debutants since Leicester City in 2016-17 to register a knockout stage match win.

About the author

Bhargav is a veteran sports journalist and editor at Sportskeeda, with a rich professional experience of 17 years, working for the likes of Siemens and Bombay Dyeing. An avid football and tennis follower for over three decades, Bhargav uses his vast knowledge and experience, attention to detail, an unbiased yet interesting writing style, and thorough research to craft insightful articles, which have raked in over 18 million reads so far.

Bhargav supports Italy at national level, a team steeped in tradition and history according to him. He still harbors the heartbreak from the Azzurri’s 1994 FIFA World Cup final defeat against Brazil, and protagonist-turned-antagonist from the game, ‘Divine Ponytail’ Roberto Baggio is his all-time favorite player. His favorite manager is Marcelo Lippi, who ended Italy’s 24-year wait for the World Cup trophy, winning it in 2006.

Outside Europe’s top five leagues, he follows the MLS following Lionel Messi’s move in 2023 but favors Cristiano Ronaldo in the G.O.A.T. debate. During his free time, Bhargav enjoys driving off to new places and singing.

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Edited by Musab Abid