Paris (AFP)

Mountain or plain stage? The campaign of the Champions League of Paris SG and Lyon takes a new decisive turn on Monday (12 noon), with the draw in Nyon (Switzerland) of the round of 16, the end of their career in recent seasons.

. For Paris, forget the "remontada"

No to Tottenham, yes to Bergamo! PSG is approaching this stage protected by its status as a top seed which allows it to avoid the title holder Liverpool, Barça by Lionel Messi or Juventus by Cristiano Ronaldo.

Atalanta Bergamo, which discovers the competition and whose annual payroll (36 M EUR) is equivalent to the pay of Neymar alone, seems on paper the least dangerous potential opponent.

But in recent years, fate has never spared PSG, unable to pass a final phase round since 2016 - an eternity in view of its enormous means. Traumatized by Barcelona's 2017 "escalation", slapped by Real Madrid in 2018, then humiliated at home by Manchester United last March, Parisians give the impression that a black cat is chasing them all over Europe.

The most complicated scenario would oppose them to the outgoing finalist Tottenham, reinvigorated by the arrival on the bench of José Mourinho during the season.

"I think the group leaders do not want to play against us. We are one of the strongest second," said the Portuguese at the microphone of Sky Sports, he who had already met PSG with "Man U "last fall, before being fired.

Atlético de Madrid, Naples, Dortmund and Chelsea are the other possible draws for the formation of Thomas Tuchel: four clubs well anchored in the landscape, but which have all experienced difficult times this season.

. For Lyon, aim for Valence

For Lyon, it will be to draw the "least worst" opponent. Second in their group, OL have a very good chance of falling on a European cador: Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Juventus or Barça who had eliminated in 8th last season (0-0 to the 'go; 5-1 on return).

From the list, only Valencia remains, by far the most affordable team for the Memphis Depay team. The Spaniards qualified in extremis, to the detriment of Ajax Amsterdam, but their broad success against Lille (4-1) in Mestalla reminds the Lyonnais that they will have to progress well to be ready.

The calendar of the Champions League gives time to the trainer Rudi Garcia: the 8th will start in two months, since the first matches will be played on February 18-19 and 25-26, while the return matches will take place on 10- March 11 and 17-18, 2020.

Hat 1:

Paris SG, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Juventus Turin, Liverpool, FC Barcelona, ​​RB Leipzig, Valence CF

Hat 2:

Real Madrid, Tottenham, Atlético Madrid, Naples, Dortmund, Chelsea, Lyon, Atalanta Bergamo

© 2019 AFP