Failure makes noise. It is louder than relative success. Italian clubs have made eight European finals in the last five years. They began last season’s inaugural Champions League league phase as leaders in the UEFA co-efficient, starting it with five teams.

Eight teams will officially book their spots in the round of 16 this week as the UEFA Champions League's knockout phase playoffs come to a close with high stakes for a batch of Europe's top teams. Heavyweights Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain each carry a slender one-goal advantage as they return home to face Benfica and Monaco,

The final 24 teams capable of winning the UEFA Champions League are known, and that field will be winnowed to 16 by the time Newcastle United, Real Madrid, holders Paris Saint-Germain, and others stage the playoff round in a few weeks' time.MORE — UEFA Champions League league phase final tableYes, we're into the thick of it now, with six Premier League teams still alive for the European Cup in the chase to unseat PSG and take a place in the throne room come May 31 in Budapest, Hungary.There could be some supremely juicy match-ups in the Round of 16 if Borussia Dortmund and PSG join Bayer Leverkusen and Newcastle in going through, with the potential of Dortmund drawing Bayern Munich for a UCL Klassiker a 50/50 proposition at that point.Full UEFA Champions League knockout phase fixtures & resultsChampions League knockout phase playoff roundFirst legsTuesday, February 17 Benfica 0-1 Real Madrid — Recap, video highlightsAS Monaco 2-3 Paris Saint-GermainGalatasaray 5-2 JuventusBorussia Dortmund 2-0 AtalantaWednesday, February 18Qarabag 1-6 Newcastle UnitedBodo/Glimt 3-1 Inter MilanClub Brugge 3-3 Atletico MadridOlympiacos 0-2 Bayer LeverkusenSecond legsTuesday, February 24Atletico Madrid 4-1 (7-4 agg.) Club BruggeInter Milan 1-2 (2-5 agg.) Bodo/GlimtNewcastle United 3-2 (9-3 agg.) QarabagBayer Leverkusen 0-0 (2-0 agg.) OlympiacosWednesday, February 25Atalanta 4-1 (4-3 agg.) Borussia DortmundReal Madrid 2-1 (3-1 agg.) BenficaParis Saint-Germain 2-2 (5-4 agg.) AS MonacoJuventus 3-2 (5-7 agg.) GalatasarayChampions League Round of 16: March 10-18Arsenal vs Atalanta or Bayer LeverkusenBayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen or AtalantaLiverpool vs Atletico Madrid or GalatasarayTottenham Hotspur vs Atletico Madrid or GalatasarayBarcelona vs Newcastle or Paris Saint-GermainChelsea vs Paris Saint-Germain or NewcastleSporting Lisbon vs Real Madrid or Bodo/GlimtManchester City vs Real Madrid or Bodo/GlimtChampions League quarterfinals: April 7-15TBDChampions League semifinals: April 28 - May 6TBDChampions League Final: May 30 in Budapest, HungaryTBD

Benfica fans loudly booed Real Madrid forward Vinícius Junior at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in the second leg of the Champions League playoffs Wednesday.