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Champions League last 16: tie-by-tie analysis and predictions

Aston Villa and Arsenal will fancy their chances of progress, while Liverpool will face a challenge to oust in-form PSG

Villa produced probably their worst performance of the season in losing the meeting of the sides in the group stage, Brugge winning 1-0 with a penalty awarded after Tyrone Mings, not realising a goal-kick had been taken, picked up the ball. Villa may be grateful for that: had they taken a point from that game they would have been facing Bayern in the last 16. That said, as domestic form has stagnated, the victory over Bayern, a repeat of the scoreline from the 1982 European Cup final, probably represents the high point of their season so far. Domestically this hasn’t been a great campaign for Brugge either. They lie eight points behind Racing Genk but for them too the Champions League has provided salvation. They sneaked into the playoffs with three wins but then were much the better side against Atalanta, winning home and away.

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Sherratt rings the changes as Wales start life after Gatland against Ireland

Interim head coach brings back Gareth Anscombe and club familiarity for visit of defending champions on Saturday

Sometimes it takes a fresh pair of eyes. Matt Sherratt, newly installed as Warren Gatland’s replacement, however temporarily, has picked his first Wales team. No one is expecting much more from it than a 15th consecutive defeat when Ireland come to Cardiff for round three, but there is at least a feeling of the rational about his selection.

Perhaps 14 losses in a row can mess with even the most seasoned mind. This is not suddenly a team bursting with experience, but where some of Gatland’s selections seemed wanton rejections of received wisdom Sherratt has responded with the selector’s equivalent of putting his foot on the ball. Wales are not blessed with a luxury of options, but when there are simple solutions to the quandary of, for example, who to pick at fly-half, sometimes it is best to go with them.

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Mid-major programs carry the basketball banner in Virginia heading into March

Five years ago, Joe Bamisile and Darius Maddox were freshmen sharing an apartment at Virginia Tech. Now they’re set to go head-to-head as the leading scorers for the top teams in the Atlantic 10 — and maybe the best in the Commonwealth of Virginia, for that matter. The flagship programs at Virginia and Virginia Tech from the Atlantic Coast Conference are battling to finish with winning records, making it likely this will be the first NCAA Tournament without either in a dozen years.