Champions League talking points: Gyokeres’ Sporting homecoming, Madrid-Bayern, and Arne Slot’s make-or-break night in Paris | OneFootball

Four talking points ahead of the Champions League quarter-finals, featuring Viktor Gyokeres' return to Sporting and Real Madrid's hoodoo over Bayern Munich.

Gyokeres makes Sporting return

Arsenal make the trip to Sporting CP in the Champions League quarter-finals with Viktor Gyokeres making an emotional return to Lisbon. The Swedish striker became a household name at Sporting, where he scored 97 goals in 102 games over just two seasons.

Arsenal won the race to sign Gyokeres last summer and the 27-year-old has improved from a modest start. He's scored 17 goals in all competitions and heads into the clash with five goals in his last three games for club and country.

Sporting know more than most the threat that Gyokeres can pose, and stopping him will be key to their chances.

At the other end, the Swede's successor, Luis Suarez, has been in sensational form. Picked up from Segunda División side Almeria in the summer, the Colombian has fired 33 goals in all competitions this season.

Can Real Madrid maintain hoodoo over Bayern?

Real Madrid and Bayern Munich meet in a Champions League classic. Two of Europe's most successful sides do battle in the quarter-finals, as a curious quirk continues.

The rich heritage of the teams means this is the Champions League's most played fixture, though the sides have never met in a final.

Real Madrid hold the advantage when itcomes to recent meetings. The Spanish side have won each of the last four Champions League ties against Bayern and are unbeaten in nine games against the German giants. Bayern's last win in this fixture came back in 2012, on route to the final.

On each of the last five occasions that the teams have met in the Champions League knockout stages, the victor has reached the final.

Simeone must find a plan to stop Yamal

Atletico Madrid and Barcelona will do battle in an all-Spanish affair on Wednesday night. It's the second of three meetings between the teams in 10 days, after Barcelona secured a 2-1 win at Atletico in La Liga at the weekend.

Lamine Yamal was a thorn in the Atletico Madrid side, with makeshift left-back Nico Gonzalez sent off in first-half stoppage time after a torrid time up against the teenager.

Simeone stuck with Gonzalez, despite his struggles and the presence of Matteo Ruggeri and David Hancko on the bench. After Atletico were badly exposed at the weekend, Simeone must now devise a plan to contain Yamal. That will be easier said than done.

Arne Slot faces a defining night in Paris

TheLiverpool fans made their feelings clear during the club's weekend defeat at Manchester City. Fans poured out of the Etihad after the concession of a third goal, the third in a 4-0 thrashing at the Etihad.

It was the club's biggest FA Cup loss since 1946, one of several unwanted records Slot's side has set this season. A 4-1 defeat at home to PSV Eindhoven was the club's joint-biggest European defeat since 1966, while a 3-0 Anfield reverse against Nottingham Forest was the Reds' joint-biggest home league defeat since 1964.

Liverpool fans have a reputation for patience, but it appears to be almost out. Premier League champions last season, Liverpool face the threat of missing out on Champions League qualification, despite their record-breaking spend last summer.

Europe remains their hope of salvation this season, but a daunting task atParis Saint-Germain awaits. PSG are a side capable of exposing the frailties that have plagued Liverpool all season.

The French champions scored eight times over two legs against Chelsea and have the potential to pick another Premier League opponent apart. Slot may not survive another embarrassment.