The Champions League narrative is so often about Manchester City and Real Madrid.

The past two champions of Europe were the only teams to sweep through the group stage with six wins. They also are first in action Tuesday when the most prized competition in club soccer resumes in the round of 16.

Pep Guardiola’s boys are away to a Copenhagen team playing in the knockout stage for the first time in 13 years and Madrid are at Leipzig for the first leg.

The two teams favoured to lift the trophy warmed up with comfortable wins on Saturday and goals from signature players.

Erling Haaland confirmed his return to form after a foot injury with both goals in City’s 2-0 win over Everton, his first since November 28 when Leipzig was beaten 3-2 in their Champions League group.

Haaland has a Premier League-leading 16 goals and Real’s Jude Bellingham has a La Liga-best 15 after also scoring twice in a 4-0 rout of second-place Girona, owned by the same Abu Dhabi group as City.

But Bellingham has an ankle injury, having asked to be substituted Saturday, and is a doubt to face Leipzig.

However, the German club’s manager Marco Rose will believe it when he sees it.

Rose is not so confident that the Spanish club will be without the La Liga top scorer in Germany.

“I don’t believe he’ll be out until he’s not in the stadium tomorrow (Tuesday),” Rose told a press conference on Monday.

“I know Jude, he will do everything to play the Champions League game. He might see other doctors today (Monday) in order to be fit. I’ve read a lot but we’ll see if he’s here or not.”

Rose knows all about the quality of Bellingham, who he coached at Borussia Dortmund during the 2021-22 season, but even he didn’t expect to see him netting 16 league goals already this season, along with four in the Champions League.

“I think he’s at the right club and he made the right move. It doesn’t surprise me that he made such an impact,” Rose said.

“But the fact that he scores so many goals came as a bit of a surprise. I had him for a year, he’s a great guy and a great footballer with an unbelievable mentality.

“If he doesn’t play, Brahim Diaz would certainly be an option. Maybe they will play in a 4-3-3 system with Joselu up front.”

Real’s win over surprise title challengers Girona saw them open up a five-point gap at the top of La Liga, and Rose is well aware how dangerous of an opponent his side faces, with or without Bellingham.

“They’re in good shape. They know what it means to play in this competition and win it, we have to concentrate on everyone, Brahim, Rodrygo, (Toni) Kroos, (Luka) Modric... They are all excellent. I could name others,” Rose said.

“But we have a good squad, good players. We’re going to give everything on the pitch and take our chances. We want to get a good result for this first leg, we want to be competitive with the ball, in possession.

“We are not afraid of anyone.”