MADRID — Massimiliano Allegri told Juventus not to be afraid of Atletico Madrid but for one of these teams their worst fears in this season’s Champions League are about to become a reality.

Crashing out in the last 16 would be unthinkable for two clubs that were among the favorites when the draw for the knockout stages was made in December.

“Those that have ambition are not afraid,” Allegri said, after his side were drawn to play Atletico, with the first leg on Wednesday at the Wanda Metropolitano.

“It’s like a final, we cannot put a foot wrong,” Atletico boss Diego Simeone said.

Juventus and Atletico Madrid have reached 12 European Cup finals between them, with last season’s game in Kiev the first in five years in which neither had featured.

Atletico went on to win the Europa League instead, proving itself too strong for Europe’s second-tier competition, while Juventus was dumped out by eventual winner Real Madrid, undone by a controversial Cristiano Ronaldo penalty in the 98th minute.

It was Ronaldo’s 10th goal in seven games against Juventus, having scored twice in the first leg and twice in the final in 2017 too. Juve beat Real in the semifinals two years earlier but even then, Ronaldo managed a goal in each leg.

There was understandable relief, as well as joy, when the Portugese switched sides last summer and now, there is belief. Ronaldo has not finished in single figures for goals in the Champions league since 2011.

As Lionel Messi said: “They already had a good team and now they have Cristiano Ronaldo.”

But with anticipation comes pressure. Juventus is on course to win an eighth consecutive Scudetto but this is the one trophy it craves.

Miss out again and it will be 23 years since it last lifted Europe’s premier prize, this time with its most prolific player ever among their ranks.

Meanwhile, Manchester City’s focus switches from south Wales to Schalke Wednesday for the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie before a Wembley final against Chelsea Sunday for the right to lift the first silverware of the season in the League Cup.

A decade into the club’s Abu Dhabi ownership, the importance for City to win the Champions League for the first time would have made it easy for the English champion to prioritize Europe this season.

However, after romping to the league with a record 100 points last year, it is another piece of history that Pep Guardiola’s side now crave by outdoing even Manchester United’s treble of league, Champions League and FA Cup in 1998/99.

Two weeks on from smashing Chelsea 6-0, City will be heavy favorite to retain the League Cup this weekend and should cruise past a Schalke side languishing in 14th in the Bundesliga to make the Champions League quarterfinals.

A 4-1 victory at Newport also secured progress to the last eight of the FA Cup and City also sits top of the Premier League on goal difference, although Liverpool has a game in hand.

“It’s better to be in this situation,” insisted Guardiola at going for four trophies rather than concentrating resources into Champions League and Premier League glory as Jurgen Klopp’s side has been able to after early domestic cup exits.

“It’s important in February to be here, in four competitions. Now we go to biggest stage, Champions League, and we will see (what happens) in May and June,” added Guardiola. — Agencies