Lowest ever league positions for Champions League knockout teams - where do Spurs rank?

Atlético vs Tottenham 

Tottenham suffered their fifth straight Premier League home defeat last Thursday to Crystal Palace. They are now without a league win since late December and find themselves in the thick of a relegation battle. However, attention now turns to Europe, where, incredibly, their fortunes have significantly favoured. Spurs finished fourth in the Champions League league phase table, highlighting the strength of the Premier League right now, as well as the 'Jekyll and Hyde' nature of their own campaign.

They face Diego Simeone's Atlético Madrid in the round of 16, but ahead of their first leg tie at the Wanda Metropolitano, Tottenham are as low as 16th in the Premier League. The LaLiga side are firm favourites to progress - many feel Spurs' focus should primarily lie on staying in the English top-flight. But when we go back down the years and look at the lowest domestic-positioned teams that have made it to the knockout stage of the Champions League since 1992/93, where do Igor Tudor's team rank?

Just one side have been in a lower league position when in a Champions League knockout tie than Tottenham this term. Back in the 2016/17 season, fresh off the back of their 5000/1 shock Premier League title, Leicester faced Sevilla in the round of 16 when they were 17th in the English top-flight. They actually won the tie and were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Atlético that season. Then we have Tottenham this term - it's possible they could be as low as 18th and break the record by the time the second leg comes around, should other results go against them this weekend.

Back in the 2003/04 campaign, Celta Vigo were 16th in LaLiga when they were in the round of 16 of the Champions League. There have then been two teams that were in 14th position of their domestic league whilst in a knockout game: Schalke in 2018/19 and Lyon in 2019/20 - the latter would make it to the semi-finals that season. Newcastle this season (12th place) also feature in the top 10, as do Chelsea (12th place in the 2015/16 season).