The murky depths of January have been mitigated…just. But, for any football lover, the conclusion of what is undoubtedly the worst month of any calendar year means one thing.

THE CHAMPIONSSSSSS!

That’s right; the Champions League knockout stages are upon us, folks. We’re nearly there. For those competing, the crème de la crème of club football is just a few slogs away.

In the fierce and competitive environment that is the Champions League KOs, the possibility of players breaching a law or two is an inevitability. Yellow cards will be dished out at a canter and suspensions loom large. But when is the slate wiped clean when it comes to bookings? We don’t want to see the world’s best absent for the biggest games because they picked up a yellow card or two.

Here’s everything you need to know.

They aren’t. Instead, the slate is wiped clean after the quarter-finals. Thus, those who finished the group stage with a couple of bookings will have to walk a tightrope for the next few European bouts.

Yes, we’re looking at you, Cristian Romero.

Players will be given a one-game suspension should they accumulate three yellow cards between Matchday 1 of the group stage and the second leg of the quarter-finals.

A straight red card also leads to a one-match suspension.

With the slate being wiped clean after the quarter-finals, it’s tough for players to earn suspensions for the final. But that’s how it should be, right?

Even if a player picks up bookings in both semi-final legs, they will not be suspended for the final. The only way to miss the final is via a red card in the semi-final second leg (unless they do something which warrants a more severe punishment in the first leg).

16 teams made it through the Champions League group stages to reach the knockout rounds.

Among the early favourites are current holders Real Madrid, Serie A high-flyers Napoli and European underachievers Manchester City.