As usual the Champions League draw has set up some cracking ties to look forward to in February and March.
Holders AC Milan visit Premier League leaders Arsenal before a second leg at the San Siro in the standout tie.
Life continues to be tough for Rafa Benitez with last season’s runners-up and 2005 winners Liverpool drawn against Serie A leaders Inter Milan, although Roberto Mancini’s side have flattered to deceive in Europe in recent years.
Manchester United and Chelsea will probably be secretly pleased with their ties against Lyon and Olympiakos respectively while AS Roma against Real Madrid will be an intriguing clash.
Barcelona, 2006 winners, will play Celtic with or without Ronaldinho. Schalke face 2004 champions Porto and Fenerbahce take on Sevilla.
See our main football site for draw details and reaction.
So after that draw, who do you think is best-placed to lift the trophy this year?
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15 comments so far
I still reckon Sevilla are a good outside bet. They’ve got a good draw against Fenerbahce, they are under no pressure, have a team to match the top sides as long as they don’t pick up injuries and won’t be intimidated by anyone.
With the Arsenal-Milan and the Inter-Liverpool ties two of the big guns will go out and I don’t see any side head and shoulders above the rest. Real will fancy their chances against Roma, and Barca should be too strong for Celtic, but they will be in for a very tough time in the first leg.
- Posted by SimonNow that Liverpool are definitely out of the league (we’re all agreed, right?), they’ve got to be a danger once again this year and I fancy they’ll get past Inter.
My Christmas money’s going on Real though.
- Posted by Padraic HalpinBarcelona. If all those players get back from injury, and when Henry manages to completely fit in, Barca easily has the most complete and balanced squad in the competition, with excellent recruitments all around and a solid performance in the group stage. They need to improve their away record, though, and Ronaldinho needs to rediscover his form again.
Of course Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester United and AC Milan all have pretty good chances, but I think Barca is the favorite right now.
- Posted by NSiderCarragher and Hyppia (or Agger) will have to be on their best form to cope with Ibrahimovic and Cruz who have been immense so far this term
- Posted by Mark MeadowsI don’t think United will at all be pleased with the draw - we got the toughest possible team and I would have rather had Schalke, Fenerbahce, Olympiacos or Celtic to be honest.
- Posted by Red DevilThere are no real favourites in most of the ties, although one would expect Real, Barcelona and Sevilla to go through.
My preediction for the quarter-finals line-up: Porto, Man Utd, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter (I’m sad to say), Sevilla, Milan, Chelsea. Tough ties for Liverpool and Arsenal and I think they’ll both pay the price for not winning their groups.
- Posted by Londonliverpool-inter, arsenal-milan, and roma-madrid are matches between traditional champions league teams and those who are good sides but don’t have good history in the champ league. it will be interesting to see if tradtion survives.
- Posted by European Football Blogas usual, L’pool are gonna go through. Inter have such a poor european history i don’t see them through against the reds.
- Posted by Julien PretotLiverpool and Arsenal are in difficult positions but I will not be surprised if Liverpool makes it through while the best team in the Premier League falters.
John
- Posted by JohnSTSoccerNet Live
One of these days, Inter will break thru. This year? Perhaps not. But they have the team to do it. Health will be key.
- Posted by Mitch AganaI may be going in with my heart over my head here but I do honestly believe that this year could be Chelsea’s.
- Posted by Free Bet ManAlthough Jose has left that does not appear to have affected the team too much and they are still playing good football.
The draw has put us up against Olympiakos, a team we should overcome and if we can avoid injuries I believe we could go all the way, signing another striker in January who is not cup-tied may also be a good idea.
The only worry that I have is that so far we have lost just two games under Avram Grant but they have been big games against Man Utd and Arsenal, he still needs to prove his worth at Chelsea I feel although so far so good for the Israeli.
with all respect..Milan on my point of view is still the best contender. They got nothing to lose, and the harder opponent they have, the more greater rossonero will play…..
- Posted by Andy GultomMy picks for the quarter finals are Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester United, Barcelona, AC Milan, Chelsea, Porto and Fenerbahce.
- Posted by EmreInter and Chelsea will meet in final
- Posted by DavidWhy has everyone written off Arsenal. With a stronger side than the one that got to the final i think they can overcome AC Milan and go on to win. And of course United will be pleased compared to what Liverpool, Arsenal and Celtic have drawn.
- Posted by Elle Kay