One step closer to Rome

Trophy in sight

The draw for the knockout rounds of the Champions League is always an eagerly awaited affair. This year it’s no different.

With teams like Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and Arsenal all failing to win their respective groups, there exists the possibility of some mouth-watering match-ups.

There is a strong sense of déjà vu when you think about the possible draws. Take the case of Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan. His side is in a particularly unenviable position; he faces the prospect of once again coming face to face with old rivals Barcelona, Liverpool, and Manchester United. His encounters with them during his tenure at Chelsea are the stuff of legend. The other two teams he could draw are Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, who he once defeated as manager of Chelsea, and none other than his former club Porto, who he, again, defeated, not once, but thrice, at Chelsea.

Jose being who he is, would particularly relish another encounter with Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool, who have twice denied him a place in the final. It would definitely be an encounter that would have the whole footballing world’s attention.

Barcelona and Manchester United should be wary of drawing Inter. I doubt if the red half of Manchester would want to see Jose sprinting down the Old Trafford touchline in delight, as he once did while manager of Porto.

Chelsea and Arsenal both face tough draws as well. As with Inter, there is a sense of déjà vu about their potential match-ups. Arsenal could get Juventus, Barcelona, Panathinaikos, Roma, or Bayern Munich. They have faced Juve, Barca and Bayern in the recent past, while an encounter with Panathinaikos would be a homecoming for Gilberto Silva.

Chelsea could draw Juventus, Panathinaikos, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, or Porto. They’ve drawn the latter three, especially Porto and Barcelona, quite often Europe, while Juventus and Panathinaikos are managed by Claudio Ranieri and Henk Ten Cate respectively – both men who once plied their trade in the Stamford Bridge dugout.

We then come to the once all conquering Real Madrid, who have been shockingly poor in Europe in recent seasons. It’s been four years since they last reached the Quarter-Finals, and their prospects this season don’t look too bright, with the possibility of drawing Manchester United, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and of course Roma – the team that knocked them out last season. Sacking Bernd Schuster means that their seemingly endless quest for stability continues, however in Juande Ramos they have a two time Uefa Cup winner. Everyone is writing them off, but I feel they will put up a better showing in the knockout stages this time round. Unless they draw Manchester United, I can see them progressing to the Quarters.

The remaining teams, the supposed “lightweights” include Porto, Sporting Lisbon, Lyon, Atletico Madrid, Villarreal and Panathinaikos. Porto are former champions, while Villarreal were semi-finalists in 2006. Panathinaikos were more than a match for Inter in the group stages, and Atletico should feel disappointed they didn’t beat Liverpool to top spot. None of these teams can be taken lightly, and it all adds up to yet another intriguing latter half to the Champions League. Almost every possible match-up has something fascinating about it. The best bit: We’re absolutely assured of a few explosive ties. What’re the odds for a Real Madrid vs Manchester United encounter? Or still better, a Cesc Fabregas captained Arsenal vs Barcelona?

The road to Rome has begun. Quite literally, for the team that draws Roma.

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