Champions League Draw for Last 16

Galatasaray v Schalke

Celtic v Juventus

Arsenal v Bayern Munich

Shakhtar Donetsk v Borussia Dortmund

AC Milan v Barcelona

Real Madrid v Manchester United

Valencia v Paris St Germain

Porto v Malaga

I'm picking:

Schalke
Juventus
Bayern Munich
Borussia Dortmund
Barcelona
Real Madrid
Valencia
Malaga

Some juicy ties in there! There's a fair chance there'll be no British sides come QFs as well.

what odds on a all spanish last 4 ?

Schalke
Juventus
Bayern Munich
Borussia Dortmund
Barcelona
Real Madrid
PSG
Malaga

While there are some really tasty draws, it's a shame that after this round the Champions League could look a lot weaker because of some of the smaller sides drawing each other.

Real Madrid v Manchester United is surely must-view, their last match was that amazing 4-3 match wasn't it? Where the old Ronaldo scored a hat-trick.

Who would you class as the weaker sides then Crimey?

Of the ones that I put as getting through I can't see a weak side there!

Schalke?

Gregers wrote:Who would you class as the weaker sides then Crimey?

Of the ones that I put as getting through I can't see a weak side there!

Malaga and Schalke aren't that great.

Malaga are a quality side Crimey, Schalke are probably the 3rd strongest side in the strongest league in the world

Gregers wrote:Malaga are a quality side Crimey, Schalke are probably the 3rd strongest side in the strongest league in the world

I think Manchester United, AC Milan and Arsenal are all probably better than Malaga but all are more likely to go out than Malaga.

Schalke are currently 7th in the German league, well off the pace. I think if the German league is as strong as you believe, we'd see a German team win the Champions League recently. It's definitely getting better, but I still think that Barcelona and Real Madrid are ahead of the German sides.

Does league position directly correspond to strength though mate?

Real Madrid are currently 3rd in La Liga, would you therefore say they are the 3rd strongest in Spain?

Milan have been dire this season (except for El Sharaawy and de Sciglio), Arsenal are weaker than Malaga

Gregers wrote:Does league position directly correspond to strength though mate?

Real Madrid are currently 3rd in La Liga, would you therefore say they are the 3rd strongest in Spain?

Milan have been dire this season (except for El Sharaawy and de Sciglio), Arsenal are weaker than Malaga

Well league position is the only thing we can go off for strength of a team. Otherwise it's just opinion

So a few weeks back you'd say West Brom were stronger than Chelsea?

Fixture list counts too.

I'll say:

Schalke
Juventus
Arsenal
Borussia Dortmund
Barcelona
Manchester United
Paris St Germain
Malaga

MockingJay33 wrote:So a few weeks back you'd say West Brom were stronger than Chelsea?

Fixture list counts too.

I'd always say that West Brom are stronger than Chelsea, though I'm biased

Great ties, probably the best last 16 draw i can remember.

Galatasaray
Juventus
Bayern
Dortmund
Milan
Real
PSG
Porto

Duty281 wrote:I'll say:

Schalke
Juventus
Arsenal
Borussia Dortmund
Barcelona
Manchester United
Paris St Germain
Malaga

How are they going to beat the second best team in Europe when they can't beat Bradford?

I suppose you never know but i'd go as far as to say on form Arsenal are one of the worst sides in the last 16.

The ties aren't being played until next year, giving Arsenal time to get players fit, get into form, sign new players, and potentially see Bayern come down with injuries too.

Also, no way would Arsenal play Chamakh, Arshavin, Gervinho against Bayern. They played against Bradford to justify their astronomical wages, no other reason. Arsene won't make that mistake again.

Its games like this one where Utd really miss Fletcher in the cm. His energy will be needed against the Madrid midfield but I don't think he's the same player he once was. I'd like to see us be positive and hopefully if we haven't any injuries, we play both Rooney and RVP and take the game to Madrid. Should be a high scoring tie if you ask me, crucially Utd have the away leg first so good chance to get an away goal or two.

I can see Utd getting something of a result (possibly a draw) at Old Trafford after getting blown away in Madrid. La Liga is now a dead duck as far as Real are concerned so all their eggs will be in the CL basket.

Can't for the life of me see the worst Arsenal side in 15 years bettering Bayern over two legs but stranger things have happened.

Celtic have over achieved getting this far and there's no shame in going out to Juve should they do so which I would expect.

Azzy Mahmood wrote:The ties aren't being played until next year, giving Arsenal time to get players fit, get into form, sign new players, and potentially see Bayern come down with injuries too.

Also, no way would Arsenal play Chamakh, Arshavin, Gervinho against Bayern. They played against Bradford to justify their astronomical wages, no other reason. Arsene won't make that mistake again.

For sure, there's a lot of time between now and then to make it competitive. I would say if they played tomorrow Bayern, Bayern would win by 4 or 5 goals over the two legs, maybe Arsenal can sign some solid players in January and maybe Vermaelen can remember how to defend they might have an outside chance. But to be honest of all the last 16 ties i think this could be the most one sided tie, Bayern are the most free scoring team in Europe and although not great at the back i don't think Arsenal press enough to put them under pressure.

lol, goodbye to all the british clubs!!

Arsenal - Bayern = Bayern comfortable over the 2 legs, winning by at least 2 overall

Real - Man Utd = Close game, plenty of goals, could go either way. I edge towards a Madrid win (i'm a utd fan)

Celtic - Juve = Juve have quality but Celtic have allot of heart. Their performances at Celtic park in the group stages show how tough it is to win there, ask Barca. If they can perform like they did over the two games against Barca, they have a real chance. I'm calling a Juve win though, think they'll seal it at home.

Don't write the Celts off just yet CF, we've got another special performance left in us, particularly with 2 months of anticipation

With Juve though unlike Barca and Spartak they are very good defensively, they also keep the ball well, not to a Barca level but better than most teams. However they won't be playing at an unbelievable pace, they'll probably strangle Celtic to maybe 1-1 in Glasgow and win by 2 or 3 at home, the main problem for Juve is the have a superb team but lack a real goalscorer, if they secure Llorente in January which looks likely then they could have a real chance to get to the final.

Good tie though.

The one hope I've got with Juve is that they do try and strangle the game by playing a very high line, they play with a back 3 and they don't have much pace in there, so it does give the likes of James Forrest and Gorgious Samaras an opportunity to use their pace to hit them on the counter.

Whatever team we'd have got we'd have been underdogs so that aspect doesn't faze me, I'm just hoping to take a win over to Italy, or away form has been pretty good although we've not faced teams as talented as Juve too often in Europe this season

I am going to say, ALL BRITISH TEAMS WILL MAKE THE QUARTER FINALS

I think Celtic actually stand the best chance out of the 3 to get through. United have a chance. No chance for Arsenal IMO

NickisBHAFC wrote:I think Celtic actually stand the best chance out of the 3 to get
through. United have a chance. No chance for Arsenal IMO

agree about celtic....but i think arsenal have more of a chance that Man.United to be honest.

I think Man Utd have a chance. Not a great chance but a chance nonetheless. Madrid aren't too special at the back so RVP/Rooney can exploit that and having Vidic back is a bonus, albeit he's not the player he was.

Definitely got a chance, Madrid are a mess and have been freely dropping points in la liga. Left back and centre back are certainly areas for us to target, though they will likely dominate the centre of midfield.

Really looking forward to the game, will enjoy it as long as we play well regardless of result - I'm on the lookout for tickets!

I think Real Madrid and Mourinho are going full out for the Champions League where as I believe Manchester United and Ferguson are focused on wrestling the league back from City and this will play a huge part in deciding the tie.

Can't disagree. As a Man Utd fan it's all fine and well laughing at City now because they aren't in Europe but if the league is decided because the Utd players are tired then they will be laughing. "He who laughs last laughs loudest" or something.

Crimey wrote:I think Real Madrid and Mourinho are going full out for the Champions League where as I believe Manchester United and Ferguson are focused on wrestling the league back from City and this will play a huge part in deciding the tie.

I think we'll be taking both equally seriously. Yes we want the league, but Fergie has said the CL is the biggest competition in the world and wants to get that 3rd under his belt. I don't think he has the team to do it this year, cm is still too much of a weak spot against the top sides like Madrid. I believe we are home to Norwich before the 1st leg whilst Madrid have Barca. So we'll have more of a chance of resting our players although by the looks of things la liga's over, Mourinho is apparently set to leave at the end of the season and will want to go out with the 10th champions league title for Real.

Are some of you lot taking the pee, Man Utd, THREE finals in the last four years.

Wake up.


Sorry, five

Liam wrote:

Crimey wrote:I think Real Madrid and Mourinho are going full out for the Champions League where as I believe Manchester United and Ferguson are focused on wrestling the league back from City and this will play a huge part in deciding the tie.

I think we'll be taking both equally seriously. Yes we want the league, but Fergie has said the CL is the biggest competition in the world and wants to get that 3rd under his belt. I don't think he has the team to do it this year, cm is still too much of a weak spot against the top sides like Madrid. I believe we are home to Norwich before the 1st leg whilst Madrid have Barca. So we'll have more of a chance of resting our players although by the looks of things la liga's over, Mourinho is apparently set to leave at the end of the season and will want to go out with the 10th champions league title for Real.

I want revenge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Special Juan wrote:

Liam wrote:

Crimey wrote:I think Real Madrid and Mourinho are going full out for the Champions League where as I believe Manchester United and Ferguson are focused on wrestling the league back from City and this will play a huge part in deciding the tie.

I think we'll be taking both equally seriously. Yes we want the league, but Fergie has said the CL is the biggest competition in the world and wants to get that 3rd under his belt. I don't think he has the team to do it this year, cm is still too much of a weak spot against the top sides like Madrid. I believe we are home to Norwich before the 1st leg whilst Madrid have Barca. So we'll have more of a chance of resting our players although by the looks of things la liga's over, Mourinho is apparently set to leave at the end of the season and will want to go out with the 10th champions league title for Real.

I want revenge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not at the expense of the an injury to RVP/Rooney going into the game. Hopefully Kagawa will be back also and would've had some game time, as well as Vidic.

Liam wrote:

Crimey wrote:I think Real Madrid and Mourinho are going full out for the Champions League where as I believe Manchester United and Ferguson are focused on wrestling the league back from City and this will play a huge part in deciding the tie.

I think we'll be taking both equally seriously. Yes we want the league, but Fergie has said the CL is the biggest competition in the world and wants to get that 3rd under his belt. I don't think he has the team to do it this year, cm is still too much of a weak spot against the top sides like Madrid. I believe we are home to Norwich before the 1st leg whilst Madrid have Barca. So we'll have more of a chance of resting our players although by the looks of things la liga's over, Mourinho is apparently set to leave at the end of the season and will want to go out with the 10th champions league title for Real.

Do so at your peril my friend. At your peril #gonnadothedoubleovermanu

The Portugese wonder certainly has got the better of Sir Alex in such encounters. It's a perfect opportunity to make the flash git pay for that disappointing stat.

And as much as i like Ronaldo, i want him sad after the two legs. With Rooney to wink at him at the end too.

My picks would be:

Galatasaray
Juventus
Bayern Munich
Borussia Dortmund
Barcelona
Real Madrid
Paris St Germain
Porto

Overall I am backing Juve to go on and win the whole thing. They don't have the stars that some of the other teams do but they are a cohesive unit and I believe they could do it.

Don't see any way through for the British sides unfortunately.

Juve are certainly one of the sides that could be there or thereabouts at the end as they have a really decent team nowadays and are romping Serie A at present.

For me the winner is between;

Juve, Dortmund, Bayern, Barca, Real with an outside chance for PSG.

Juve won again tonight in Serie A and are 10 points clear:

Juventus 44
Inter 34
Lazio 33
Fiorentina 32
Napoli (-2) 31
Roma 29
Milan 27

Have to say those 7 clubs make for good reading for the level at the top of Italian football as we speak.

Reminds me of the 'seven sisters' from the late 90's/early 00's.

Really hoping my Italian team 'La Viola' can make the CL for next year, will depend if they keep hold of the Montenegrin Messi, Jovetic!

I like Jovetic, quality player whenever i've seen him. He scored a cracker vs Wales in a qualifier at the cardiff city stadium i went to see. He was superb that day, clearly looked like he had a bit to him.

Yup he's very very good 22 who could play for just about anyone. Realistically with Fiorentina doing so well he'll cost over 30 million possibly putting him out of the range of Juventus who want him, wouldn't surprise me to see him at City.

What does everyone think of Stramaccioni? i think he's done really well in his year at Inter and without their most famous player for a number of months they are second in Serie A early in the rebuilding process. Looks like Sneijder will be off in January, hasn't played in months and is picking up over 150 thousands a week.

Jovetic brace puts Florence into Third

I think £30M is about right, as mentioned above he is still young and is a very good talent. He has a eye for goal and can play off a target man like he is doing with Luca Toni this season.

The owners off Fiorentina promised they would strengthen the club over the summer in a effort to persuade him to stay, and they have honored that agreement with Gonzalo Rodriguez, Borja Valero, Mathias Fernadez, Viviano, David Pizarro, Savic, Toni and Aquilani all joining.

Would like to think a top 3 finish and potential CL stop would interest him in staying for one more season though.

I like Stramaccioni, he seems to have the full backing of the board and players and is having a decent debut campaign so far. He has overseen a big change in personal in which older high earners have left and been replaced by younger players, a few of whom straight from the youth team like Livaja and Mbaye. I feel a top 3 this season would be a good start and then see what the summer bring in regards to a Scudetto push next season.

Looking at the table though, the second and third spots are a free for all with Fiorentina and Inter as mentioned in the mix along with Napoli and Lazio ( they look very good this year and are now second ) and then you still have Roma and AC Milan.

Italian football in general is heading in the direction of younger players being trusted, its taken some time but they seem to be getting there now.

El Shaarawy, De Sciglio, Lamela, Sampirisi, Dybala and Insigne reflect this.

Predictions for the 3 British Clubs then:

Celtic 1-2 Juventus
Juventus 2-0 Celtic

Real Madrid 1-1 Manchester United
Manchester United 2-1 Real Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich 1-1 Arsenal

I'll go with

Celtic 1 Juventus 1
Juventus 2 Celtic 0

Real Madrid 2 Man United 0
Man United 2 Real Madrid 1

Arsenal 1 Bayern 2
Bayern 5 Arsenal 1

Betting tip: Get money on Shakhtar as Dortmund are going through a defensive crisis with 3 FB's out (Piszczek might play but he's not fit). They lost 4-1 at home during the weekend to Hamburg.

I don't give Celtic a hope as Juve won't knock it about around the edge of their penalty box for 90 minutes but if they have a hope of going through, they must not concede tonight.

Utd v Real.... Utd have to keep it tight tomorrow and perhaps nick a goal. They have a huge advantage at OT because there is a Clasico 3 days before the return leg. The league has gone from Real but the fans and club wouldn't accept a weakened team against Barca.

Arsenal v Bayern might be closer than we all think. Bayern's defence is better than last season with the addition of Dante but they're still a bit suspect there I think. They have so many options in midfield and up front so I think they'll go through, although I don't know if they have any injury problems or not.

PSG are walking into the QF's, not really surprised with that squad against an average Valencia. PSG would be a nasty draw in the next round and I don't care what people say, they could easily win this year's competition. Anything can happen.