After the dust settled from Wednesday's shocking UEFA Champions League group results, the final 16 teams have emerged to make it to the knockout stage.
The draw is set for Dec. 16, and teams from the same group or same league cannot meet in the first knockout round. The teams in each pot are:
GROUP WINNERS – Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Benfica, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Arsenal, APOEL Nicosia, Barcelona
RUNNERS-UP - Napoli, CSKA Moscow, FC Basel, Lyon, Bayer Leverkusen, Marseille, Zenit-St. Petersburg, AC Milan
The eight teams that finished third in their groups and will drop down to the Europa League are: Manchester United, Manchester City, Ajax, Porto, Valencia, Olympiakos, Trabzonspor and Viktoria Plzen.
What Round of 16 matchups are you hoping for? Will you pay more attention to the Europa League considering who is involved in it now?
Share your thoughts below.
NAPOLI !!!!! FOR CHAMPIONS LEAUGUE !
LOL — every runner-up is praying to draw APOEL.
Would like to see Chelsea/CSKA
Napoli v. APOEL please so we can save match-up with the big boys ’til later. Here’s to a sneaky little run for my Napoli boys!
Seed clubs are for all but Milan. That Milan pair will be the game to watch.
They are put in the knockout round of this year’s europa league.
can someone explain why Machester’s teams will play Europa league? I know they finish 3rd, but, do they enter they current Europa Leauge or Next edition of Europa Leauge, regardless where they place on the top table of their leauge? they can’t play Champions next year?
I wonder how much attention Ferguson will give to the Europa League next year. I have a feeling we’ll see much of Manchester United’s younger players in that one.
Woot. Thanks.
do I sense a bit of gloryhunting here
Is there any way that United could face City in the Europa League Final? That would be epic.
I will look forward to seeing ARSENAL V CSKA MOSCOW
Chelsea V Marseil
I will prefer Napoli v Barcelona
just for the fun of it
As an OM fan I could not agree moe. They have been dreadful in Ligue 1, just manage to shine in CL. I’m hoping the get an easier draw early on and manage to build up some steam
You forgot to mention that they’re from Cyprus which is incredibly impressive considering that they won a group in Champion’s League. I enjoy parity.
OM is a strange lot. Their backline has performed well in Champion’s League. I couldn’t agree with you more about Chelsea’s backline having issues with OM’s attack. They have good size and are faster than Chelsea. It would be a fun one to watch and I’d bet on OM winning that tie.
That picture? Red Card.
I had to look up APOEL. “Athletic Football Club of Greeks of Nicosia”. Wow, well done.
Crown & Anchor, on Trop east of Maryland.
I for one would love to see Chelsea vs. Marseille. The French could send them crashing out, especially with that suspect back line Chelsea’s been marching out there this season
Barca or Real take the Champions League this year as they are in top form , barring any major setbacks (injuries,drop in form) I can’t see anyone else challenging them maybe Bayern? But it would still be a difficult test to overcome.
Milan should be the best runner-up match-up.
And no Barcelona, thankfully
As a Gooner, I most want to avoid Napoli. I’ll take our chances with anyone else.
I thought so too until Schweinstieger got hurt.
OT: Anyone got recommendations for a EPL friendly soccer bar in Vegas for Saturday morning?
As a Napoli fan, I’d prefer either of those matchups to come later in the competition 🙂
This is the year of Bayern! Mia San Mia!
I think we all want APOEL v. FC Basel
Napoli v. Real Madrid or Barcelona would be fun.