Champions League Draw - United get Inter Milan...
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The Club World Cup might be grabbing all the headlines at the moment but tomorrow the eyes of the world will return to Europe as the draw is made for the first knock-out stage of the Champions League.
With the group stages producing plenty of drama and a few surprise qualifiers, there are sure to be plenty of interesting match-ups, with defending champions Manchester United and Spanish giants Barcelona looking like the two toughest opponents.
The rules for the draw are that teams from one country cannot yet face each other, group runners-up will be drawn to face group-winners (and vice-versa naturally) and the runners-up will play the first leg at home.GROUP WINNERS
Roma (Italy)
Following a poor start in Group A, Roma emerged as surprise group winners above Chelsea and now await the runners-up from the other groups. The Italian side have improved dramatically lately, winning their last eight games in all competitions, and after they were hammered by Manchester United last season, they will be keen to show their worth this time around.
Possible Opponents: Sporting Lisbon, Atlético Madrid, Villarreal, Lyon, Arsenal, Real Madrid.
Panathinaikos (Greece)
After picking up a superb win against Inter Milan in the San Siro, Panathinaikos emerged as the winners from Group B ahead of the Italian champions. The Greek side are arguably the worst side to win a group, at least on paper, but whilst they look like the easiest team to face for runners-up, complacency could be a problem.
Possible Opponents: Chelsea, Sporting Lisbon, Atlético Madrid, Villarreal, Lyon, Arsenal, Real Madrid.
Barcelona (Spain)
The Catalan side absolutely ran away with Group C, despite losing to Shakhtar Donetsk in the last game, and no-one will want to draw them in the next round. Currently leading the way in Spain, they look like a side reborn this season and along with Manchester United are the best team in the competition.
Possible Opponents: Chelsea, Inter Milan, Lyon, Arsenal.
Liverpool (England)
It took until the final day to make it assured but Liverpool eventually emerged as Group D winners ahead of Atlético Madrid. With their prestigious record in the competition in mind, they will be a test for any team in the next round.
Possible Opponents: Inter Milan, Sporting Lisbon, Lyon, Villarreal, Real Madrid.
Manchester United (England)
The defending European champions might currently be in Asia but they will be keeping a close eye on the draw tomorrow. Whilst they might be a little off the pace in England they are still one of the favourites for the Champions League this year and with good reason. Their recent spats with Real Madrid could set-up a fiery background for a meeting with the Spanish side in the knock-out stages.
Possible Opponents: Inter Milan, Sporting Lisbon, Atlético Madrid, Lyon, Real Madrid.
Bayern Munich (Germany)
The German side had a tricky group to top but they did so impressively in the end, beating Lyon in France 3-2 on the last day. They have a good record in this competition and as the only German team left they will feel they have something to prove for their country.
Possible Opponents: Chelsea, Inter Milan, Sporting Lisbon, Atlético Madrid, Villarreal, Arsenal, Real Madrid.
Porto (Portugal)
Porto might not be doing so well at home but in Europe they have excelled so far, beating Arsenal on the final day to secure top spot in Group G. They might not have the strongest squad in the competition but they have a good team ethic and should be tough opposition.
Possible Opponents: Chelsea, Inter Milan, Atlético Madrid, Villarreal, Lyon, Real Madrid.
Juventus (Italy)
The fallen giants have emerged as serious contenders this season following their successful passage from a group containing both Zenit St. Petersburg and Real Madrid. They have a superb history in European competition and will definitely be one of the trickier teams for runners-up to face.
Possible Opponents: Chelsea, Sporting Lisbon, Atlético Madrid, Lyon, Villarreal, Arsenal.
RUNNERS-UP
Chelsea (England)
The beaten finalists from last year looked as though they would top Group A on paper but a late showing from Roma, and some poor displays themselves, condemned them to second place. They could now face some of the bigger teams left in the competition, and a match-up with Barcelona is probably waiting to happen following their heated clash a few seasons ago.
Possible Opponents: Panathinaikos, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Porto, Juventus.
Inter Milan (Italy)
For Inter Milan to finish runners-up in Group B is surprise enough but for them to be beaten at home by Panathinaikos was a complete shock. With Jose Mourinho at the helm they have the pedigree to go far and a match-up with any English side would grab the attention in the next round.
Possible Opponents: Barcelona, Liverpool, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Porto.
Sporting Lisbon (Portugal)
Did well to qualify from a tricky group that included Barcelona, but now they are likely to face a real test in the next round. The Portuguese side are one of the weakest left in the tournament and they will do well to beat a group winner.
Possible Opponents: Roma, Panathinaikos, Liverpool, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Juventus.
Atlético Madrid (Spain)
A lot was made of the return of Atlético to the European elite stage after over a decade out, and they did not dissappoint. The Spanish side could have won the group, had it not been for a draw on the last day in Marseille, and they will be tough for anyone.
Possible Opponents: Roma, Panathinaikos, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Porto, Juventus.
Villarreal (Spain)
El Submarino Amarillo might have been beaten by Celtic on the last day but they put up a good performance in Group E and are a side to fear in the draw. They have been far in this tournament recently and certainly have a solid enough team to trouble anyone.
Possible Opponents: Roma, Panathinaikos, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Porto, Juventus.
Lyon (France)
A permenant fixture in the Champions League as of late, Lyon are a side capable of causing an upset in the knock-out stages. They have some real quality upfront and despite finishing behind Bayern Munich, they are a good outfit and will want to continue French representation in the competition.
Possible Opponents: Roma, Panathinaikos, Barcelona, Liverpool, Manchester United, Porto, Juventus.
Arsenal (England)
Arsene Wenger decided to rest some of his top players on their last matchday and that could well cost them in the long run. Defeat by Porto means they enter the draw as runners-up, and whilst everyone knows of their qualities, their weaknesses are not exactly secrets.
Possible Opponents: Roma, Panathinaikos, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Juventus.
Real Madrid (Spain)
They are the most prestigious side to finish as runners-up this season, and whilst their season may be in turmoil at the moment, they have plenty of time to regroup. The Spanish side were defeated twice by Juventus but with their wealth of attacking talent they are a dangerous prospect, and a match-up with Manchester United looms.
Possible Opponents: Roma, Panathinaikos, Liverpool, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Porto.which opponent you guys hope that man utd will square off with?
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betting on sporting
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I want to tio Real Madrid and fking trash them to pieces.
so they can STFU.
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i hope underdog win champion league
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Looks like United could get Real...
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United get Jose's Inter Milan... I was hoping for Real... Damn.
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Wah... United got the hardest draw of all...
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inter are inconsistent.
i think man u have the better chance.
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Originally posted by dragg:
inter are inconsistent.
i think man u have the better chance.
If Inter is inconsistent then Juve and Roma will be a walk in the park... lol -
Originally posted by zocoss:
If Inter is inconsistent then Juve and Roma will be a walk in the park... lol
i agree......they started out patchy but to lead by 6pts now in serie a requires a certain level of consistency. this will be a battle of wit and who deploys the right strategy on the nite.SAF will be no walkover though...like i said, the top match on the draw.
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When it came towards the end of the draw, I was hoping United got Real so that they can settle the problems on the pitch and we can all sit back and watch Rafa abd Jose having a go at each other again...
But too bad...
The draw was very good to Barce... It will take away 3 of the big 6 by the next round...
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Inter is like the 2nd easiest draw..lucky for us...Inter is very unstable right now
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SAF never won a game against jose b4 how bout this time round?
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I don't think the Inter team is good enough to dispatch Man Utd. Inter's form in the UCL is inconsistent.
And yea, Jose is always a tough nut to crack for SAF.
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Originally posted by Master -_-:
betting on sporting
ya lor.. i also got this sporting feeling too... -
not alot of english team in the last 4 already lah this time
Arsenal kena Roma
Liverpool kena Real Madrid
Chelsea kena Juventus
Man U kena Inter...
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Originally posted by mlmersrlosers:
SAF never won a game against jose b4 how bout this time round?
Got this match mah.
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Oh yeah that Fletcher goal...
Last time when Fletcher play or when I see his name on the team sheet, I would go omg, lose liao, lose liao... But thesedays he is one of those that I feel is good enough when the Scoles, the Carrick or the Hargreaves cannot make it...
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Fletcher Scotland captain liao lei siao siao.
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van injured liao, that's why they bought huntelaar.
anw, im so fucking looking forward to liverpool vs RM.