The Champions League last 16 draw is likely to throw up some very attractive looking ties, but who would they like to face?
Sides Man United can face: Galatasaray, Olympiakos, Schalke, Zenit, Milan
Sides Chelsea can face: Bayer Leverkusen, Galatasaray, Olympiakos, Zenit, Milan
Sides Man City can face: Real Madrid, PSG, Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona
Sides Arsenal can face, Real Madrid, PSG, Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona
If you are Manchester United and Chelsea ahead of today’s Champions League draw, you’ll be glad that you finished top of your group given the strength of the sides that await for Arsenal and Manchester City. Arsenal did well to get through a very tough group, whilst Manchester City may just regret Manuel Pellegrini getting his sums wrong.
Manchester United and Chelsea will fancy their chances against any of the sides that are put before them. Galatasaray and Zenit qualified for the second round with an unspectacular haul of points, Milan have a bit of a struggle in their season so far.
The sides that they may want to avoid are those from Germany in the form of Schalke and Bayer Leverkusen but they will take comfort from the fact that both Chelsea and Manchester United faced one of those sides in their group stage campaign, and overcame them well – whilst Olympiakos are pretty well known to English sides even if they have improved a great deal.
Do Manchester City and Arsenal have any preference?
A lot of people would say Atletico Madrid, but their start to the La Liga season – where they currently sit level on points at the top of the table with Barcelona – and the comprehensive nature in which they qualified from their group, means that whoever comes up against them faces a formidable challenge especially in the form of Diego Costa.
Barcelona’s reputation goes before them. They’ve dropped five points in their La Liga campaign so far this season and qualified from their group comfortably, not to mention there is a squad of players there that know what it takes to lift the European Cup.
And everyone knows the attacking talent that Real Madrid possess. Gareth Bale, Cristiana Ronaldo, Karim Benzema are only three of the names you need to worry about when coming up against Real, and can score goals from anywhere.
PSG possess the threat of Zlatan Ibrahimovic & co. They’re having a strong campaign on the domestic front as well as looking strong in Europe but the English sides will probably fancy their chances against the French champions. The other sides remaining are last season’s finalists in the form of German duo Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.
Both of these sides have been beaten by English opposition, Bayern by Man City and Dortmund by Arsenal over 90 minutes. Two-legged affairs may be a different kettle of fish but it gives sides that bit of belief.
Given that Dortmund haven’t had the best run in the Bundesliga of late, Manchester City may fancy their chances against last season’s runners up. Whichever tie Arsenal and Manchester City end up with, it’s bound to be a tasty looking affair.
Best case scenario?
For Arsenal: PSG
For Man City: Borussia Dortmund/PSG
For Man United and Chelsea: Olympiakos/Zenit.
image: © andyjakeman
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
