Which team received the most fortunate Champions League Draw?
By bayernfan
@bayernfan (1430)
Canada
December 19, 2008 10:12pm CST
The draw for the knockout round of the Champions League was held today. The draw was as follows:
Chelsea vs. Juventus
Villarreal vs. Panathinaikos
Sporting vs. Bayern
Atletico Madrid vs. FC Porto
Lyon vs. Barcelona
Real Madrid vs. Liverpool
Arsenal vs. Roma
Inter vs. Manchester United
All 3 Italian teams will be facing English competition! So who do you think has the most fortunate draw? Who made out worst?
I think that Barcelona is the luckiest because Lyon always crack under pressure and never advance. I also think that Bayern had an excellent draw and that Villareal and Atletico Madrid were able to dodge some bullets. Inter Milan and Manchester United both got screwed.
4 responses
@ananth_kamma (675)
• India
22 Dec 08
i dint knew that the draw has come out. thanks for the update. well, for me bayer is the most fortunate one. it will be great to see english teams facing italin teams. for me liverpool vs Realmadrid, manutd vs inter,chelsea vs juventus are the matches to watch out. well, this time all english teams are placed with tough teams. i dont think manutd can pass through inter. so, i would bet my money on inter. well, comming to liverpool vs realmadrid, it a kind of 50-50 for me. it would be a classic for me. well,i dont think all the 4 english teams will make it next round.surely we will have some broken hearts. manutd and arsenal look most vunerable for me among the english teams.
@bayernfan (1430)
• Canada
22 Dec 08
Well, you have definitely highlighted the marquee matchups. At this stage of the competition, all opposition is formidable, but the English squads do face stiff tests. It is hard to tell which English team will be most vulnerable, but judging by Champions League play to date, I would have pointed to Chelsea and then Arsenal as the two English squads most likely to exit after the round of 16. There is a two month break, and the winter transfer period seems to be heating up already, so we'll have to wait and see what the line-ups will look like at the end of February. It's good to be a Bayern fan! 
@chiaeugene (2225)
• China
21 Dec 08
wow, it is fated that english team meeting up with italian team this season. and i think, the italian team would be dying to proof that they are no pushovers after losing so many ties to english team esp AC and Inter who both falls to arsenal and liverpool last season. The matches should be exciting. Liverpool is playing Real Madrid and i thin Rafa should be familiar with Spanish style of play when he was with Valencia so i think liverpool should be able to clear and advance to semi finals.
@bayernfan (1430)
• Canada
22 Dec 08
Yes, I agree. This is a great chance for Serie A to show that the EPL's recent dominance in European Competitions is over. It would be a great chance for the Italian clubs to showcase themselves and entice prospective talent during the summer transfer period. Real Madrid swooped down and plucked Lassana Diarra away from Portsmouth yesterday. Real Madrid has a two month break to gather themselves and turn their slumping slide around. Rafa has a great record in Champions League play and he always has Liverpool prepared to be a threat. I'd pick Liverpool to go through too. We'll just have to wait and see if that prediction will come true. 
@kunking (1118)
• China
20 Dec 08
hi,bayernfan! i'm not aware of the draw for the knockout round had come out..thanks for information...well, the most fortunate team would be Bacelona and Bayern in my opinion..both Lyon and Sporting are not those who can create history..i feel a little upset to see Chelsea will be against Juventus which is also my favorite team other than chelsea.and as the former chelsea's coach, Claudio Ranieri will be a great vantage point to help Juventus prepare for the matches. i'm also looking forward to the match between Inter and Manchester United. will Jose Mourinhno bring Inter into the finals? beat Sir Alex Ferguson first please...lol
@bayernfan (1430)
• Canada
20 Dec 08
Yes, Lyon and Sporting haven't been able to show that they have that extra gear in European competition. It is a tough draw between Chelsea and Juventus. However, I have to give the edge to Juve because they have been playing better as of late and they have the home match in the second leg. Watch out for Del Piero and Amauri. Iaquinta is a solid replacement coming off the bench too. Inter vs. Manchester United should be a classic. It's likely to be a low scoring affair because both teams are tight defensively when games are important. I'll have my eyes on Berbatov. That guy is an offensive wizard.
@peterbarretto08 (448)
• Goa, India
20 Dec 08
i also think bayern munich are the luckiest to get sporting lisbon. thay will surely make it to the next round. next lucky team is villarreal. among the english clubs arsenal seem to have got the easiest match.
happy mylotting!!!!
@bayernfan (1430)
• Canada
20 Dec 08
Yes, and Bayern have been in the group stages with Sporting before and they have a good record against Sporting. I am well pleased with this pairing. It is difficult to tell how well Panathinaikos will play. They were solid in this year's group stage and handled Inter well. It isn't easy to go to Greece and come away with a win. Good thing for Villareal that they are loaded with talent. Cheers.
