Best of British
Skysports.com examines Britain's possible Champions League opponents
Five British clubs have progressed to the knock-out stages of this season's UEFA
Champions League and here Skysports.com looks at their possible opponents in
the last 16.
Arsenal, Celtic, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United have made it through
their respective qualifying groups and they now await the draw for the next
round on 21st December.
The first leg of the first knock-out round ties will then be played on the 19th and
20th February with the second legs taking place on 4th and 5th March.
Arsenal finished as runners-up to Sevilla in qualifying Group H which means
Arsene Wenger's side will face a winner from a different group.
It is guaranteed that the English clubs cannot be draw against one another at
this stage in the competition which means the Gunners are in line to face
opponents from Italy, Portugal or Spain.
A meeting with Barcelona is likely to jump out at Arsenal supporters as they eye
revenge for their 2006 final defeat to the Catalan giants, while the tie would also
offer the appealing return of Thierry Henry - who left the Gunners in June.
Arsenal could also be drawn against cup holders Milan and Italian champions
Internazionale, while a repeat of the 2006 first knock-out round victory over Real
Madrid is also on the cards and Porto - who finished above Liverpool in Group A -
are their final possibility.
Scottish champions Celtic finished second in Group D to Milan which opens up the
prospect of 'Battle of Britain' ties against Chelsea or United in the last 16, while
meetings with Inter or Sevilla are also possibilities for the Bhoys.
Gordon Strachan's side could also meet Barca - who they faced in the 2003/04
and 2004/05 group stages - or Real, while revenge for their 2003 Uefa Cup final
defeat to Porto could be on offer.
Chelsea cruised to top spot in Group B and will therefore face one of the runners
-up and a first competitive meeting with any of their possible opponents.
This could mean a mouth-watering clash with Celtic, or Fenerbahce who are
making their first appearance in the knock-out stages.
Meanwhile Lyon, who pipped Rangers to a place in the latter stages, Olympiakos
and Roma could also be drawn against Avram Grant's side.
Liverpool scraped through as runners-up in Group A after recording three wins
from their final three games and will now face opponents from either Italy or
Spain.
A fixture with Milan is likely to appeal to the Anfield faithful in a repeat of the 2005
and 2007 finals with the score evenly balanced at one win each.
Barcelona would also be keen on avenging their 2007 European elimination at the
hands of the Reds and a draw with Inter is another possibility.
However, manager Rafa Benitez could face an emotional return to his home town
if drawn against Real, while Sevilla could offer a Spanish alternative.
United comfortably won Group F and they will be hoping to improve on last
season's semi-final exit.
A repeat of last year's group stage meeting with Celtic is a possibility, while
Fenerbahce, Lyon and Olympiakos could also face trips to Old Trafford.
United, though, could be the only British club to face German opposition as
Schalke could also come out of the hat.
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