Quality test for teams in Champions draw

THE spectre of Spanish or Scottish opposition in the Champions League round of 16 looms large for at least one of the four Premiership clubs in this morning’s draw.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United all finished top of their groups, meaning they will play a group runner-up in the first knockout round of Europe’s top club competition.

Barcelona and Real Madrid were both runners-up in the group stage, and with only 16 teams in the draw there is a real chance of a Spanish v English clash. Chelsea will definitely not face Barcelona in the first knockout round, however, as they were in the same group.

Scottish champions Celtic could also have English opposition — they cannot play Manchester United, but three out of seven potential opponents are from the Premiership.

Italian sides Inter and Roma are also possible opponents for the English sides, along with Lille, PSV Eindhoven and Porto. Celtic could also face Milan, Bayern Munich, Valencia or Lyon.

The group winners will play the second leg of the first knockout round at home, and a team making it through to the quarter-finals will face an open draw against any of the other seven sides left in.

United manager Alex Ferguson is acutely aware of the potential quality of the opposition.

“Whoever we play in the second round, it could be Barcelona or Real Madrid, so there is a lot of quality there. From now on every game is of real significance in terms of the quality of the opposition and the importance of the occasions, and I hope that helps us.”

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes it is a significant advantage to have emerged as group winners.

“Winning the group means playing the second game of the next round at home, and in a knockout competition that’s important.”

The draw takes place at 11am in Nyon, Switzerland, followed an hour later by the draw for the first knockout round of the UEFA Cup, involving 32 clubs. Blackburn, Tottenham, Newcastle and Rangers all topped their groups, so will play a side that finished third. Group winners and runners-up have the privilege of a second leg at home.

* Coverage is on Sky Sports News (Ch 405) and Eurosport.