Giants out to land knockout blows

THE Champions League kicks off again this week with each team aware that this round of 16 provides more shocks than the rest of the tournament combined.

You only have to look at recent years to know that no team is safe: in the last two seasons, PSV have beaten Arsenal and Benfica knocked out Liverpool. The memory of a crazed Jose Mourinho dancing down the Old Trafford touchline when his Porto side beat Manchester United at this stage of the 2004 competition is proof that the matches should come with a health warning.

The drama starts tomorrow, with the pick of the games seeing holders AC Milan welcome Arsenal to San Siro. After Emmanuel Adebayor headed against the crossbar in the final minute a fortnight ago, giggles of relief could be heard emanating from the visitors’ dressing-room.