Champions League : Final 16 Review

English dominate as Italians fail

The final 16 saw holders Manchester United follow Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea into a Quarter Final draw which includes underdogs Villareal and Porto as well as attacking maestros Bayern Munich and Villareal. And don't forget, the draw is now open - meaning anyone can face anyone. We may at last see the dream re-match between Manchester United and Barcelona or we could even see a goalless extravaganza between Villareal and Liverpool (who would use more holding midfielders?)
The two teams who stood out most to me had to be Bayern Munich and Barcelona. They are the teams to avoid. Bayern, in my humble opinion, have the quickest, most incisive side in Europe. This, added to the quality of Ribery, Schweinsteiger, Podolski, Klose, Toni and Lahm, completes a phenomenally under-rated line-up.
Barcelona showed yesterday that they are something like their best again after a few stutter in La Liga. Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto'o are back to their explosive best and Lionel Messi (undoubtedly the greatest footballer of our time) will only get better. The vision and passing of Xavi and Iniesta is also aided by the attacking prowess of the now legendary full back Dani Alves.
Bayern and Barca are the teams to avoid in the final 8. Porto, Villareal and (dare I say) Arsenal are the teams you want to draw. The draw will be made on the 20th March.


Last 16 Highlights

Manchester United vs Inter Milan (2-0) (2-0 agg.)





Barcelona vs Lyon (5-2) (6-3 agg.)



Bayern Munich vs Sporting Lisbon (7-1) (12-1 agg.)



Roma vs Arsenal (1-0) (1-1 agg.)
(No highlights in 120 minutes. Penalties below)



Porto vs Atletico Madrid (0-0) (2-2 agg.)

(No highlights at all.)

Juventus vs Chelsea (2-2) (2-3 agg.)



Liverpool vs Real Madrid (4-0) (5-0)