A date in Catalonia

Shooting blanks...Can Benzema and co. do the unthinkable?

Ah the shivers... the first knockout draw of the champions league has been revealed and it sure contain some cracking ties. Liverpool's master tactician Rafa Benitez returns back to former club Real Madrid who are now managed by ex-Espanyol/Malaga/Sevilla/Tottenham manager Juande Ramos... you get the logic but just down the road at the Vicente Calderon, Madrid's sister club Atletico welcome Portuguese bruisers FC Porto - a tie which should please both fans.

"I am very worried... It's mission impossible, equivalent to you asking me to jump over the crossbar with both feet tied." - those were the words of Lyon's sporting director Bernard Lacombe after it was revealed French domestic heavyweights Lyon have a less than pleasant date with Catalan giants Barcelona who will be furiously licking thier paws. The yellow submarine will hope to stay afloat for a while as Spanish side Villarreal take on surprise group winners Panathinaikos; a draw which should please both managers.

Across the English channel, Premier league heavyweights Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal all have Italian dates - Italy has good food, wine and the women are fond of the bidet; all which should please Arsene Wenger's men who travel to the capital to take on Italy's best dressed manager Luciano Spaletti and co. Both teams will undoubtedly fancy their chances as both teams domestic campaign has been poor so far yet a good European showing could make for happy fans. The Special one might consider taking time off his part time gig on Setanta sports as a date with cup holders man Utd is on the cards. Jose Mourinho's return to Old Trafford conjures of past images when his 2004 FC Porto team sent Man Utd out of the competition which will not be lost on Alex Ferguson. Inter have been spectacular in the Seria A while Man Utd's european form has been solid - too close to call i reckon.

Bells are ringing across Stamford Bridge as Chelsea fans welcome back ex-manager Ranieri who will take his Turin side to seek revenge against Roman Abramovich - remember him? He's Chelsea's super billionaire but more importantly fired the tinkerman. Juventus were spectacular in the group stages while Scolari's merchants were less than stellar but signings during the January transfer window should shore up the English's sides weakness.

German hierachy in the form of Bayern Munich will take on Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon. Provided the german club don't suffer a rush of blood to the head, Bayern should have little trouble disposing of the Lisbon side but then again it's anyone's guess which Munich side decides to show up.