Objectivo.com

It’s the most, wonderful time, of the year! No, not because it’s the holiday season, it’s the first knockout Round of the Champions League! The draw was earlier today; very early on the west coast and here are the matchups.

Champions League Draw

This is my favorite Round of the Champions League because it is the most bargain for you dollar, with eight games per leg, and the best football teams in the world, playing for the "trophy with the big ears”. With all of these tasty fixtures, it’s hard to pick which matches will produce the great football and drama that each possesses.

Arsenal playing Milan could produce the most eye-catching football of the ties, with a little added flavor of Gattuso, Fabregas and Flamini and Kaka in a midfield clash. The Inter Milan and Liverpool tie is very intriguing because I believe Inter Milan are the best team in Europe at the moment, while Liverpool is the best team in Europe over two legs. Roma against Madrid should be a tie of beautiful football, combined with some awesome individual skill, with the likes of Totti, Mancinni, Robinho, and Reyes on the pitch. Last, but not least, the tie between Barcelona and Celtic, for no other reason than the atmosphere of the stadiums and the clash of styles on the pitch. Almost the complete opposites of the spectrum in how they both play football, and whoever manages to play their way, has the better chance in winning.

Who will be your eight teams through to the next round?

My picks to go through are, Schalke, Man Utd., Chelsea, Sevilla, Roma, Arsenal, Inter, and Barca.

By: Christopher Chantland