Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea & Real Madrid among 16 clubs awaiting Champions League knockout draw

Europe's top competition now gets serious with the likes of AC Milan and Napoli lurking among the unseeded teams and sure to make for a fascinating draw in Switzerland

16 Dec 2011 08:06:00

More On :  AC Milan, APOEL, Arsenal FC, Basel, Bayer Leverkusen, Benfica, Chelsea FC, CSKA Moscow, FC Bayern München, Inter, Manchester City, Manchester United, Napoli, Olympique de Marseille, Olympique Lyonnais, Real Madrid, Zenit, Arsène Wenger, André Villas-Boas
The UEFA Champions League Trophy(Getty Images)
Chelsea and Arsenal will have eyes on Switzerland this morning as the draw for the last 16 of the Champions League will be made at Uefa's headquarters in Nyon.

Both teams qualified from their groups in top spot and will therefore avoid the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona at this early stage when the draw takes place at 11.00 GMT, something Gunners fans might be pleased about after their early exit at the hands of the Catalans last season.
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The unseeded pot still includes teams who could provide a tricky tie, however, with Serie A champions AC Milan being the pick of the bunch. Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has already said he would like to avoid drawing the Italians.

"There are, of course, a lot of top teams also in those runners-up spots," he said.

"One team with seven European titles and, for sure, those will be the ones to try to avoid."

Arsene Wenger is in a positive mood following his side's recent turn around in form and believes that the two clubs from the capital may have what it takes to go all the way this season.

He told reporters: "We were close [to winning the trophy last season], Chelsea were close too - the two teams were very, very close.

"You face competition from all over Europe with some massive clubs but maybe this is London's season, you never know."

The teams involved in the last 16 are as follows.


 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LAST 16 DRAW | THE SEEDS
  GROUP
WINNERS (SEEDED)
 RUNNERS-UP (UNSEEDED)
A
 Napoli
B  Inter
  CSKA Moscow
C  Basel
D   Real Madrid
   Olympique Lyonnais
E   Chelsea
   Bayer Leverkusen
F   Arsenal
   Olympique de Marseille
G   APOEL
  Zenit St. Petersburg
H   Barcelona
   AC Milan

The draw for the last 32 of the Europa League will also be made on Friday, with several English clubs, including Manchester City and cross-town rivals United, looking to see who they will draw. Stoke City are the only other Premier League club also involved.

You can keep up to date with all the goings-on at both draws here LIVE at Goal.com.

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