CL Debate: Barcelona, Real Madrid & Sevilla’s Dream Draws And Nightmare Knockouts

La Liga’s four representatives came into the Champions League-proper this season with high hopes of making an impression. But things didn’t quite go exactly to plan, as is always the case in football, as three of the four sides who made it through to the knockout stages had mixed journeys en route to what was ultimately the same result.

Barcelona and Real Madrid were grouped alongside Italian giants, Inter and AC Milan respectively, but both managed to top their sections, albeit not without some nervous moments as they had to wait until the final round of games to confirm their berth in the next phase.

Sevilla, meanwhile, had a slightly easier group which contained Schalke, Unirea Urziceni and Rangers and they duly booked a ticket in the knockout round with games to spare after winning their opening three games.

With the draw for the last 16 taking place on Friday, Goal.com ponders who the Spanish representatives might prefer to face in the next round, as well as those superpowers that they will certainly want to avoid.

BARCELONA

Group Stage Results

Sep 16 Inter 0-0 Barcelona
Sep 29 Barcelona 2-0 Dynamo Kiev
Oct 20 Barcelona 1-2 Rubin Kazan
Nov 04 Rubin Kazan 0-0 Barcelona
Nov 24 Barcelona 2-0 Inter
Dec 09 Dynamo Kiev 1-2 Barcelona

Potential Opponents

Bayern Munich
CSKA Moscow
Milan
Porto
Lyon
Stuttgart
Olympiacos

Dream: Milan

Having taken down one Milan-based giant in the group stage, Barca will happily go up against the Rossoneri, who on paper will be considered a less defensive-minded and taxing opposition compared to Inter. The Blaugrana will also be relishing the opportunity to show their bitter domestic rivals, Real Madrid, how to get the job done against Milan. And it will be some game watching Lionel Messi in a showdown with his Camp Nou predecessor, Ronaldinho.

Nightmare: CSKA Moscow

Barca simply do not perform well against organized, disciplined Eastern European sides, especially those from the former Soviet states. Having already done plenty of travelling this season, another long distance visit to Russia would not be ideal for Pep Guardiola’s men, not to mention the laborious struggle they will have to put up throughout the 180 minutes.

REAL MADRID

Group Stage Results

Sep 15 FC Zurich 2-5 Real Madrid
Sep 30 Real Madrid 3-0 Marseille
Oct 21 Real Madrid 2-3 Milan
Nov 03 Milan 1-1 Real Madrid
Nov 25 Real Madrid 1-0 FC Zurich
Dec 08 Marseille 1-3 Real Madrid

Potential Opponents

Bayern Munich
CSKA Moscow
Inter
Porto
Lyon
Stuttgart
Olympiacos

Dream: Porto

Of the seven potential rivals above, Porto are the only team who share roughly the same playing style and philosophy as Madrid. And with Manuel Pellegrini still trying to get his ‘Men In White’ playing free-flowing attacking football, they need an opponent who will give them the luxury of space and time, rather than to just shut up shop. Bayern and Lyon would not be bad options either, but Los Blancos have had bad experiences going up against them in the past.

Nightmare: Inter

If Barcelona had so much trouble trying to break down the Jose Mourinho’s men – in the away clash at least – Madrid would undoubtedly have bigger problems as they have yet to maximise their attacking firepower. The Merengues also have a horrendous record against Italian opposition, having flopped miserably against Roma and Juventus in the past two season and recently Milan. But a certain Cristiano Ronaldo will certain relish the chance to gun down the ‘Special One’, who has never really rated the former Red Devil.

SEVILLA

Group Stage Results

Sep 15 Sevilla 2-0 Unirea Urziceni
Sep 29 Rangers 1-4 Sevilla
Oct 20 Stuttgart 1-3 Sevilla
Nov 04 Sevilla 1-1 Stuttgart
Nov 24 Unirea Urziceni 1-0 Sevilla
Dec 09 Sevilla 1-0 Rangers

Potential Opponents

Bayern Munich
CSKA Moscow
Milan
Inter
Porto
Lyon
Olympiacos

Dream: Inter

Sevilla are one of those teams who only truly perform when they are up against the big guns and they enter a match as the underdogs. And they don’t come any bigger, brasher, and more high profile than Inter. Los Nervionenses can be an outrageously talented and fearsome attacking side on their day but the fact that not many opponents and critics regard them as an offensive, adventurous will serve to their advantage. And they can certainly catch out a rival like Inter, who will be expected to win should the two meet.

Nightmare: Olympiacos

On the flip side of the coin, the Andalucians have a tendency to slip up against the lesser known rivals. The Greeks are known to be a well-oiled defensive unit and if Manolo Jimenez’s men fail to get their act together in attack when it matters most, they will struggle against Olympiacos. CSKA could also be a potential banana skin for Sevilla.

KS Leong, Goal.com