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All English clubs Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United are through to the last 16 of the Champions League, and will be in hat for the draw of the knockout stages which takes place in Nyon (Switzerland) on Monday.
The four Premier League representatives will be joined by the four German clubs – holders Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Schalke and Bayer Leverkusen, and the Spanish trio of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in the knockout phases. AC Milan will be the only Italian side in the Champions League after Christmas as reigning Serie A champions Juventus and high spending Napoli could only finish third in their respective groups. Galatasary, Paris Saint-Germain, Olympiacos and Zenit St. Petersburg complete the rest of the lineup.
Group Winners: Manchester United, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona. Group Runners-Up: Bayer Levekusen, Galatasaray, Olympiacos, Manchester City, Schalke, Arsenal, Zenit St. Petersburg, AC Milan.
Here, we have a look at each of the above 16 teams in detail ahead of last 16 draw of the Champions League on Monday.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Country – EnglandCoach – David MoyesKey Player – Wayne RooneyOther Star Players – Robin van Persie, Michael Carrick, Nemanja VidicRising Star – Adnan Januzaj
Previous best in CL/European Cup – Winners 1968, 1999, 2008Possible Round of 16 Opponents – Galatasaray, Olympiacos, Schalke, Zenit, Milan.
Chances – The reigning Premier League champions have struggled domestically since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, but in Europe they have performed better. With Wayne Rooney back to his best, the Red Devils have a chance, and we have seen in the past, teams who have struggled domestically have performed better in Europe.
Prediction – Semi-Finals
REAL MADRID
Country – SpainCoach – Carlo AncelottiKey Player – Cristiano RonaldoOther Star Players – Gareth Bale, Sergio Ramos, Xabi AlonsoRising Star – IscoPrevious best in CL/European Cup – Winners 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2000, 2002Possible Round of 16 Opponents – Bayer Leverkusen, Olympiacos, Manchester City, Schalke, Arsenal, Zenit, Milan
Chances – Los Blancos were one of the pre-tournament favourites to win the competition and there has been very little so far to suggest that they won’t win it this term. Ancelotti has done brilliantly since taking over from Jose Mourinho in the summer, and with Cristiano Ronaldo at his very best they have a chance of winning the La Decima.
Prediction – Winners
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN
Country – FranceCoach – Laurent BlancKey Player – Zlatan IbrahimovicOther Star Players – Edinson Cavani, Thiago Silva, Ezequiel LavezziRising Star – Marquinhos
Previous best in CL/European Cup – Semi-final 1995Possible Round of 16 Opponents – Bayer Leverkusen, Galatsaray, Manchester City, Schalke, Arsenal, Zenit, Milan
Chances – The reigning Ligue 1 champions are one of the richest clubs in the world and have ambitions to win the Champions League this term. If Zlatan Ibrahimovic can continue his superb form from the group stages, it might just happen.
Prediction – Quarter-Finals
BAYERN MUNICH
Country – GermanyCoach – Pep GuardiolaKey Player – Franck RiberyOther Star Players – Arjen Robben, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas MullerRising Star – Mario Gotze
Previous best in CL/European Cup – Winners 1974, 1975, 1976, 2001, 2013Possible Round of 16 Opponents – Galatsaray, Olympiacos, Arsenal, Zenit, Milan
Chances – The holders did the treble last season by winning the Bundesliga, DFB Pokal and the Champions League, and are the favourites to retain the trophy this season. Guardiola’s men have been in splendid form this season and are a team everyone would be looking to avoid before the final.
Prediction – Runners-Up
CHELSEA
Country – EnglandCoach – Jose MourinhoKey Player – Eden HazardOther Star Players – Frank Lampard, Juan Mata, OscarRising Star – Kevin de Bruyne
Previous best in CL/European Cup – Winners 2012Possible Round of 16 Opponents – Bayer Leverkusen, Galatasaray, Olympiacos, Zenit, Milan
Chances – Mourinho has some unfinished business with Chelsea and that’s winning the Champions League trophy with the London club. The Blues have made it through to the knockout stages but haven’t been at there best and the Special One has conceded that his team doesn’t have in them what it takes to win the tournament. Mind games maybe.
Prediction – Quarter-Finals
BORUSSIA DORTMUND
Country – GermanyCoach – Jurgen KloppKey Player – Robert LewandowskiOther Star Players – Marco Reus, Ilkay Gundogan, Mats HummelsRising Star – Jonas Hofmann
Previous best in CL/European Cup – Winners 1997Possible Round of 16 Opponents – Galatasaray, Olympiacos, Manchester City, Zenit, Milan
Chances – Klopp’s men surprised everybody by reaching the final last season and have again caught the eye in the group stages after finishing at top of the Group of Death which consisted the likes of Arsenal, Napoli and Marseille. They are a team to beat and are considered as one of the outsiders for the title.
Prediction – Quarter-Finals
ATLETICO MADRID
Country – SpainCoach – Diego SimeoneKey Player – David VillaOther Star Players – Thibaut Courtois, Arda Turan, Diego CostaRising Star – Koke
Previous best in CL/European Cup – Runner-Up 1994Possible Round of 16 Opponents – Leverkusen, Galatasaray, Olympiacos, Manchester City, Schalke, Arsenal, Milan
Chances – Have been very impressive so far in the Champions League and have a very talented squad which could upset a few big teams, but their inexperience in the competition compared to the other top teams may prove costly in the knockout stages.
Prediction – Round of 16
BARCELONA
Country – SpainCoach – Gerardo MartinoKey Player – Lionel MessiOther Star Players – Gerard Pique, Andres Iniesta, NeymarRising Star – Jean Marie Dongou
Previous best in CL/European Cup – Winners 1992, 2006, 2009, 2011Possible Round of 16 Opponents – Leverkusen, Galatasaray, Olympiacos, Manchester City, Schalke, Arsenal, Zenit
Chances – The reigning La Liga champions topped their group which consisted the likes of AC Milan, Ajax and Celtic despite not playing their best football. The Spanish league leaders are still getting used to playing under their new manager and are expected to step it up when the competition resumes in February.
Prediction – Semi-Finals
BAYER LEVERKUSEN
Country – GermanyCoach – Sami HyypiaKey Player – Stefan KießlingOther Star Players – Lars Bender, Son Heung-Min, Simon RoflesRising Star – Emre Can
Previous best in CL/European Cup – Runner-Up 2002Possible Round of 16 Opponents – Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona
Chances – The Bundesliga side have gone all the way to the final before, but its very unlikely it will happen again this season. They have a very good squad with some very talented players, but its highly unlikely they will trouble the big teams.
Prediction – Round of 16
GALATASARAY
Country – TurkeyCoach – Roberto ManciniKey Player – Didier DrogbaOther Star Players – Wesley Sneijder, Felipe Melo, Buruk YilmazRising Star – Bruma
Previous best in CL/European Cup – Semi-final 1989Possible Round of 16 Opponents – Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona
Chances – Had little hopes of making it through to the knockout stages after being grouped with Real Madrid, Juventus and FC Copenhagen but they did it on the final matchday. They have a squad with some quality players and very few teams will fancy making the trip to Ali Sami Yen Stadium aka Stadium of Hell in Istanbul.
Prediction – Round of 16
OLYMPIACOS
Country – GreeceCoach – MichelKey Player – Kostas MitroglouOther Star Players – Vladimir Weiss, Giannis Maniatis, RobertoRising Star – Joel Campbell
Previous best in CL/European Cup – Quarter-final 1999Possible Round of 16 Opponents – Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona
Chances – They sealed the runners-up spot in Group C with a 3-1 final group game win over Anderlecht, and the Greek league leaders will have very low hopes going in to the last 16 draw. Anything else from now will be a bonus for the Red-Whites.
Prediction – Round of 16
MANCHESTER CITY
Country – EnglandCoach – Manuel PellegriniKey Player – Sergio AgueroOther Star Players – Yaya Toure, David Silva, Vincent KompanyRising Star – Matija Nastasic
Previous best in CL/European Cup – Group Stages 2011, 2012Possible Round of 16 Opponents – Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona
Chances – The Citizens are in fine form this season especially at home, but their 3-2 comeback win over the defending champions Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena will give them a lot confidence. Finishing second in their group means they will face the big teams in the next round, but they have enough talent and quality in their squad to be one of the challengers for the trophy.
Prediction – Quarter-Finals
SCHALKE
Country – GermanyCoach – Jens KellerKey Player – Julian DraxlerOther Star Players – Kevin-Prince Boateng, Benedikt Howedes, Klaas-Jan HuntelaarRising Star – Max Meyer
Previous best in CL/European Cup – Semi-final 2011Possible Round of 16 Opponents – Manchester United, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona
Chances – The Germans finished second in a tricky group which consisted the likes of Chelsea, FC Basel and Steaua Bucharest, which shows they are not a team to be taken for granted. One their day with some luck they could upset the big guns just like they did some years back.
Prediction – Round of 16
ARSENAL
Country – EnglandCoach – Arsene WengerKey Player – Mesut OzilOther Star Players – Olivier Giroud, Aaron Ramsey, Theo WalcottRising Star – Jack Wilshere
Previous best in CL/European Cup – Final 2006Possible Round of 16 Opponents – Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona
Chances – The Gunners have had a brilliant season so far, both domestically and in Europe, but their performances against the top teams in last few weeks have been worrying and finishing second in the Group of Death doesn’t do them any favours. Wenger’s side will have to improve their performances against the top sides in the second half season if they want to be genuine Champions League contenders.
Prediction – Round of 16
ZENIT ST. PETERSBURG
Country – RussiaCoach – Luciano SpallettiKey Player – HulkOther Star Players – Danny, Axel Witsel, Andrey ArshavinRising Star – Dzhamaldin Khodzhaniyazov
Previous best in CL/European Cup – Round of 16 2012Possible Round of 16 Opponents – Manchester United, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona
Chances – Snatched the second spot from FC Porto on the final matchday and progressed to the last 16 with the lowest points total. Anything else they achieve from now on will be bonus for the Russian side and very few teams will fancy making the trip to the Petrovsky Stadium in Saint Petersburg.
Prediction – Round of 16
AC MILAN
Country – ItalyCoach – Massimiliano AllergiKey Player – Mario BalotelliOther Star Players – Kaka, Stephan El Shaarawy, Cristian ZapataRising Star – M’Baye Niang
Previous best in CL/European Cup – Winners 1963, 1969, 1989, 1990, 1994, 2003, 2007Possible Round of 16 Opponents – Manchester United, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid
Chances – The Rossoneri haven’t been at their best for some time now and are struggling this term domestically and in Europe. They are not the force of the old, although their pedigree and experience in this competition means they should not be taken lightly.
Prediction – Round of 16
