Picks for the Draw

Totally irrelevant, and completely random, but here's my picks for the Champions League knockout round draw. Keep in mind the following rules: no team can play another team from the same national federation. No team can play a team that was in its group. No 1st place team can play another 1st place team, and no 2nd place team can play another 2nd place team. With that in mind, here we go:

Bordeaux draws FC Porto.

It's an interesting phenomenon that weaker teams seem to get drawn together in the early knockout rounds. Not quite sure how that happens so frequently, but it does. Probably to allow for easier matchups later on. My money's on Bordeaux for this one, Gourcuff providing the magic and Chamakh providing the finish.

Manchester United draws Lyon.

This could be the tightest match in the entire knockout round, and I give the edge to ManU at home, but Lyon away- and Lyon makes it through on away goals.

Real Madrid draws Stuttgart.

Somehow they find a way to let Madrid through to the next round easily, even though they won't make it easy on themselves. Who are we kidding, I bet it goes 6-1 aggregate.

Chelsea draws Inter Milan.

There had to be one marquee matchup, and this is it. Mourinho's past comes back to haunt him as Didier Drogba shows exactly what Inter don't have anymore- that creative, behemoth-sized goalscoring machine with the silky touch. Mourinho won't be fired and he'll still win the league, but expect him to start sending out his resume.

Fiorentina draws CSKA Moscow

The Italians will have no trouble at home, but playing in Russia in the winter is a shitshow. Hopefully they'll make it through, and I don't really see why they wouldn't.

Barcelona draws Olimpiacos

Barcelona gets held to only 1-0 win in Greece, and all hell breaks loose at the Nou camp in a 5-0 destructo-derby fueled by Messi and Iniesta. Ouch, but they deserve it after a tough group stage.

Sevilla draws AC Milan

Defensive solidarity meets offensive firepower. Billed as a tight match, this one will go Milan's way in a hurry if Nesta stays fit. They know how to get it done on the big stage, while newcomers tend to choke under the pressure. Expect a tight, low-scoring affair.

Arsenal draws Bayern Munich.

It's size vs. skill in one of the most mouth-watering matchups you could ever hope for. The wonder wingers on each side will be doing their best, but it'll be the big men- or man, up front that makes the difference. That man is Ivica Olic. Watch Arsenal go down early, and Wenger's job is in serious jeopardy.