WE NOW KNOW all 16 teams that have progressed to the knockout round of the Uefa Champions League.
And we could see some very tasty fixtures thrown up when the draw for the next stage is made in Nyon, Switzerland on 11 December.
The Round of 16 is a little unique because, unlike from the quarter-final stage onwards, eight teams will be seeded.
The sides who topped their groups – in theory – have an advantage. But because of how some groups played out, there are high-profile unseeded sides waiting in the long grass.
Added to this, teams from the same domestic league can’t be drawn against each other. And, if teams have already met during the group stage, they can’t play each other again.
Also, there are five Premier League clubs through to the next stage, which means there are only a select few teams that can be drawn to face them.
For instance, Manchester United can’t face Basel or Chelsea. So immediately, their potential opponents are one from Bayern, Juventus, Sevilla, Shakhtar Donetsk, Porto and Real Madrid.
Ominously, because they failed to do what so many other English top-flight teams managed this season, unseeded Chelsea can now only possibly face three teams in the next round: Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona or Besiktas.
The seeded teams will host the second-leg and ties will be played between mid-February and mid-March next year.
Seeded: Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, Roma, Barcelona, Liverpool, Manchester City, Besiktas, Tottenham.
Unseeded: Basel, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Juventus, Sevilla, Shakhtar Donetsk, Porto, Real Madrid.
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Haven’t been to an international match for years but goin to this one. If this backline clicks it will be u believably exciting. Don’t want to miss it!
The most exciting Ireland selection I’ve ever seen.. really looking forward to what this quick, skillful attacking team can do..It seems the huge strength of the front row should allow us to choose such a mobile and athletic 2nd row.. (knowing it’s against Italy).. time will tell..
Rugby no longer seems that important
@rugbyanbeer: True, but it’ll be a nice distraction for a few hours. We all need a break from work and war updates.
@rugbyanbeer: Very compassionate of you mate, it would be good if the teams showed a mark of solidarity with Ukraine.
@rugbyanbeer: It was never ‘Important’ for me.
@Paul Mcnevin: throll
No doubt that AF is nailing his colours to the master on the type of game he wants to play….speed of ball away from the ruck is the critical factor to get the most out of the attacking capability he has picked. Let’s learn from our mistake in the first half hour of the French match where , in pursuit of quick ruck ball, we failed to resource rucks sufficiently to give proper protection to the ball.
Lowry gone for Blue steel in that photo
@Hirrison Mirk: I think he’s going for Magnum myself, with a touch of le Tigre.