UEFA Champions League Group Stages Results, Round of 16 draw

The group stages of the Champions League ended last week with all 4 English teams finishing on top of their respective groups. The Blues topped Group A while current champs FC Barcelona almost failed to make it to this year's Round of 16, the first knockout round, if it weren't for their win over Bremen in the last matchday. (Damn!) For that, as 3rd placers, Bremen move (down) to the UEFA Cup. Liverpool finished first in Group C despite losing to Galatasatay in the last matchday, 3-2; PSV ranked second. In Group F, Man Utd (and Scottish football team Celtic FC) did enough to move on to the next round. The Gunners topped Group G, going past Porto only on goal difference; both had 11 points. Real Madrid finished second in Group E, behind Lyon by 3, getting 11 points. Other results: (Winners, Runners-Up)

Group B: Bayern Munich, Internazionale
Group D: Valencia, Roma
Group H: Milan, Lille

Then just last Friday, the draw for the first knock-out stages, the Round of 16, was done in Nyon, Switzerland to determine which among the runners-up will face the champion of each group (first rule).

Other rules in the draw:
1. One group's champion cannot face their runner-up.
2. A champion and a runner-up from the same country also can't face each other.
3. Runners-up to be picked first, with the first of the 2 legs (home and away) to be played on the field of the runner-up.

The following is the result of the draw:


Some rules of the knock-out stages (including the semi-finals):
1. Scores are to be aggregated, with the team gathering the higher aggregate score to advance.
2. In case of ties, the team with more away goals advances.
3. If the previous rule proves inconclusive, 2 15-minute games are to be played. In case again of ties, away goals are to count double. Therefore, the away team advances.
4. In case no goal is scored during the 2 extra times, the game shall be decided upon by a penalty shootout.
5. After the semi-finals, the two teams that advance shall compete for the trophy on a single match in Greece in May.

Some thoughts on the draw:
1. Porto and Chelsea make an interesting pair, with the former previously handled (and eventually led to the championship) by Jose Mourinho and the latter currently handled by the same.
2. Between Celtic and Milan, I am for Celtic.
3. I think Arsenal got a relatively easier opponent.
4. It should be a breeze for Man Utd to get past first-timers Lille.
5. I am for Lyon over Roma.
6. Barca and Liv also make an interesting, if not the most interesting pair. Liverpool have been doing well against other European teams while they struggled early on against other Premiership teams. Barca, on the other hand, almost failed to make it to this next round.
7. It looks like it's going to be a tough match between Real and Bayern. I am for RM.
8. Between Inter and Valencia, I go for the latter only if it weren't for one of my favorites Spanish striker David Villa.

The Round of 16 won't be played until February 20 and 21, 2007.