Who will win it this year? 10 December 2008 The lineup for the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League was completed on Wednesday with Manchester United FC, FC Bayern München, FC Porto and Juventus all winning their respective groups.
Mourinho warning But with the likes of Chelsea FC, FC Internazionale Milano, Arsenal FC and Real Madrid CF all finishing second in their sections, according to Inter coach José Mourinho coming top might not be such an advantage after all. "Second place is certainly not perfect, but now there will be a team who were group winners that will be very unhappy to get drawn against us – maybe Manchester United, Barcelona or Liverpool," he said. "On the other hand there will be a lucky runner-up that will play against Panathinaikos, although they have won in Milan."
Arsenal second Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez for one would never downplay the advantage of playing the second leg of a UEFA Champions League knockout round tie at home, but for Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger, whose side were forced to settle for second best after losing to FC Porto, it is not an issue. "It doesn't really matter if we are first or second because we can fight with everybody and qualify against anybody," he said.
Bayern impress Holders Manchester United, Bayern, Juventus, Liverpool and Club Atlético de Madrid all qualified undefeated, and though not too much should be read into the results on Matchday 6 as teams rested players, Bayern's commanding 3-2 win at Olympique Lyonnais will have been noted by their rivals. Who has impressed you most in the group stage, and who do you think will go on and win the UEFA Champions League and why? Click below to have your say. |