The draw for the knock-out stages of the Champions League threw up some mouth-watering ties for the New Year.

 

Sir Alex Ferguson will come face to face with Jose Mourinho as Manchester United visit the San Siro before entertaining Inter at Old Trafford. Chelsea will welcome former manager Claudio Ranieri to Stamford Bridge before the return in Italy. Arsenal face a tough tie against AS Roma. The recent history of Roma matches against English sides have made as many headlines on the front pages as on the back ones and UEFA must be praying for a trouble-free meeting this time around. Another meeting of former friends will happen in Madrid when Rafael Benitez takes his Liverpool side to the Bernabau to face Real Madrid in the first leg of a tough draw.

Elsewhere, Barcelona head a strong Spanish challenge with a draw against Lyon whilst Villarreal will play Greek side Panathinaikos. Atletico Madrid complete the quartet of La Liga qualifiers with a home first leg against FC Porto from neighbouring Portugal with the final tie featuring Porto’s fierce rivals Sporting Lisbon and the only German survivors Bayern Munich.