UEFA Champions League round of 16 draws.

   On the heels of the World Cup draws made some weeks ago, the draws for the round of 16 for the UEFA Champions league have just been concluded.

Manchester City vs Barcelona
Olympiakos vs Manchester United
AC Milan vs Athletico Madrid
Bayern Leverkusen vs PSG
Galatasaray vs Chelsea
Schalke 04 vs Real Madrid
Zenith vs Borussia Dortmund
Arsenal vs Bayern Munich

On paper, the star games are expected to be the games between Man. City and Barcelona, AC Milan and Athletico Madrid, Arsenal and Bayern Munich. Though that singular factor that makes football tick being the unpredictable nature of the game,could sway the other games and make them mouth watering.
   Against popular opinion however, I believe it is not yet uhuru for Barcelona. Manchester City's current form is terrifying. Their attack is simply scary. Therefore I think it will be a straight up battle between City and Barca.  There is equally the Manuel Pellegrini factor. He is an experienced champions league manager having managed Real Madrid and Malaga. Tata Martino on the other hand, is new to the European waters. Though he has made a name for himself in South America, the European ground is a different ball game. Though it must be noted that with the strength of character Tata possesses, Barca can be said to be in safe hands.
Next up is the Arsenal and Bayern Munich game. Arsenal can be said to be on a high, despite their loss to Napoli and the tennis scoreline they were handed by a rampaging Manchester City. Arsenal can boast of the most complete midfield. The arrival of Mesut Ozil being responsible for the overflowing confidence amongst Gooners.  It is pertinent to note here however,that the same action man, Ozil, has so far been found wanting in key up tight games. The games against Manchester United, Napoli and Manchester City being reference points. Arsenal's progression can be strengthened if Ozil turns up against the Bavarians. In my opinion, the most important Arsenal midfielder is Mathieu Flamini. If he remains fit, Arsenal will have a good shot at Bayern. The Bavarians in my humble opinion has the most complete midfield in the world. Their depth is horrifyingly orgasmic. Schweinsteiger, Lahm, Thiago, Shaqiri, Muller, Gotze, Kroos....etc. Note that I did not even mention Ribery and Robben.  That is how deep their team is. However, a dejavu of last year's champions league between both clubs is still fresh in the mind of Gooners and is the point on which their hope is hinged. Football is a craftily beautiful game. Very unpredictable,which is why we all love the game.
   The UEFA Champions league offers football lovers worldwide a hot dish of the beautiful game. Come 2014, the football community await the restart of the champions league,which in itself will serve as a preamble to the biggest sporting event in the world, the FIFA World Cup holding in Brazil.