UEFA Champions League 1st Knockout Round Draw & Predictions

On Friday, December 18th, UEFA announced the match-ups for the 1st knockout round of the Champions League. After group play the top two teams from each group advanced to the knockout round, 16 teams in total. For the draw teams could not be matched up against a team from their home country or a team from their qualifying group. Here is a look at each of the eight home-and-away draws and my prediction for each:

Stuttgart (GER) vs. Barcelona (SPA)
 - Stuttgart barely advanced into the knockout rounds and will most likely be happy just to have made it this far. They are rewarded with a chance to play the current champions, Barcelona.
 - Prediction: Barcelona 4-1 (aggregate)

Olympiacos (GRE) vs. Bordeaux (FRA)
 - Olympiacos won each of their group stage matches at home. However, Bordeaux did not lose a single game, home or away, in the group stage. They topped Bayern Munich and Juventus, and earned the most points of all remaining teams in the previous round.
 - Prediction: Bordeaux 3-0 (aggregate)

Inter Milan (ITA) vs. Chelsea (ENG)

 - Mourinho returns to London to take on his former team. The Italian champs finished second, but not impressively. Chelsea has been slipping lately in the EPL, but it a strong, experienced squad. Should be fun to watch Eto'o take on Drogba.

 - Prediction: Chelsea 3-2 (aggregate)

Bayern Munich (GER) vs. Fiorentina (ITA)

 - Bayern Munich advanced as expected, but are not the strong squad from the past. Fiorentina have been average in the domestic league, but excellent in Europe - beating Liverpool and Lyon.

 - Prediction: Fiorentina 4-2 (aggregate)

CSKA Moscow (RUS) vs. Sevilla (SPA)

 - Sevilla started out as one of the hottest teams in the early part of the group stage, but then cooled off at the end. CSKA Moscow beat out Wolfsburg to grab the second spot in Group B. With a 7 goal differential in the group stage Sevilla has too much fire power for CSKA to overcome.

 - Prediction: Sevilla 3-1 (aggregate)

Lyon (FRA) vs. Real Madrid (SPA)

 - Lyon only lost 1 match out of 6 in the last round and are traditionally France's best team. However, they will be going up against a Real Madrid which put in 15 goals in 6 games and is playing for a spot in the finals, which is in their home stadium this year.

 - Prediction: 4-3 (aggregate)

Porto (POR) vs. Arsenal (ENG)

 - Porto's only real competition in the last round was Chelsea, which they lost two both times. Arsenal on the other hand jumped out to a big early lead in their group and cruised to a knockout round spot. That along with the fact that Wenger's young guns are making a march for the Premiere League crown, means you can write this one in pen.

 - Prediction: Arsenal 5-1 (aggregate)

AC Milan (ITA) vs. Manchester United (ENG)

 - The most interesting match-up of the 1st knockout round. David Beckham returns to Manchester United, the team that he built his career with. ManU finished atop their group and are right were everyone expects them to be. AC Milan had a slightly harder time, just beating out Marseille on the last group play day. When AC Milan lines up Pato, Ronaldinho, Beckham, Seedorf, Pirlo and Huntelaar the ManU defense will be exposed, much like this season in the EPL. The Red Devil fans are happy to see Beckham again, but not the final result.

 - Prediction: AC Milan 3-2 (aggregate)

The first legs will be played over February 16, 17, 23, and 24th, and the second legs will be played on March 9, 10, 16, and 17th. All matches can be seen on Fox Soccer Channel.

What are your predictions on the match-ups?