Europe's heavy weights paired together

There was always going to be a few games were the big teams will face each other in the first knockout round of the Champions League as the likes of Inter, Real Madrid and Chelsea failed to finish top in their group. But little was it expected that the English elite would land up against the Italian giants.

Liverpool was the only English team to land up against an Italian side as the English teams once again out number the Italians in the knockout round. Nevertheless, Liverpool was dealt an equally tough hand as they have La Liga Champions Real Madrid to deal with.

While Liverpool's domestic rivals Manchester United was drawn against Inter. The game will be an interesting one which will see Mourinho reunite against Ferguson on the field as the feud will continue as if Mourinho had never left England.

Ranieri will be returning to his old club as Chelsea have another Italian task ahead only this time it will be the high flying Juventus who seem to be taking on anyone who crosses their path. The Tinkerman man has done exceptionally well, despite the slow start to the season, and he will be looking to gain something out of the first leg at Stamford Bridge.

For those two Italian teams it will certainly be no walk over as lat years finalists will be looking to avoid elimination so early in the competition, however, it doesn't get any easier as Roma and Arsenal will still meet. The two teams in Europe with one of the most attractive styles of play will be sure to set the football stage alight in a football battle that will go down to the wire.

This competition looks to be getting extremely exciting and its unsure who will be the first to leave...

Chelsea-Juventus
Villarreal-Panathinaikos
Sporting Lisbona-Bayern Monaco
Atletico Madrid-Porto
Lione-Barcellona
Real Madrid-Liverpool
Inter-Manchester
Roma-Arsenal