UEFA Champions League Draw, 2012 Knockout Stages: Chelsea-Napoli The Best Tie

Arsenal hasn't had the best luck with UEFA Champions League knockout stage draws. They have another tough one this season, and they'll probably be seriously tested against AC Milan. This was only possible thanks to Milan getting drawn into a group with Barcelona, where they were unable to capture first place.

Arsenal vs. AC Milan

Key player

Robin van Persie - Too obvious? Too bad. Robin van Persie is probably the most in-form player in the world at the moment. For years, people have wondered how good he would be if he could stay healthy for more than five games at a time. Do you have your answer? RVP has 19 goals in all competitions so far this season.

Matchup to watch

Theo Walcott vs. Whoever he plays against - Theo Walcott's been featuring as a regular right winger for most of his career. He's probably at his best on the left, cutting in. He's okay at cutting in from the right side as well. His terrible crossing and questionable decisions are infuriating, but he still makes about five good chances every game. He's incredibly dangerous, even if he has an occasional game where he misses 12 sitters.

Prediction

Arsenal go through by one goal - Zlatan Ibrahimovic is in excellent form, the AC Milan back line looks good, and they're always going to keep their midfield shape well. Unfortunately, the same problems that plagued them against Tottenham last season still exist. They don't have much width and they don't defend teams with great width particularly well. With Pato out of form and Antonio Cassano dealing with health problems, they're just missing a little something up top. They don't have the same steel without Gennaro Gattuso. They don't keep the ball the same way without Andrea Pirlo.

Milan are in good form in Serie A, their defense will keep them in games and Ibrahimovic is brilliant, but Milan are just missing that little something. In the unlikely event that Pato is back on form while Cassano and Gattuso are both back to full fitness, this prediction probably changes.

Real Madrid probably would have preferred to avoid a trip away to Russia, but the draw was not kind to them. Still, they could have drawn a team in better form and with a better track record of success than CSKA Moscow, so in that respect, Jose Mourinho won't be too bothered. Real and CSKA is one of the most intriguing ties in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, and the Russians will need a big result at home.

Real Madrid vs. CSKA Moscow

Key player

Xabi Alonso - CSKA Moscow are a fantastic team, but their center of midfield is perhaps the softest part of their squad. Their defense has the talent to deal with Madrid's front line and they have the attacking talent to score goals, but no one is going to keep Xabi Alonso from dictating play.

Matchup to watch

Pepe vs. Vagner Love - The battle between the CSKA forwards and Madrid back line should be good in general, but Pepe and Love could be clashing heads most often. Pepe likes to close down the ball more aggressively than the average center back, while Love will drop deep to link the midfield and Seydou Doumbia. Expect these two to get into it more than a couple of times.

Prediction

Real Madrid go through by one goal - Los Merengues aren't going to need the away goals rule or extra time, but CSKA will make this difficult with a one-goal win in a nasty game at Luzhniki Stadium. That won't be enough, with Madrid winning by two at the Bernabeu.

Sorry, Bayer Leverkusen. Looks like you guys drew the short end of the stick! You really should have beaten the crud out of Genk in that last Champions League game. Now, Bayer must face Barcelona, who will be very heavily favored to defeat them in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16.

Barcelona Vs. Bayer Leverkusen

Key player

Andres Inesta - Okay, so Lionel Messi is the best player in the world, but that's too easy. Messi and Xavi have been Ballon d'Or finalists for the last few years and are generally regarded as the best attacking players in the world not named Ronaldo, but Iniesta has arrived at their level of class in the past 18 months. He's been Barcelona's best player not named Messi this season and he was spectacular in El Clasico.

Matchup to watch

Sidney Sam vs. Whatever Barcelona has on the right - Daniel Alves is Barcelona's "right back", and when he plays as the right back in a 4-3-3, there is usually space behind him to exploit. Barcelona did a good job of accounting for this problem in the second half of El Clasico, but that's not always the case. Barca shouldn't be in any serious trouble in this tie, but if they are, it will be because Sidney Sam is wreaking havoc down the left.

Prediction

Barcelona go through by two or more goals - Come on, this team is just too good to go out to Bayer.

Have you heard the rumors the rags have been tossing around? That Chelsea might be considering a bid for Napoli's Edison Cavani because of how poorly Fernando Torres has played? The good news is, we can stop hearing those rumors! Chelsea and Napoli drew each other in the Round of 16 of the 2011-12 UEFA Champions League and play what is arguably the most intriguing tie of the round.

The pre-match build-up to this one should be a bit polarizing. It's probably going to come down to discussions about tactics and formations more than the other ties, which will fascinate some people and bore the hell out of others. Napoli certainly has the talent to compete with anyone on any day, but their three at the back setup is almost inherently at a disadvantage against Chelsea's normal 4-3-3. Walter Mazzarri will likely need to make an adjustment of some kind.

Chelsea vs. Napoli

Key player

Daniel Sturridge - He's not Chelsea's best player, but against Napoli, he could be their most important. Wide forwards cutting inside onto their stronger foot from wide positions are Napoli's kryptonite.

Matchup to watch

Chelsea's left side vs. Napoli's right side - Secret time! Ashley Cole hasn't been good for over a year now. Christian Maggio is one of the best right backs or wing backs in the world, and probably the second best in the world at his specific role after Daniel Alves. Juan Mata might have to be moved inside with someone else playing on the left wing in this tie, because Mata won't be doing much defensive work on Maggio.

Prediction

Chelsea to go through by one goal - Napoli are a great team with the firepower to upset anyone. Cavani, Marek Hamsik and Ezequiel Lavezzi make up an absolutely lethal front three. However, they're going to have trouble containing Chelsea with their current defense, both in scheme and personnel.

Once again, Gianni Infantino drew some balls out of some bowls and everyone watched in agony, waiting to hear their team's fate. The UEFA Champions League 2011-12 knockout stages have now been set, and the draw sets up a number of very close ties. Here's what Infantino and German legend Paul Breitner came up with for your viewing pleasure, come February

UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Draw

Olympique Lyonnais vs. APOEL Nicosia

Napoli vs. Chelsea

AC Milan vs. Arsenal

FC Basel vs. Bayern Munich

Bayer Leverkusen vs. Barcelona

CSKA Moscow vs. Real Madrid

Zenit St. Petersburg vs. Benfica

Olympique Marseille vs. Inter Milan

Right off the bat, Napoli vs. Chelsea and AC Milan vs. Arsenal look like the two biggest and most intriguing ties. FC Barcelona shouldn't be tested as much as they were by Arsenal in last year's Round of 16, with no disrespect intended to Bayer Leverkusen. Real Madrid and Bayern Munich will also be heavy favorites to advance.

The UEFA Champions League has been defined by how predictable it has become. The last seven tournament finals have played between teams from a group of just eight, all world powers that are expected to go deep in tournaments. Not since Porto defeated Monaco in 2004 the has a club from outside the world's super elite qualified for a final and even upsets in the tournament's earlier stages have been rare. This year's tournament looks set to break the trend though.

The tournament has already had its fair share of the unexpected as Manchester United and Manchester City crashed out in the group stage, but it could be in for some more. A look at the group runners up that will be matched against the group winners and you have three teams that are a real threat to do away with a big club and add some more unexpected to this year's tournament (note: Milan don't count because they only finished second due to being in Barcelona's group).

Napoli: As far as dangerous teams go, the list could be comprised of Napoli and Napoli alone and it would still be imposing. Few, if any teams can match their front three of Edinson Cavani, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Marek Hamsik. Gokhan Inler has added some steel to the midfield too, while Morgan De Sanctis has been sensational in goal. They're vulnerable at the back, but their unique style and unquestionable attacking power make them a threat to any team in the world. Seeing a Barcelona or Bayern Munich go down would be a surprise, but if it comes at the hands of Napoli, it won't be a shocker. You can bet all of the group winners will be praying to avoid these Italians at all costs.

CSKA Moscow: Remember Keisuke Honda? He was one of the breakout stars of the 2010 World Cup and quickly became a target of several big clubs, especially of Arsenal. Right now, he can't even crack the starting XI at CSKA Moscow even when he's fit and in form. CSKA look that good right now. Vagner Love and Seydou Doumbia make up a deadly strike partnership and the Russians have a great security blanket at the back with the sensational Igor Akinfeev. Add in the experience Sergei Ignashevich marshaling the back line and a healthy Mark Gonzalez and opponents have their hands full with CSKA. Oh, and if they need it they can always bring the newly healthy Honda off the bench for that extra spark. Not too shabby.

Bayer Leverkusen: When Sidney Sam is clicking, Bayer become awfully scary. The way he can dart and dash his way through defenses to create and open up space for the likes of Andre Schurrle, Stefan Kiebling, Eren Derdiyok or whoever else happens to be on the field at the time makes Leverkusen a tough out. Michael Ballack is having a bit of a renaissance as well and they already proved what they're capable of in taking down Chelsea during the group stages. If given a choice, this is not a team the powers want to see.