CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUPS 2010/2011 - Real Madrid drawn in group of death

Here you have the Champions League draw which gave us the groups for the 2010/2011 edition of the most glamourous competition in world football. Three Liga teams were in the draw and whilst Barcelona will be relatively happy with the three teams they've been pitched against, although it does include another tough trip out to Rubin Kazan once more, Valencia and even more so, Real Madrid, will be feeling a little hard done by. Valencia face tricky ties against Manchester United and Turkish unknowns Bursaspor, while Real Madrid will have to negotiate their way out of a group containing AC Milan, Ajax and Auxerre. Quite a few European trophies out of that lot. Mourinhos baptism of fire. My prediction: All three to make it to the knock-out stages.

Champions League Last-16 Draw favours Spanish sides

Looking at that Champions League draw, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Sevilla must be licking their lips. None of them were pitted against any of the English sides, and even dangerous teams such as Bayern Munich, Fiorentina and Inter Milan have been avoided. Perhaps the toughest tie is that of Real Madrid, who will face Karim Benzemas old team, Lyon, who effectively knocked out Liverpool along with Fiorentina. Barcelona will fancy their chances against a limited Stuttgart team, whilst Sevilla probably got the easiest draw of them all against CSKA Moscow, although a trip to Russia in winter is never pleasant! Having all finished on top of their respective groups, all three Spanish sides will play the second leg at home. Sweet deal.

Elsewhere, David Beckham will return to Old Trafford for the first time since he left in 2003, whilst all eyes will be on Jose Mourinho as he goes back to Stamford Bridge with his Inter Milan team. Fairytale stuff, although I`m sure the English clubs would have wanted easier ride at this stage of the tournament.

What has puzzled me is the plan to play the ties over four matchdays, with one set of matches one week and then the following set the week after. Not sure what the reasoning for that is. So this year, the matches will take place:

FIRST LEG: 16-17 February and  23-24 February

SECOND LEG: 9-10 March and 16-17 March

*Europa League Last-32 Draw:

Club Brugges - Valencia
Villarreal - Wolfsburg
Athletic Bilbao - Anderlecht
Atlético Madrid - Galatasaray