UEFA Champions League: 2011-12 Knockout Phase (16 teams)
Nine clubs return to the Round of 16 – Milan and Inter from Italy, Arsenal and Chelsea from England, Real Madrid and Barcelona from Spain, Marseille and Lyon from France, and Bayern Munich from Germany. Serie A (Italy) boasts the most clubs, three. Two clubs each come from England (the Premier League), Spain (La Liga), France (Ligue 1), and Russia (the Russian Premier League). The Republic of Mancunia boasts none, with both Manchester United and Manchester City flaming out and going into the ‘penalty’ league (to use SAF’s words)…’Shut it, Fergie! Platini hits out at United boss for calling the Europa League a ‘penalty’‘ (DailyMail.co.uk).
This is the first time into the Round of 16 for four clubs – APOEL (Cyprus), Basel (Switzerland), Napoli (Italy), and Zenit (Russia).
The matches for the Round of 16 will be in February and March, with first legs on 14–15 & 21–22 February, 2012; and second legs on 6–7 & 13–14 March, 2012.
The draw will be held on Friday 16 December…
Group winners go into one pot…Bayern Munich, Internazionale, Benfica, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Arsenal, APOEL, Barcelona.
Group runners-up go into the other pot…Napoli, CSKA Moscow, Base, Lyon, Bayer Leverkusen, Marseille, Zenit [St Petersburg], Milan.
From UEFA.com, from 9 Dec., 2011, ‘Last 16 await Friday’s draw‘.
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Thanks to the contributors to the pages at en.wikipedia.org, ‘2011–12 UEFA Champions League‘
Thanks to European-football-statistics.co.uk for 2011-12 attendance figures.
Thanks to Soccerway.com for current attendance figures.
Thanks to Football-lineups.com for Portugal attendance figures.
Thanks to Izumi.com for the photo of Allianz Arena.
