By: Kamusime Barnabas
The draw for the last-16 takes place at UEFA’s headquarters in Switzerland on Monday 14 December.
Chelsea have already booked their place in the last 16 of the Champions League, with one eye on the Blues’ potential opponents in the knockout stage.
Frank Lampard’s side have already secured their passage into the knockouts thanks to collecting 10 points from their four games in Group E.
With qualification already secured, Chelsea will be hoping to go on and win the group which would theoretically give them an easier tie in the next round. The Blues are level on points with Sevilla, so a victory tonight would be ideal.
But as the groups currently stand, who are Chelsea‘s likeliest opponents?
The Blues cannot face any other English teams such as Manchester United, Manchester City or Liverpool, who will avoid each other until the quarter-finals at least.
With all the Premier League clubs currently topping their group, they would all have similar potential opponents in the draw if things finished as they are.
As it stands the potential opponent for all the English clubs from Group A would be Atletico Madrid – but FC Red Bull Salzburg and Lokomotiv Moscow can still qualify for the knockouts in second spot.
Group B is still up for grabs with Borussia Monchengladbach , Shakhtar Donetsk, Real Madrid and Inter Milan still all potential opponents for the Premier League clubs.
FC Porto would be the option from Group C for Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea if the draw panned out that way. Of course, City cannot draw the Portuguese side again.
From Group D, Liverpool have already sealed top spot, which leaves Atalanta and Ajax battling for second place. The two clubs face off in a winner-takes-all in the final group match, and are both potential opponents for Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United.
In Chelsea’s group, the Blues are level on 10 points with Sevilla, with both sides already through, but if the Europa League winners win the group, then they cannot draw Manchester United, Manchester City or Liverpool in the next round. If Chelsea emerge as group winners, then the Spanish club will be a potential opponent for the other three English teams.
Borussia Dortmund, Lazio and Club Bruges can all still qualify in second place out of Group F, while it’s most likely Juventus who will finish second in Group G, though it’s possible Barcelona may drop down to second in the final couple of group matches.
Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig are the potential opponents out of Group H for Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City as it stands, with Manchester United looking to win the group.
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