UEFA Champions League Playoffs Draw LIVEBLOG

This article refers to an earlier version of the Champions League draw. Go to the latest Champions League draw article.

The draw for the 1^st knockout round (Round of 16) of the UEFA Champions League took place at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland, today at 12:00 CET (11:00 UK time).

Soccerlens brought you the draw LIVE as each of the 8 matches was being drawn.

The biggest matches of the Round of 16: Arsenal vs. AC Milan, AS Roma vs. Real Madrid, and Liverpool vs. Inter Milan!!!! Full draw after the jump.

.

12:17: Sixth match: ARSENAL vs. AC MILAN!!!

Seventh match: OLYMPIAKOS vs. CHELSEA

Eighth match: FENERBAHCE vs. SEVILLA

12:15: Fifth match: ROMA vs. REAL MADRID!!

12:14: Third match: SCHALKE vs. PORTO

Fourth match: LIVERPOOL vs. INTER!!!!!

12:13: Second match: LYON vs. MANCHESTER UNITED!!

12:12: First match: CELTIC vs. BARCELONA!!

12:11: The DRAW BEGINS!! Runners-up first.

12:08: Explanation of the draw procedure.

12:05: A presentation of the 16 teams still in the competition, and their progress so far.

12:00pm: Pre-draw ceremonies have begun. A presentation of the UEFA Champions League, its innovations over the past years, explanation of the playoffs rules, etc.

Among the contenders are the 3 most successful clubs in the history of the competition — 9-time winners Real Madrid CF, holders and 6-time champions AC Milan, and a Liverpool FC side who lifted the European Champion Clubs’ Cup for a 5th occasion in 2005. Liverpool are among the second seeds along with English rivals Arsenal FC.

.

Draw Procedure

1. 1^st-ranked teams from the Group Stage will be drawn to play against 2^nd-ranked teams (i.e. the group winners cannot be drawn against each other, and the group runners-up cannot be drawn against each other).
2. The winners and runners-up of the same group cannot be drawn against each other.
3. Clubs from the same country cannot be drawn against each other.
4. The group runners-up shall play their 1st-leg match at home.

.

.

The table below outlines all the possible pairings for the draw. Note that for a full preview of the knock-out draw team by team, you can read our “2007/2008 Champions League 2nd Round Draw: Preview” post by Eddie Griffin.
.

Possible pairings in Friday’s Round of 16 Playoffs Draw:

.

.