IT’S A KNOCKOUT

18 Dec 2009

Come the draw for the Champions League knockout stages, there’s one word that gets dusted down and wheeled out more than most. ‘Mouthwatering’. You’ll hear it a lot over the coming days as today’s draw is dissected.

In fact, there’s been so much water issuing forth from various mouths in the aftermath of the last 16 draw that residents of the south and west having been rushing for the sandbags again.

To be fair, this is one draw that justifies the aquatic blather. Jose going back to the Bridge. David Skywalker’s duel with Alex Vader. Karim Benzema will most likely watch his new team take on his old team from the bench. Luca Toni will be punted from Bayern before he can meet his former side Fiorentina. Ok we’re struggling now.

But still, there’s more than enough there to cause the involuntary build-up of liquid around the facial aperture. Okay, so the challenge of the Milanese giants may not match the lustre of their famous names. Milan are not the force that destroyed United three seasons ago. And Mourinho’s fortunes in the Champions League since 2004 can be mapped by the law of diminishing returns.

That said, with the formalities of the group stages now over, these last 16 ties do herald the start of the proper Champions League in grand style.

Mouthwatering, as the man says.

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