Second v First

In previous years, managers of Champion's league teams have said that not a lot of worry goes in to whether their teams finish in 1st or 2nd in their Champion's league groups because you will end up playing a great team in the next round no matter where you finish. But this year, being a second seed for the draw for the next round seems to be a very big handicap. Here's the groups as they stand. It's not looking good for Arsenal if they should finish 2nd which is quite likely, seeing as how they need Slavia Prague to take points off Sevilla.

If results go as expected tonight then the seedings for the next round will be as follows:

Pot 1		Pot 2
Real Madrid		Olympiakos
Chelsea		Schalke
Milan		Celtic
Porto		Liverpool
Man United		Roma
Sevilla		Arsenal
Barcelona		Rangers
Inter		Fenerbahce

Man United's possible 2nd round opponents:

Olympiakos, Schalke, Celtic, Rangers, Fenerbahce.


Chelsea's possible 2nd round opponents:

Olympiakos, Roma, Celtic, Rangers, Fenerbahce.


Liverpool's possible 2nd round opponents:

Real Madrid, AC Milan, Sevilla, Barcelona, Inter Milan.


Arsenal's possible 2nd round opponents:
Real Madrid, AC Milan, Porto, Barcelona, Inter Milan.


It's quite clear that Man United and Chelsea are firmly better off than Liverpool and Arsenal (bearing in mind I'm presuming Arsenal will finish second). I might put a bet on Arsenal and Liverpool not to make the quarter finals, although as I've said previously, do the complete opposite of what I say, so while I go down to put that bet on, you all go down and put a bet on an Arsenal Liverpool final and take a photo of yourself dancing around with all your winnings and send the photo in to me. Can't wait.