Heart pounding fixtures await European football lovers when the champions league knockout stage commences after the yuletide. The draw held on Friday, reveals an interesting battle between the top notch Italian teams and their English counterparts. Defending champions Manchester United will pitch their strength against Italian giants Inter Milan. Chelsea are up against the old ladies of Italian football Juventus in a cracker that will always keep football lovers on the urge of their seats. A battle of equals is there for the taking as Arsenal battle it out against AS Roma. Two former champions, Real Madrid and Liverpool, will seek to outdo each other in perhaps the most interesting pairing in the first knock out round. With the outstanding form Liverpool have shown lately, they might be sail through to the quarterfinal stage, but it will not be without a struggle. In other fixtures, Barcelona will come up against Lyon, whilst Athletico Madrid will thrash things out against Porto. Villareal will sort things out with Panathanaikos, and Sporting Lisbon will come up against Bundusliga side Bayern Munich. Story by Nathan Gadugah