The Champions League - Teams Ranked | Knock Out Round Set.

The knock out stage of the Champions' League is set. The round of 16 will get underway in February. Below are the group winners which we've ranked in order. All group winners play a #2 seed (group runner-up) in the second round. The group winners will host the second game. Barcelona just like at the start of the competition is our favored team. However there are probably a dozen teams capable of reaching the semifinals.

Group Winners

Barcelona - The defending champs, I think only want to avoid Milan.
Chelsea - Built to win this thing this year.
Real Madrid - When healthy they should have be attack.
Manchester United - Always favorite, extra tough at home.
Bordeaux - Flying under the radar, for now.
Arsenal - Easy initial group, now we'll see what they really have.
Fiorentina - Played great in the group phase, however inexpericence could show now.
Sevilla - They'll have a fight to advance.

#2 Seeds

Inter Milan - They should fear nobody, especially since they can't be drawn against Barc.
AC Milan - How will Beckham help them when he arrives.
Bayern München - If healthy they'll be a force
Olympique Lyonnais - Could this be their break through year or is time running out.
CSKA Moscow - Will be a tough out.
FC Porto - Unproven
VfB Stuttgart - Could be tough especially at home.
Olympiacos - On paper they have the least talent.

Of course the winter transfer period could change these rankings a lot. Right now this is how we feel they should be ranked. Remember UFEA doesn't rank the groups, and teams can not play another team from their country or original group.

Top Potential Pro Sports Transfers

With Ricky Kaka’s 65 million euro transfer from AC Milan to Real Madrid, we’re taking a look what could be paid for our brightest sports stars.

To get you up to speed, in the soccer world, they really don’t have free agency or trades; instead they pay huge sums of money for the rights to sign a player. We don’t know the logistics, and if there are any that block this for being common place in North America’s pro sports leagues, but we wouldn’t be surprised if it starts happening soon.

Here’s the top 8 largest potential transfers.


8. $80m Evan Longoria – to Boston. The Red Sox need a future third baseman, and at 24 Longoria would own the city for years to come.

7. $85m – Carmelo Anthony - To Philly. NBA players dominate the list, because one guy is capable of having such a major impact. Philly would love to shell out the cash to bring Carmelo back to the east coast.

6. $90m – David Price – to New York. The Yankees have lacked one thing in recent years, pitching and though they thought about Linecum, Tampa Bay could use the cash, and the Yankees have no problem shelling out the bucks for this young phenom.


5. $100m – Adrian Peterson – to Dallas. The best young player in the NFL at 24, Jerry Jones can’t resist building a team around Peterson. Transfer are difficult with the NFL's Salary Cap, and large rosters, but he could be the biggest impact player in football. With a huge new stadium, the Cowboys will need a player to bring back the glamour.

4. $102m - Chris Paul – to LA. Think about this, the Lakers will try to keep the glory days going, and they’ll use their extra playoff revenue to help finance a move for the best young point guard in the NBA.


3. $108.7m Sidney Crosby - to Montreal. Pittsburgh isn’t going to like this but, of all these possible transfers, this one is most likely. First off, hockey has so many players coming in from foreign leagues, transfer fee start to make sense. Secondly the Canadians are Sidney boyhood favorites, and after accomplishing all that he has in Pittsburgh the opportunity to join Montreal would be too good to pass up.

2. $150m Dwight Howard – to Chicago. Howard’s value skyrocketed this post-season, and the Bulls look to return to the glory days with a capture of this 23 year old superman.

1. $200m Lebron James – to New York. In a move that is destine to happen, the Knicks set a world record to bring King James to the Big Apple. New York then signs him to a $300 million contract, essentially paying a half of billion for the NBA's biggest star.