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We now know who the final 16 teams in the 2009/10 UEFA Champions League are, but who will they be facing come February?

Last year’s finalists, Manchester United and Barcelona, are both in the final 16, and they’re joined by the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Real Madrid, and AC Milan, who are back at this point after a year away from the competition.

And then along with a couple of familiar faces in Lyon and FC Porto, we’ve also got a few fresher faces looking to make a deep run, like Bordeaux, who will be out to prove that lack of experience won’t stand in their way of success.

There are a number of intriguing matchups that could be unearthed by next Friday’s draw, and below, we take a look at those possibilities.

Champions League Second Round Draw Guidelines

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

The draw will take place at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, from 12.00CET on Friday 18 December. The UEFA Champions League first knockout round first-leg ties will be played on 16/17 and 23/24 February with the second legs scheduled for 9/10 and 16/17 March.

Group A

So, what will be Bordeaux’s reward for breezing through the group stage? Yoann Gourcuff could have a chance to show AC Milan up close just how much he’s grown at Bordeaux, as that matchup is on their list of possibilities.

Bayern Munich have had their ups and downs thus far this season, but yesterday’s must-win mauling of Juventus in Turin showed just what Bayern are capable of in crunch situations. As a result, the English and Spanish contingent can’t be looking forward to the prospect of being drawn opposite them.

Group B

In the end, Manchester United topped their group as expected, and several interesting possibilities lie ahead. United beat Inter Milan and Porto on their way to the final last season, and they eliminated Lyon on their way to lifting the trophy in 2008.

CSKA Moscow pulled out a surprising win at Besiktas to book their place in the final 16, despite the cloud of drug test-related suspensions for a couple of their key players. Good on them for overcoming adversity in Turkey, but having to do so in Barcelona, London, or Madrid will be a bit tougher than Istanbul.

Group C

Real Madrid have been dumped out of the competition in the round of 16 in each of the last five years. It’d no doubt ease a few minds if Real avoid the likes of Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, and hey, it’s all the better that Liverpool aren’t anywhere near the draw.

David Beckham never had the chance to face Manchester United while with Real Madrid, but a return to Old Trafford will be in the cards if he’s selected in AC Milan’s Champions League squad. United and Milan met at this point in 2005, with Milan winning 2-0 on aggregate, but the roles have certainly switched since.

Group D

That tie would certainly have its share of buildup, but there’d be even more if Carlo Ancelotti and Chelsea are drawn against the Rossoneri. In fact, I’m almost expecting it to happen, because we have to have at least one ‘aligning of the stars’ tie, don’t we?

While avoiding Inter, AC Milan, or Bayern Munich is a prime draw, Porto are anything but an afterthought, as this marks their sixth round of 16 appearance in seven seasons. They gave Manchester United all they had in last season’s quarterfinals and would surely relish getting a second crack at toppling United.

Group E

Of the four Italian sides in the group stage, the only group winner was Fiorentina, the one that needed to go through the playoff round. Thanks to being able to avoid their Serie A rivals, their toughest possibilities are Bayern (who they were paired with in the group stage last season) and Porto. Difficult, but navigable.

Another year, another round of 16 berth for Lyon. Can they get to the quarters for the first time since 2006? You’d rate their chances as more than fair in a tie against Sevilla, but they’d be decided underdogs in any other tie.

Group F

Group F proved to be the most wide open group of the bunch, thanks to Dynamo Kiev and Rubin Kazan doing anything but laying down for Barcelona and Inter Milan.

The reigning champions didn’t exactly look convincing in winning the group, and they’ll have to bring it a lot better if they’re drawn against one of the better runners-up, which includes their round of 16 opponents from last season, Lyon.

Jose Mourinho got to face Chelsea in the World Football Challenge in July, but a round of 16 meeting between Inter and Chelsea would carry much, much more meaning and emotion. There’d likely be more than a few boos at Stamford Bridge, but given he led the club to so much success in his tenure there, one would think that the cheers would outweigh the jeers.

Group G

Sevilla will be hoping for a better result than when they lost to Fenerbahce in the round of 16 in 2008, but with that result in mind, they’ll know not to underestimate CSKA Moscow or Olympiakos if they happen to draw either.

VfB Stuttgart are floundering in the Bundesliga, but they‘re alive and well in the Champions League. Potentially dangerous as they may well be, as it stands, it’ll be viewed as a successful day for the contender that gets paired with them.

Group H

Arsenal have defeated Italian opposition in the round of 16 each of the last two years, and wouldn’t you know it, AC Milan and Inter Milan are both in their line of sight. It’d be fair to assume that former Gunner Mathieu Flamini won’t receive too warm of a reception if he even shows his head at the Emirates.

Olympiakos held Chelsea to a draw in Greece when they met in the round of 16 in 2008, and those two could be drawn together once again. Olympiakos finished the group stage with a home win over Arsenal as well, so that will be one tricky trip for someone, whether it’s Chelsea, Bordeaux, Manchester United, or Real Madrid.

Possible Second Round Pairings

Group Winners

Bordeaux (CSKA Moscow, AC Milan, Porto, Inter Milan, Stuttgart, Olympiacos)
Manchester United (Bayern Munich, AC Milan, Porto, Lyon, Inter Milan, Stuttgart, Olympiacos)
Real Madrid (Bayern Munich, CSKA Moscow, Porto, Lyon, Inter Milan, Stuttgart, Olympiacos)
Chelsea (Bayern Munich, CSKA Moscow, AC Milan, Lyon, Inter Milan, Stuttgart, Olympiacos)
Fiorentina (Bayern Munich, CSKA Moscow, Porto, Stuttgart, Olympiacos)

Barcelona (Bayern Munich, CSKA Moscow, AC Milan, Porto, Lyon, Stuttgart, Olympiacos)
Sevilla (Bayern Munich, CSKA Moscow, AC Milan, Porto, Lyon, Inter Milan, Olympiacos)
Arsenal (Bayern Munich, CSKA Moscow, AC Milan, Porto, Lyon, Inter Milan, Stuttgart)

Group Runners-Up

Bayern Munich (Manchester United, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Fiorentina, Barcelona, Sevilla, Arsenal)
CSKA Moscow (Bordeaux, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Fiorentina, Barcelona, Sevilla, Arsenal)
AC Milan (Bordeaux, Manchester United, Chelsea, Barcelona, Sevilla, Arsenal)
Porto (Bordeaux, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Fiorentina, Barcelona, Sevilla, Arsenal)
Lyon (Manchester United, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona, Sevilla, Arsenal)

Inter Milan (Bordeaux, Manchester United, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Sevilla, Arsenal)
Stuttgart (Bordeaux, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Fiorentina, Barcelona, Arsenal)
Olympiacos (Bordeaux, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Fiorentina, Barcelona, Sevilla)

So what do you want to see out of the Round of 16 draw? Let us know in the comments.