CHAMPIONS LEAGUE:THE CHAMPIONS League is better than it sounds. When the season gets serious it is not any sort of league. Just as well. The group phase is a fine reminder of how tedious an elite can be when seeding stops its members from facing one another.

There was just an illusion of spontaneity when Liverpool and Juventus, currently nondescript even in domestic competition, were eliminated. Only now can the Champions League take a grip on the imagination.

Group winners, admittedly, are kept apart a little longer and have home advantage for the return match in the last 16 ties that start today, but enough unpredictability survives. Whether out of altruism or an appreciation that revenue depends on public interest, Uefa have kept monotony at bay. In 2003, for instance, the organisers ended the insufferable spell of two group phases.

It would take extraordinary economic shifts before Steaua Bucharest or Red Star Belgrade could envisage regaining the European Cup, but there is still diversity. No winner has retained the prize since Milan 20 years ago. The silverware has made its way round trophy rooms in four countries over the past six years.

That spell opened with Porto beating the even more unlikely finalists Monaco in 2004. Success is personalised whenever Jose Mourinho is involved. But despite enhanced means, he never went beyond the last four at Chelsea and was eliminated with Inter when obliged to take on Manchester United a year ago.

The bookmakers foresee another anti-climax for Mourinho in the tie with the Stamford Bridge club that begins next week.

Still, there is a chance of the tournament upsetting the odds, even if the shock does not come in London.

Maybe, for instance, a Bayern Munich under the command of Louis van Gaal might develop some conviction. This is an affluent club that ought to achieve more in the Champions League than they have of late.

Where Germany is concerned, even Stuttgart have grounds for tentative hope. Though they are pitted against Barcelona, the magnificent holders are hindered a little. An under-strength line-up lost at Atletico Madrid on Sunday and Pep Guardiola will lack Dani Alves and Xavi.

That does not seem sufficient to bring down a wonderful team, but the stresses undergone with club and, where Spaniards are concerned, country, have been intense for a while now because honours are pursued on so many fronts.

To a lesser degree, Real Madrid will be on edge because a great deal is demanded of men who cost so much in wages.

A rather less glamorous Chelsea feel some of those pressures. Manchester United will be glad of any lack of attention as they busy themselves with an unexpected revival.

Barcelona have the talent to retain the Champions League if exhaustion is kept at bay, but nothing can be taken for granted. For all its corporate appearance, this tournament retains an element of surprise.

Tonight

Lyon v Real Madrid Stade de Gerland

Milan v Manchester Utd San Siro

Tomorrow

Bayern v Fiorentina Fußball Arena

Porto v Arsenal Estádio do Dragão

Tuesday, Feb 23rd

Stuttgart v Barcelona VfB Arena

Olympiacos v Bordeaux Athens

Wednesday, Feb 24th

CSKA Moscow v Sevilla Luzhniki Stadium

Inter v Chelsea Stadio Giuseppe Meazza