UEFA Champions League: Power Ranking the Kits of the Final 16

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The UEFA Champions League returns next week with the first matches of the knockout round. With that in mind, we know exactly what you're thinking right now.

Where is a ranking of the 16 remaining teams based on their kits?

Boy, are we glad you asked. Today, we're bringing you updated power rankings for the Champions League last 16. The rankings are based on who we think has the best home kit.

We have two disclaimers. First, this is just one guy's opinion. Feel free to leave all the angry, disbelieving comments you like.

Second, we're using home kits unless the teams have a kit specified for use in the Champions League. As far as we know, the only such club is Bayern Munich.

Ready? Let's get started.

 

Follow Mike on Twitter: @MikeCummings37

16. Zenit St. Petersburg

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We can't imagine anyone actually liking this kit aside from fans of the early 1990s Florida Marlins.

Hideous. Even Zenit fans must throw up in their mouths when they see this teal eyesore, complete with its laughably stupid 3D graphics.

15. APOEL Nicosia

Tracking down APOEL's kit is tough, and once you see it, you know why.

APOEL's home shirt looks kinda like that one Tottenham wore recently, with the cutesy sailor sash across the top. The only difference is, APOEL's looks like it was designed for a pub league team.

The color scheme causes damage to your retinas, so don't look too hard.

14. Olympique Marseille

Olympique Marseille's home kit is awful. Yuck.

The away shirt? Even worse. Double yuck.

13. Barcelona

Yes, we know. Heads are exploding across the globe.

Once you've stopped cursing, we'll start with the good news. Barcelona's away kit is really sharp.

But here's the bad news. Barcelona's home kit is a hugely disappointing take on a classic.

This is what Barcelona's stripes are supposed to look like. Even this is quite nice, thank you very much.

So why do the stripes have those variations in width this season?

Barca's designers were probably trying for something bold and fresh. Instead, they designed something that makes the best team on the planet look silly.

12. AC Milan

AC Milan's shirt is another desperately disappointing take on a classic.

This, for the record, is how the home shirt ought to look. So what's with the thinner stripes?

They make Milan's players look like confused referees or, even worse, inmates.

11. CSKA Moscow

CSKA Moscow have a classic color scheme, and their home uniforms actually look pretty good.

But they feature way too much advertising, and those Reebok logos on the shoulders are annoying.

10. Chelsea

The 2011-12 kit won't go down as one of Chelsea's best efforts.

There's just too much going on here for a shirt that should be rather simple. The horizontal stripes are entirely unnecessary, as is the white border that surrounds the Adidas stripes.

With a few simplifying tweaks, this could be a classic.

9. Bayer Leverkusen

Considering their potentially awesome color scheme, Bayer Leverkusen's shirt has to be considered a letdown.

That is, unless you're a fan of the diagonal-sash look. Lots of people like it.

We don't.

8. Benfica

This is a solid, middle-of-the-pack shirt. There's not really anything wrong with it, nor does it stand out.

Kinda like Benfica.

7. Napoli

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This ranking could be even higher if not for the red from the marquee advertiser.

Napoli's powder-blue scheme is awesome. Other teams that wear variations of it also look cool all the time.

And, by the way, the second and third jerseys also look sharp. The only problem is that red advertisement on the front of Napoli's otherwise excellent home jersey.

Oh well.

6. Basel

Take note, Barcelona. Basel's version is superior to yours in every way.

5. Olympique Lyonnais

Lyon's jersey is sharp. Those Lions shaded into the red and blue stripes really are a nice touch.

There's really not much to dislike here.

4. Bayern Munich

Bayern actually wear something else as their home kit, a tasteful red number. But this black jersey is designated as their Champions League shirt, and so it belongs here.

In a word, the black shirt is badass, kinda like the 2010 Germany away jersey.

3. Inter Milan

Attention, Barcelona and AC Milan: Inter Milan have the stripe width figured out. The result is an iconic shirt.

It's not hard. Just go with what feels right.

Your players will look sharp. Guaranteed.

2. Arsenal

The 2011-12 Arsenal shirt is a classic update on a classic design. The garland around the club crest (to commemorate the club's 125th anniversary) oozes class.

The long-sleeve version looks even better.

1. Real Madrid

In this league, at least, Real Madrid have Barcelona whipped.

There's really no comparison. Barcelona's unis look gimmicky. Real's, with their tasteful splashes of gold trim, are classic.

Case closed.