Champions League Last 16: 5 Dream Ties We'd Love to See

The final round of Champions League group stage games are set to take place this week, and teams, fans and managers will soon know their fate for the new year in terms of European action.

For top-spot placed teams and runners-up of the groups, the knockout stage beckons with an exciting draw to take place in December. For the Round of 16, the sides who finish top of each group will be seeded and therefore cannot face each other; each one will be away in the first leg to a group stage runner-up.

Teams of the same nation also do not face each other at this stage—so anybody hoping for a Champions League clasico will have to hold on for at least one more round.

Last year the knockout stage brought out some quality clashes. Here are five dream ties which fans would love to see this time around.

Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid

We'll start with a huge clash. One of last season's semifinal matches saw Bayern Munich take on Real Madrid with the Spanish side, led by Jose Mourinho, perhaps the favourite for the competition.

It was widely expected that we were to witness a Barcelona versus Real Madrid European Cup final—but neither progressed past the semis in the end.

A penalty shootout was needed to separate the sides last year after the two legs, and a replay this year, even at an earlier stage, would be a mouth-watering tie to watch.

Bayern are currently eight points clear in their Bundesliga, while Real Madrid are trailing the leaders by 11 points, sitting in third at present. In the Champions League, Bayern are top and should stay there, needing only a victory at home to BATE to be sure.

Real Madrid have already qualified from their group but will finish second place, with Dortmund topping the group.

Manchester United vs. Celtic

Everybody loves a good old "Battle of Britain" in the Champions League, and Celtic have got a great chance of making it through Group G thanks to their heroic win over Barcelona.

Celtic are at home to Spartak Moscow in their last match and require a better result than Benfica obtain against Barcelona in the Nou Camp to end the group in second place.

It is certainly possible, with the Scottish side having beaten the Russians 3-2 in the reverse fixture.

Manchester United have already waltzed through their own group and have secured top spot with a game to spare.

A meeting between the two would doubtless be a memorable affair.

Borussia Dortmund vs. Paris St. Germain

A meeting of Dortmund and PSG would be a massive clash of club cultures.

Dortmund have restructured and regrown their playing staff and style over a period of a few years under Jurgen Klopp which has led them to back-to-back Bundesliga titles.

PSG have spent big—really big—in an attempt to lure some of the finest players to France and challenge for domestic and continental glory.

So far they haven't won anything after being pipped to the Ligue 1 title by Montpellier and currently lie in fourth place this season, so Carlo Ancelotti certainly needs to display progress in the Champions League if he is to keep his job and continue to grow the team.

Dortmund have finished top of a group containing the champions of Spain, England and Holland; that alone should demonstrate their strength. PSG could yet top Group A, but they trail Porto by a point at present.

Barcelona vs. Juventus

Barcelona are guaranteed top spot in Group G with a game to spare, and will be eagerly watching the other groups to see who takes second place in each one to become potential opponents.

Group E is coming to a particularly fascinating head. Chelsea, the reigning champions, sacked their manager Roberto Di Matteo and sit third place at present, needing a win in their final match to have a hope of going through.

Regardless of Chelsea's result, though, a draw between first and second, Shakhtar and Juventus respectively, will see those two teams through and the holders crash out.

Juventus have shown themselves to be a mighty force over the past 18 months and ripped Chelsea apart at times recently, and a real test against one of the continent's best sides would show exactly where they stand, with Italy in general offering a poor showing this season.

Malaga vs. Arsenal

Malaga have been a revelation in this season's Champions League, roaring to the top of their group undefeated.

They have already secured top spot and qualification for the knockout stages, ahead of AC Milan, Zenit and Anderlecht.

Arsenal's road through Group B has been somewhat more rocky, despite less-than-impressive opposition of Montpellier, Olympiacos and Schalke.

Even so, they have now qualified and only top spot remains to fight over along with the German team—but with Schalke away to Montpellier, who have taken just one point so far, they must be the favourites to stay top.

A second-place finish for Arsenal could set up the clash against Malaga.

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