Man United Dream Draw: Can't Meet Arsenal, Barca, or Inter until Final

When UEFA finished the Champions League quarterfinal draw just before midday today, it was very easy to see whom the biggest winners were.

UEFA!

The draw happened to pair Manchester United on the opposite side to Arsenal, Barcelona, and Inter.

The possibility of the dream rematch of last year's final between Barcelona and Man United is very much alive.

The possibility of a mouthwatering final between Man United and Arsenal, which would be a repeat of one of last year's semi-final encounters, is also alive. Along with the chance of Alex Ferguson going head-to-head with Jose Mourhino for the Champions League.

UEFA pulled out Arsenal and Barcelona together which is by far the tie of the round, and will be the most anticipated matchup of the tournament.

Both teams like to get the ball down and play sexy, attractive football. The bookmakers already have Arsenal priced out at 2/1 to win their home encounter against Barcelona which just shows how big of an ask Arsenal have in front of them.

As far as the biggest winners goes (with regard to a team), it has to Manchester United. They were dealt a tough tie with Bayern Munich and if they get past the German side they will reach one of the two French sides, Lyon or Bordeaux.

But with all due respect to those three teams, Man United manager Alex Ferguson will be salivating at the thought that he has not only managed to avoid a quarterfinal tie against Barcelona, Arsenal, and Inter Milan, but also that he ended up on their opposing side and cannot face any of them until the final.

Man United will face Bayern Munich in a repeat of the 1998-99 Champions League final, where Man United snatched the trophy from the German side with a quick fire double in the final minutes at the Nou Camp.

Ferguson will look at shutting down Munich's wingers as the key to qualification. Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben caused Fiorentina endless amounts of trouble in the previous round and Ferguson will mark limiting their freedom as the key matchup.

Bayern Munich has had defensive issues during their Champions League campaign and Ferguson will feel that if he can stop them from scoring, his team has an excellent chance of qualification.

United were given the added advantage of the second leg being played at Old Trafford.

There is some joy to be had in this for Chelsea as well. Man United will have to face the German team on either side of Chelsea's trip to Old Trafford. Chelsea, along with Arsenal, will hope that the German side can distract United from their Premier League duties.

The quarterfinal draw has seen Arsenal's odds on winning the Champions League plummet to 11/1. Barcelona remain favorites to win the competition at just slightly over 2/1, while United are second favourites at 7/2, which is more than three times the price of Barcelona.

The favorites to meet in the final are Barcelona and Man United at 10/3, while an all-English final has shot out to 11/1.

The conspiracists will look at this draw as UEFA trying to do everything they can to ensure that the most attractive possible final occurs come May 22, and there is a strong case to be made for that argument.

But either way Alex Ferguson will be licking his lips at the draw his side was handed.