Soccer Source's Top 25 ranking of football clubs is a season-long work-in-progress that attempts to gauge the standings of the best teams in the world. My fearless forecast for the round of 16 is based on the assumption that the ranking is roughly accurate and as such a reliable indicator. A flawed assumption? You bet, but so too are all forecasts as well as all assumptions:

Schalke (23) v Porto (6)
The German side just made their debut on the list, and to much contention at that, but they look far inferior to their Portuguese opponents. Forecast: Porto take it without problems.

Roma (8) v Real Madrid (2)
This one looks a bit closer to call. Real have spent most of the season in the top five but Roma have played well and are second in Serie A behind mighty Inter. Potentially the most entertaining match-up as Roma play an energetic, attacking (and I might add, un-Italian) style, while Real have quite a bit of their own firepower (to put it mildly). This one will be fun. Forecast: Probably Real, but there's very little in it.

'Olympiakos are tough and have shown they can match anybody - even a full-strength Blues side'


Olympiakos (9) v Chelsea (7)
Another match-up featuring top-10 teams. As far as I can tell, this one hinges on who Chelsea have at their disposal when the sides meet on February 19. Didier Drogba? Michael Essien? John Terry? If the answers are yes, yes and yes, then look to Chelsea to advance. But Olympiakos are tough and have shown they can match anybody - even a full-strength Blues side. Forecast: Too close to call.

Liverpool (14) v Inter Milan (1)
Rafa Benitez's team (if it's still his team when these two sides take the field) have no chance unless they make substantial acquisitions in the January transfer window. Even then they probably don't have much of a chance, unless Inter suddenly lose their entire team to injuries or something. Right now I can't see how the Reds can even keep pace. Figure their run of CL successes to be reaching its end. Forecast: Inter, easily.

Celtic (unranked) v Barcelona (5)
Gordon Strachan's team have suddenly hit a poor run of form. Even if they get it together by the time they face Barca, they won't have much of a chance. The Spanish giants simply have too much firepower - even if Jar Jar leaves Camp Nou in the January transfer window. Forecast: Barcelona.

Lyon (12) v Manchester United (4)
Sir Alex Ferguson's men are playing better than any Premier League side right now and would be leading the table if it weren't for a lousy first week to the season. Lyon, while not unimpressive, have not displayed any of their brilliance of recent years. Now they're due to lose Karim Benzema to boot (if a team is willing to cough up the £20million the club are demanding). Forecast: Man U should win this one.

Fenerbahce (17) v Sevilla (unranked)
Sevilla have had a traumatic season already, with the Antonio Puerta tragedy and Juande Ramos' defection to White Hart Lane. This might be the chance they need to pull it out. Fenerbahce are higher-ranked now and as such are viewed as favourites but I have a feeling things will be different when the teams take the field. Forecast: To close to call.

Arsenal (3) v AC Milan (11)
Milan have not yet hit their stride, while Arsene Wenger's side appear to be firing on all cylinders. The reigning European champions  will put up a good fight, but the way things look today, Arsenal are simply too strong even for them. Then again, if Milan manage to frazzle Wenger's young team in the first leg at the Emirates, things could potentially come up very different. But I can't go against a team who have been consistently in the top five. Forecast: Arsenal to take it.