Barcelona's approach during the second half of that same game showed that they're far from the perfect side, and question marks remain over their defence, but if they're focused, and if Ronaldinho is in the mood, they're simply irresistible. No team in the tournament can put together passes in the way they can, and if Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi are back by February, they'll be even more formidable.

More and more, it seems as if the winners will come from Spain. Fabio Capello has really got to grips with Real Madrid. Roberto Carlos looks a different player from last season, Fabio Cannavaro has brought his class to complement a strong midfield, and Ruud van Nistelrooy (right) and Raul are top-class strikers. The pride is back at Madrid, and they must also have a good chance. I wouldn't rule out Valencia who topped their group in spite of a long injury list. For my money, they'll be much more of a force come the knockout stages than they've been in La Liga during the past month or so, and no one would want to underestimate them.

Against that, I just can't see any of the Italian clubs delivering this time. I thought Milan would go close last season, but now they're struggling in Serie A, and they don't have what it takes. Inter, meanwhile, have a host of quality players, but they tend to buckle when the pressure intensifies, and although Roma are playing attractive football in the domestic league at the moment, they're not potential winners either.

As for the British clubs, the prognosis is mixed. Celtic, who along with Lille should take most satisfaction from the group stages, are entitled to be back among the big clubs. They've won the European Cup, they have an enviable tradition as well as great supporters, and even a side as richly talented as Barcelona will find the going tough at Celtic Park.

I think Gordon Strachan has done a remarkable job with the resources he has, but it's not as if reaching the last 16 is a new dawn for the club. You couldn't say that the team is up and coming, that they're going to get much better.

Celtic lack class, and at the moment, they probably don't have a single player who the top English clubs would be interested in signing, so I don't see them going any further in the competition.

Same for Liverpool who are suffering from Rafael Benitez's preference for rotating both players and positions.

As much as I admire Benitez, I think he's messing about too much with the formation and when I saw them lose 30 at Arsenal last month, Steven Gerrard was out on the right wing, then the left wing, and then central midfield all in the one game.

In fairness to Jose Mourinho, there's a consistency of selection at Chelsea, he knows what his first team is, and the understudies know what to do when they come in. But at Liverpool, do we know if Craig Bellamy is first choice?

What about Dirk Kuyt, Peter Crouch, Jermaine Pennant . . . where are they in the pecking order?

Admittedly, I couldn't for the life of me see Liverpool winning the Champions League in 2005, but I'm even more convinced now that they're not up to it. They emerged unscathed from an easy group, however, they'll be found out as they were last season.

Although they're a much better prospect, I don't see Manchester United going all the way either. They've made fewer stupid mistakes in the Premiership than last year, and they've beaten the teams they're expected to beat, but they're not a special side.

If Wayne Rooney returns to his best form, and if he's given a fair chance of developing an understanding with Louis Saha, and if Cristiano Ronaldo cuts the crap and concentrates on what he's good at, then United are undoubtedly an attacking force. But with Michael Carrick failing to emerge as an effective partner for Paul Scholes, the midfield is just not strong enough for this level.

On the Arsenal front, there have been too many peaks and troughs already. The team wins well at Manchester United, beats Liverpool and Spurs emphatically, and then loses to Fulham. There just isn't the impression that the graph is going steadily up.

We know that Arsene Wenger and Thierry Henry have had a frank exchange of views, and much will depend on whether the Henry of last season, or the Henry of this season returns to action in the new year. We know too, that if Arsenal hit form, they're well capable of beating anyone in Europe, but there hasn't been much sign of that form of late.

So, once again, the onus is on Chelsea to win the trophy Mourinho covets more than any other. They couldn't have qualified from their group any more impressively, and while there are major doubts at the moment over all of the other British clubs, you have to think that Chelsea are in for the long haul.

If they can get it right at midfield where balance rather than quality is lacking, and if Andriy Shevchenko delivers, then Chelsea are unquestionably the main threat to Barcelona and Real Madrid.