Attendances at the Round of 16 first-leg matches in this season's UEFA Champions League again proved the appeal of European club football's blue-riband competition.

Four sell-outs
Stadiums throughout Europe were packed for the eight ties, with the Santiago Bernabéu attracting a sell-out 72,304 for the game between Real Madrid CF and Juventus FC. Manchester United FC's Old Trafford ground was also filled to its 67,162 capacity for the visit of AC Milan, as was the Olympiastadion, where 59,000 watched FC Bayern München defeat Arsenal FC, and Anfield, with 40,942 attending Liverpool FC's match with Bayer 04 Leverkusen.

Camp Nou attracts 96,650
Impressive attendances were also recorded at Werder Bremen's Weserstadion, with 36,923 - 99 per cent of capacity - at the game against Olympique Lyonnais, and the Camp Nou as no fewer than 96,650, just short of a full house, viewed the eagerly-awaited first leg between FC Barcelona and Chelsea FC.