Draws loom for knockout rounds

The draws for the knockout rounds of the 2007/08 UEFA club competitions will take place on Friday at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

Midday start
The pairings for the first knockout round of the UEFA Champions League will kick off proceedings at 12.00CET. The eight group winners will be drawn against the eight runners-up, with the second-placed sides playing first-leg ties at home. Teams from the same association cannot face each other at this stage, and neither can those who qualified from the same group. UEFA General Secretary David Taylor and UEFA Head of Club Competitions Michele Centenaro will conduct that draw, and those for the UEFA Cup an hour later.

Two UEFA Cup draws
The Round of 32 of the latter tournament will see the winners of one group play the third-placed side from another, whereas teams entering the UEFA Cup from the UEFA Champions League will take on group runners-up. The group winners and runners-up will play their second legs at home. While there is country protection at that stage, the draw for the Round of 16, to follow directly afterwards, is open.

Media accreditation
Media representatives wishing to attend the draws have to apply via email to accreditations@uefa.ch before 12.00CET on Thursday. A sound system will be installed for ENG crews but no extra facilities such as telephone or ISDN lines will be available inside the draw hall and there are no special facilities for radio stations or websites. Due to interference problems, it is recommended that sound engineers do not use the following frequencies while in the House of European Football: 783.875 MHz, 786.125 MHz, 782.250 MHz, 782.875 MHz, 784.625 MHz, 785.250 MHz, 792.500 MHz, 794.875 MHz. Both draws will be transmitted live on uefa.com and Eurosport.