Holders and Spanish league leaders Barcelona are to play Premier League leaders Arsenal in the last 16 of the Champions League, 10 years after the sides faced each other in the final, following yesterday’s draw for the first knockout stage.
Spanish league leaders Barcelona, chasing a sixth title, prevailed 2-1 in the 2006 final at the Stade de France in Paris and also triumphed in the knockout phase in 2010 and 2011.
Chelsea, who are enduring a torrid time in the Premier League, are to face French league leaders Paris Saint-Germain in the knockout stages for the third year in a row after the French champions triumphed at the same stage last season and the London club had the upper hand in the quarter-finals the previous year.
BIG GUNS
Another clash between big guns is to feature former winners Juventus and Bayern Munich, while 10-time champions Real Madrid were drawn against AS Roma.
However, it is the game between the pacesetters in Spain and Arsenal that most catches the eye.
“We are certain to see a sporting spectacular,” Barca director Albert Soler said.
“Arsenal and Barcelona have a similar style of play. The fans will enjoy themselves, we’re two sides with a similar understanding of the game. They will be two great matches. We must have maximum respect for Arsenal,” Soler said.
“Barca are used to playing under pressure in every sense, but we are the reigning champions and that gives you an edge,” he added.
“It is not easy and the one to avoid at this stage, but it is up to us and we will give them a game,” Arsenal club secretary David Miles said.
“Messi, Neymar, Suarez... You could go on, but we have our own world-class players and I am sure they will be fantastic games in London and in Barcelona,” Miles added.
There is also a familiar feel about the Chelsea versus PSG tie.
“There is not much we don’t know about Paris,” Chelsea secretary David Barnard said.
“You only know if it’s a good draw after the tie. We are ambitious, we have two-and-a-half months to prepare,” PSG sports director Olivier Letang said.
Real Madrid and Roma have also seen a lot of each other in the competition, although not since 2008 when the Italians won home and away in the last 16.
“You have to be very much on your guard. If we see ourselves as favorites, things won’t go well for us,” Real Madrid soccer director Emilio Butragueno said.
“We know what can happen if you have 10 poor minutes on a European night,” he added.
BETTER DRAW?
Juventus could come to regret having blown their finale in the group stage, leaving Manchester City, who are to take on Dynamo Kiev, with the better draw on paper.
“Everybody wanted to avoid Barca and Bayern, so we are not so lucky, but Bayern will not be glad they drew Juve,” Juventus ambassador Pavel Nedved said.
“They [Kiev] have a good side and it will be difficult for us. They are growing in the competition and it will be a big challenge, but we hope to be ready,” Manchester City soccer director Txiki Begiristain said.
“They are a strong side, but they like to play football and it is just 11 vs 11. We are improving and gaining experience in the competition so we hope to do well,” Begiristain added.
PSV Eindhoven are to take on Atletico Madrid and Benfica are to face Zenit St Petersburg.
Gent, in their first participation in the competition, are to take on Germany’s VfL Wolfsburg.
The first legs of the ties are spread over four days in February next year, with the returns on March 8-9 and March 15, when there are two matches.
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