LONDON, Feb 18: With their domestic titles seemingly wrapped up during the two-month Champions League break, Barcelona and Bayern Munich now have the luxury of focusing on winning a fifth European Cup.

Bayern Munich, 15 points clear in the Bundesliga, open the knockout phase at Arsenal on Tuesday, while the first chapter in another blockbuster Barcelona-AC Milan clash is the following night in the last-16.

Barca have been impervious in Spain, surging 13 points clear in the title race thanks to Lionel Messi remaining in unstoppable form with 48 goals in all competitions this season.

The Argentina striker took his club tally to 301 in Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Granada before the trip to Milan where he scored twice in last season’s quarter-final triumph.

“It will be a complicated match because we face a very good team,” Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas said. “But we are highly motivated and confident.”

While Barcelona are in an enviable position in La Liga, seven-time European champions Milan are 11 points behind Juventus in the Serie A title race.

Milan will not be able to field Mario Balotelli who has scored four goals in three games since his move from Manchester City. The maverick striker is ineligible for Wednesday’s match at San Siro, having played for the English side in the group stage.

Milan have also lost fiery striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, injury-prone Brazilian Alexandre Pato and defender Thiago Silva since last season, instead fielding a younger side in an attempt to balance the books.

“It’s a new generation, and it’s a pleasure as they are still inexperienced but they bring something extra to the team,” defender Philippe Mexes told Uefa.com.

“They can bring a lot of things to the team, this new generation is very enthusiastic.”

If Milan see Barca as a daunting opponent, they will be thankful to have avoided Bayern, who are yet to concede a goal in 2013.

Instead Arsenal must take on Jupp Heynckes’ side, which was beaten in last season’s final by another London club, Chelsea.

“Bayern will be a tough game, but we are confident that on our day we can give anybody a good match,” Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey said.

Last year’s Champions League hero could return to the competition after his unhappy foray in the Far East.

Didier Drogba, who took the winning penalty for Chelsea in last season’s final, scored five minutes into his Galatasaray debut on Friday and could enter the fray along with newly-signed Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder against Schalke 04 on Wednesday.

In all-Iberian clash on Tuesday, FC Porto host impressive debutants Malaga.

Fixtures (all kick-offs at 1945 GMT): Tuesday: Arsenal v Bayern Munich; Porto v Malaga.

Wednesday: AC Milan v Barcelona; Galatasaray v Schalke 04.—Agencies