CL knockout stage: Barcelona draw Arsenal, Chelsea play PSG again

NYON: The Champions League last 16 draw produced some familiar pairings on Monday with defending champions Barcelona facing Arsenal and Paris St Germain again taking on Chelsea.

Spanish league leaders Barcelona, chasing a sixth title, eliminated Arsenal in the 2010 quarter-finals and in the round of 16 in 2011, and beat the English Premier League leaders 2-1 in the 2006 final at the Stade de France in Paris.

French heavyweights Paris Saint-Germain were drawn against 2012 winners Chelsea for the third straight season, while five-time champions Bayern Munich will meet last year’s finalists Juventus.

The draw, carried out at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, also saw record 10-time winners Real Madrid matched up against AS Roma, while Manchester City will meet Ukrainians Dynamo Kiev for a place in the quarter-finals.

City’s first leg in Kiev will be played in an empty stadium because Dynamo has been sanctioned by UEFA for racist incidents involving fans.

“They have a good side [Kiev] and it will be difficult for us,” warned City director of football Txiki Begiristain.

“They are growing in the competition and it will be a big challenge but we hope to be ready.

“They are a strong side, but they like to play football and it is just 11 v 11. We are improving and gaining experience in the competition so we hope to do well.”

It is the game between the pacesetters in Spain and Arsenal which most catches the eye, however, and Barca representative Albert Soler said the title-holders had plenty of respect for the Gunners.

“Both teams have a similar understanding of football, so I think we will have two great games and we hope to get the better results,” Soler told beIN Sport Spain.

“As always, we have respect for the opponent. Arsenal are a great team and I am sure we will have difficulties against them.”

Arsenal club secretary David Miles said: “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.

“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.”

Chelsea, who are enduring a torrid time in the Premier League, will face PSG 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.

“There is not much we don’t know about Paris,” said Chelsea general secretary David Barnard.

PSG, who set a competition record conceding only one goal in their group, could be the favourites against Chelsea for the first time.

“This is the third year we play against Chelsea so it has become some kind of a ‘clasico’ for us,” PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said.

“We will be ready.”

JUVE UP AGAINST IT

Another clash between big guns will feature former winners Juve and Bayern.

Former Juve star Pavel Nedved, who helped them reach the 2003 final where they lost to AC Milan on penalties, also tried to stay optimistic despite landing one of the tournament favourites.

“Everybody wanted to avoid Barca and Bayern so we are not so lucky but Bayern will not be glad they drew Juve,” said Juve vice-president Nedved.

Bayern captain Philipp Lahm admitted the Bundesliga leaders had stumbled upon a tricky last-16 opponent in Juve but remained confident of progressing.

“It’s a European classic. Juve were runners-up last season which represents a major challenge, but we want to reach the quarters and will do everything we can.”

Real and Roma have also seen a lot of each other in the competition, though not since 2008 when the Italians won 2-1 home and away in the last 16.

Former Real Madrid and Spain star Emilio Butragueno, now a club director with the La Liga giants, admitted the draw could have been worse for Rafael Benitez’s side.

“We could have got more difficult opponents, but also easier opponents. Roma are a competitive team with internationally recognised players,” said Butragueno.

“We all know what it means to face Real Madrid in this kind of tie, so they will be very motivated and we need to respond to our expectations.”

The remaining ties featured two-time runners-up Atletico Madrid taking on 1988 champions PSV Eindhoven with twice former winners Benfica up against Zenit St Petersburg.

Germany’s VfL Wolfsburg, who dumped out Manchester United to reach the knockout phase for the first time, will meet competition debutants Gent.

“It appears doable, without taking the rival lightly,” Wolfsburg managing director Klaus Allofs said.

The first legs will be played on February 16-17 and 23-24, with the second legs scheduled for March 8-9 and 15-16.