adminNYON. — Arsenal’s prize for completing the great escape is a daunting Champions League soccer last-16 clash against holders Barcelona – the first time the sides have met since 2011. The Gunners won their final two group games with Dinamo Zagreb and Olympiacos to squeeze out of Group F but now play Luis Enrique’s Barca in a glamour tie on week commencing February 14 for the first leg. The second leg will be played three weeks later.
Arsenal were always vulnerable to a difficult draw having scraped through their qualifying group as runners-up, and the nightmare scenario was confirmed when they were pulled out with the current champions.
Jose Mourinho could not have wished for a worse possible draw after Chelsea were again paired with Paris Saint-Germain. PSG knocked the English Premier League champions out of the competition at this stage last season and were the stiffest possible competition Chelsea could have met.
Manchester City topped their group for the first time ever thanks to a sensational comeback against Borussia Monchengladbach and were paired with Dynamo Kiev during yesterday’s draw in Nyon.
Apart from Gent, that provided a favourable draw for Manuel Pellegrini.
Manchester City supporters will not be able to attend the away leg in Ukraine with Dynamo Kiev serving a stadium ban.
Arsenal club secretary David Miles admitted that Barcelona was the draw that all fans were hoping to avoid.
“We were hoping for a good draw – it’s probably the team most fans would want to avoid,” he said.
“It’s up to use to make a good fist of it. We’ve got our own world-class players and it’ll be two fantastic games.
“I was told by my family that if I came back with Barcelona not to bother to go home.” 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. And the Londoners will be long odds-against to reverse those results against opponents boasting two of the three Ballon d’Or nominees in Lionel Messi and Neymar. Chelsea, who are enduring a torrid time in the Premier League, will face French league leaders Paris St Germain in the knock-out stages for the third year in succession 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.
“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.
Another clash between big guns will feature former winners Juventus and Bayern Munich, while 10-times champions Real Madrid were drawn against AS Roma.
“Everybody wanted to avoid Barca and Bayern so we are not so lucky but Bayern will not be glad they drew Juve,” said Juventus ambassador Pavel Nedved.
PSV Eindhoven will take on Atletico Madrid, Dynamo Kiev will play Manchester City and Benfica will be against Zenit St Petersburg.
Gent, in their first participation in the competition, will take on Germany’s VfL Wolfsburg. City’s tie against the Ukrainians represents a chance to get beyond the last 16 for the first time, and their away leg will be played in an empty stadium as punishment for previous crowd disturbances and racist behaviour among Dynamo supporters.
But it is the game between the pacesetters in Spain and Arsenal which most catches the eye, however.
“We are certain to see a sporting spectacular,” said Barca director Albert Soler.
“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.” Barca are used to playing under pressure in every sense. But we are the reigning champions and that gives you an edge.” Arsenal club secretary Miles 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. “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.” There is also a familiar feel about the Chelsea v PSG tie. There is not much we don’t know about Paris,” said Chelsea general secretary David Barnard. 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, though not since 2008 when the Italians won 201 home and away in the last 16.
“You have to be very much on your guard. If we see ourselves as favourites things won’t go well for us,” said Real director Emilio Butragueno.
“We know what can happen if you have 10 poor minutes on a European night.”
Juventus could come to regret having blown their finale in the group stage, leaving Manchester City, who will 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,” said Juventus ambassador Pavel Nedved.
Manchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain said: “They have a good side (Kiev)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. 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.”
The first legs of the ties are spread over four days in February, with the returns on March 8, 9 and 15, when there are two matches.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LAST 16 DRAW
Gent v Wolfsburg
Roma v Real Madrid
Paris Saint Germain v Chelsea
Arsenal v Barcelona
Juventus v Bayern Munich
PSV Eindhoven v Atletic Madrid
Benfica v Zenit
Dynamo Kiev v Manchester City
The first leg ties will be played on February 16/17 and 23/24 with the return fixtures taking place on March 8/9 and 15/16
EUROPE LEAGUE LAST 32 DRAW
Dortmund v Porto
Fiorentina v Tottenham
Augsburg v Liverpool
Midtjylland v Man Utd
St Etienne v Basle
Villarreal v Napoli
Sporting v Leverkusen
Sevilla v Molde
Marseille v Athletic Club
Shakhtar v Schalke
Sion v Braga
Galatasaray v Lazio
Sparta Praha v FC Krasnodar
Anderlecht v Olympiacos
Fenerbahce v Lokomotiv Moskva
Valencia v Rapid Wien. — AFP.
Online Reporter