Barca face Arsenal in last 16
CHELSEA RUN INTO PSG FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT SEASON; BAYERN TO TAKE ON JUVENTUS
Champions League draw throws up a few marquee match-ups, with PSG taking on Chelsea for third successive year
European champions Barcelona will go up against English Premier League leaders Arsenal in the Champions League last 16 after they were thrown together in yesterday’s draw.
French heavyweights Paris Saint-Germain were drawn against 2012 winners Chelsea for the third straight season, while 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 Roma while Manchester City will meet Ukrainians Dynamo Kiev for a place in the quarterfinals.
Barcelona representative Albert Soler said the title-holders had plenty of respect for the Gunners, who the Spaniards beat 2-1 in the 2006 Champions League final in Paris.
“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.”
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.”
Not so bad
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.
Wolfsburg, who dumped out Manchester United to reach the knockout phase for the first time, will meet competition debutants Gent.
The first legs will be played on February 16-17 and 23-24 with the return matches scheduled to take place on March 8-9 and 15-16.
Meanwhile, Arsenal striker Theo Walcott said the reason behind Arsenal’s spate of clean sheets was the arrival of goalkeeper Petr Cech from Chelsea.
The Czech Republic goalkeeper equalled David James’ Premier League record of 169 clean sheets when the Gunners beat Aston Villa 2-0 on Sunday to climb to the top of the table.
Arsenal boast the second meanest defence this season, conceding 13 goals, and Cech’s clean sheet against Villa, which came in his 349th Premier League game, was his seventh of the campaign.
“He’s changed us completely in that back four. He’s a talker, he believes in us all,” Walcott told the club’s website (www. arsenal.com).
“That’s why he wanted to join us and having that presence behind you is always nice. He’s very commanding, he’s a leader in the dressing room as well.
“From when we signed him, we all knew how good he was (after) what he achieved at Chelsea,” added Walcott.