Barcelona to face Man City in Champions League

NYON, SWITZeRLAND — The champions of Spain will play a champion of Spanish soccer values after the Champions League last-16 draw delivered compelling pairings Monday.

Barcelona was drawn to face Manchester City, shaped with a strong contingent of Spain internationals by the Catalan club’s former director of soccer. The four-time winner must first travel to Etihad Stadium, where Manchester United and Arsenal have already been routed in the Premier League this season.

“I think Barcelona will be very concerned that they have drawn us,” said City coach Manuel Pellegrini, who spent the past nine seasons in the Spanish league. “They are not the team of two years ago.”

Chelsea will have an emotional reunion with former striker Didier Drogba when it plays Galatasaray, and defending champ Bayern Munich was paired with Arsenal in the last 16 for the second straight year.

Also, nine-time winner Real Madrid will face Schalke, Manchester United got a favourable draw against Olympiakos, Borussia Dortmund will face Zenit St. Petersburg, AC Milan will play Atletico Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain will meet Bayer Leverkusen.

The first legs will be played Feb. 1819 and 25-26, with the return matches set for March 11-12 and 18-19.

Man City is the only newcomer to the Champions League knockout rounds, and wasted an opportunity to be seeded when Pelligrini did not realize that one more goal in its 3-2 win in Munich last week would have won the group ahead of Bayern.

Now, it opens the program against Barcelona at home, where the team is averaging more than four goals a game.

“Pelligrini is a very, very good coach,” Barcelona director Amador Bernabeu said.

“We know from his coaching in Spain that when we play him we have problems all the time.”