Manchester City draw Barcelona in Champions League
Manchester City have been drawn against Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League for the second year in a row with Chelsea to face Paris Saint-Germain.
Arsenal will take on Monaco, while defending champions Real Madrid face Schalke with Bayern Munich drawn to play Shakhtar Donetsk.
The first legs of the last 16 ties will take place on February 17/18 and 24/25, with the return matches on March 10/11 and 17/18.
Chelsea, as a seeded group winner, will be away in the first leg with Arsenal and City at home, having finished as runners-up in their respective groups.
Arsene Wenger had admitted before this morning’s draw in Nyon, Switzerland, that he was hoping to face Monaco, whom Arsenal have never played before and where Wenger was in charge between 1987 and 1994, winning the Ligue 1 title and the Coupe de France.
“I don’t think many people want Real Madrid,” he said. “I don’t want Bayern Munich and I am sure they don’t want us as well. I am not against Monaco.
“I have great memories from my time there. They gave me a chance when I was a very young manager. When I arrived they had never passed the first round in the European Cup; we had good times.
Monaco! I’m sure our fans will enjoy the away trip… great place, great draw! #ChampionsLeague
— Aaron Ramsey (@aaronramsey) December 15, 2014
Arsenal have been eliminated at the last 16 stage in four successive seasons, beaten by Barcelona, Milan and Bayern Munich twice.
Wenger said before the draw that Arsenal “have never had an easy ride”, but they have lost only two times in their 12 games against French opponents in the Champions League, with seven wins and three draws. Monaco also scored the fewest goals (four) and created the fewest chances (32) in the group stage.
Jose Mourinho also got his wish, having said he wanted Chelsea to draw PSG, whom Chelsea beat in last year’s quarter-finals, because it would “make it easy for everybody”.
#ToBeContinued CC @chelseafc 😉 pic.twitter.com/lzYCbbamoZ
— PSG Officiel (@PSG_inside) December 15, 2014
“It’s easy for us to travel, easy for the fans to travel and they won’t have to spend a lot of money to go there,” Mourinho said before the draw.
“They are a very good team and I would prefer a really good team, which will motivate the boys. So, if I could choose, even though I can’t, I would say Paris.”
FULL DRAW:
PSG v Chelsea
Manchester City v Barcelona
Bayer Leverkusen v Atletico Madrid
Juventus v Borussia Dortmund
Schalke v Real Madrid
Shakhtar Donetsk v Bayern Munich
Arsenal v Monaco
Basel v Porto
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