UEFA Champions League round of 16: It's déjà vu as Arsenal get Barcelona, Chelsea draw PSG again

Dec 14, 2015

• 17:24(IST)
  The Round of 16

  We leave you with the round of 16 fixtures, For now, the wait begins till Tuesday, 16 February, 2016 for the knockout phase to begin, and what knockout it will be!

  Thank you for joining us and do stay with Firstpost Sports for comprehensive coverage of the Champions League.

  This is Manas, signing off.

  
  
• 17:11(IST)
  The Fixtures to watch out for

  The draw is done. And some lucrative fixtures have come up. This round of 16 looks tighter than any in recent memory.

  Arsenal vs Barcelona

  Arsenal have the drawn the team they were looking to avoid. The mighty Barcelona it is. Arsenal will be hosting Barcelona at the Emirates Stadium in London in the first leg, as per rules. Group stage runners-up play at home first.

  PSG vs Chelsea

  It's a repeat of last year for Chelsea! The Londoners face Paris Saint-Germaine. Remember, PSG knocked Chelsea out in this very round last year in Champions League on away goals. Not an easy fixture by any means. Will it be a repeat or results as well, or will Chelsea have its revenge. PSG will host Chelsea in Paris for the first leg of the clash

  Juventus vs Bayern

  Another big one: Juventus vs Bayern Munich! Bayern are rampant this season and Lewandowski is on fire, whereas Juventus seesm to have lost considerable ground this season. Their midfield powerhouse Arturo Vidal was scooped up by none other than Bayern themselves. So will it be a sweet homecoming for Vidal, or a bitter one? Despite Bayern's obvious superiority, one can never rule out the Old Lady. This fixture is a cracking one! juventus will host Bayern in the first leg in Turin, Italy.

  Roma vs Real Madrid

  Roma drew Real Madrid, tough draw for the Italians. But they would fancy their chances against los blancos. Real Madrid are very, very good and Ronaldo is the golden goose of goals. But the Spanish giants are not invicible. Nobody is in the Champions League. Roma host Real in the first leg.

  
  
• 16:59(IST)
• 16:57(IST)
  The 2015-16 UEFA Champions League Round of 16

  
  

  Here's how the fixtures look: 

  
  

  Gent(BEL)

  v

  Wolfsburg(GER)

  Roma(ITA)

  v

  Real Madrid(ESP)

  Paris(FRA)

  v

  Chelsea(ENG)

  Arsenal(ENG)

  v

  Barcelona(ESP)

  Juventus(ITA)

  v

  Bayern(GER)

  PSV(NED)

  v

  Atlético(ESP)

  Benfica(POR)

  v

  Zenit(RUS)

  Dynamo Kyiv(UKR)

  v

  Man. City(ENG)
• 16:56(IST)
  EIGHTH AND FINAL PICK

  Manchester City draw against Dynamo Kiev, good draw for Manchester City
• 16:55(IST)
  SEVENTH PICK

  Dutch club PSV Eindhoven will face spanish team Atletico Madrid in the last 16
• 16:55(IST)
  FIFTH PICK

  Another mouth-watering fixture, Juventus draw Bayern Munich.
• 16:54(IST)
  FOURTH PICK

  Aresenal's worst fears have come alive. The gunners will face defending champions Barcelona in the round of 16

  
  
• 16:51(IST)
  THIRD PICK

  It's a repeat of last years' ficture, Chelsea face PSG in the round of 16
• 16:49(IST)
  SECOND PICK

  Spanish giant Real Madrid face Italian club Roma

Load More

Find out how the draw went down in Firstpost's live blog above - The UEFA Champions League round of 16 draw as it happened

Report:

Nyon, Switzerland: European champions Barcelona will go up against English Premier Leagueleaders Arsenal in the Champions League last 16 after they were thrown together in Monday'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 quarter-finals.

Javier Zanetti at the Champions League draw. AFP

Barcelona representative Albert Soler said the title-holders had plenty of respect for the Gunners, who the Spaniards beat 2-1 in the 2006Champions Leaguefinal 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 opponnent. 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."

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 1988champions 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 and 23-24 with the return matches scheduled to take place on March 8-9 and 15-16.