Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Champions League: Last 16 revealed

James Milner scored a dramatic winner as Manchester City came from behind to defeat reigning champion Bayern Munich 3-2 in its final group game. Next up for City is Barcelona.James Milner scored a dramatic winner as Manchester City came from behind to defeat reigning champion Bayern Munich 3-2 in its final group game. Next up for City is Barcelona.
Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure will come face to face with his former teammates when Barcelona arrives in town for the first leg clash. Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure will come face to face with his former teammates when Barcelona arrives in town for the first leg clash.
Barcelona striker Neymar will be one of an array of stars on show when the Catalan side takes on City. Lionel Messi is expected to return from injury in time for the contest and will go up against his Argentina teammate Sergio Aguero.Barcelona striker Neymar will be one of an array of stars on show when the Catalan side takes on City. Lionel Messi is expected to return from injury in time for the contest and will go up against his Argentina teammate Sergio Aguero.
Mesut Ozil will be leading the charge for Arsenal when it faces Bayern Munich. The Gunners were beaten by the German side on away goals at the same stage last season.Mesut Ozil will be leading the charge for Arsenal when it faces Bayern Munich. The Gunners were beaten by the German side on away goals at the same stage last season.
No team has ever retained the Champions League title -- but Bayern will be fancied to become the first. It won 3-1 at Arsenal last season but only sneaked through to the last eight on away goals after suffering a 2-0 home defeat.No team has ever retained the Champions League title -- but Bayern will be fancied to become the first. It won 3-1 at Arsenal last season but only sneaked through to the last eight on away goals after suffering a 2-0 home defeat.
Cristiano Ronaldo is hoping to lead Real Madrid to its 10th triumph in the competition's history. Real will face German side Schalke for a place in the quarterfinals.Cristiano Ronaldo is hoping to lead Real Madrid to its 10th triumph in the competition's history. Real will face German side Schalke for a place in the quarterfinals.
Manchester United will be confident of progressing to the last eight after being paired with Greek side Olympiakos. United has endured a difficult season on the domestic front but qualified top of its group.Manchester United will be confident of progressing to the last eight after being paired with Greek side Olympiakos. United has endured a difficult season on the domestic front but qualified top of its group.
Didier Droba, who scored the winning penalty in the final for Chelsea against Bayern Munich in 2012, will return to Stamford Bridge with Galatasaray.Didier Droba, who scored the winning penalty in the final for Chelsea against Bayern Munich in 2012, will return to Stamford Bridge with Galatasaray.
  • Manchester City will face Barcelona in standout clash
  • Defending champion Bayern Munich will play Arsenal
  • Manchester United takes on Olympiakos
  • Real Madrid paired with German side Schalke

(CNN) -- It was the first tie out -- and it's the tie everyone is talking about.

Manchester City will face Barcelona in the last 16 of the European Champions League in what promises to be one of the most eagerly awaited contests in this year's competition.

City, which has been in irrepressible form at home in the English Premier League and won at defending champion Bayern Munich last week, had failed to reach this stage in each of its previous two attempts.

Now it will face a Barcelona side which has won the tournament on four occasions -- but director of football Txixi Beguiristain says City will not fear his former club.

"I think it will be a great match," he told City's official website.

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"Ours is a team with a lot of confidence especially after winning against the champions in Munich -- that will give us a lot of confidence. Not just at home but away as well.

"We have to be confident because of the way we are playing. We are showing that we can score in all matches. This is important in the Champions League.

"We scored in Plzen, in Moscow, in Munich -- it should give us confidence to play against a team who have been champions many times.

"Our manager knows Barcelona perfectly because he managed in Spain for a long time. In this sense, we are confident.

"I think the text messages will be flying between Manchester and Barcelona now between Sergio and Lionel! If you want to win the Champions League you have to beat the biggest teams, Barcelona are one of the biggest teams."

City has spent the past few years modeling itself on Barcelona -- now it is aiming to supplant it in Europe's top club competition.

Under the management of Manuel Pellegrini, the former Villarreal and Real Madrid coach, City has progressed to the last 16 of the competition for the very first time.

Backed by the riches of Sheikh Mansour, the deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, City has used its financial muscle to lure those who enjoyed great success at Barcelona.

Beguiristain worked at the Camp Nou from 2003-10 before joining City to work alongside Ferran Soriano, who joined following a spell with the Catalan club as vice-president.

Only last January, Barcelona president Sandro Rosell accused City of trying to poach players and coaching staff from the Camp Nou.

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One former Barcelona player who is expected to star for City is Yaya Toure -- the midfielder who left for England in July 2010.

The contest will also see City's Argentine striker Sergio Aguero, who will hope to have recovered from a calf injury after being ruled out for up to a month, go up against international teammate Lionel Messi.

And while neutrals will be salivating at the prospect of the two heavyweight giants going head-to-head, Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino says both teams would have rather avoided one another.

"City will not have wanted to play against Barcelona either," he told reporters.

"What we need to concentrate on is being in good shape when February comes around. We need to have a high level and sustain it.

"They are scoring goals with ease so we are not going to discover them now. We want to play well in the tie and obviously win it."

Elsewhere, defending champion Bayern Munich will take on Arsenal in a repeat of last season's clash at the same stage.

Bayern triumphed 3-1 in north London before squeaking through to the quarterfinals on away goals following a 2-0 home defeat.

Arsenal, which sits top of the Premier League despite Saturday's 6-3 defeat at Manchester City, will provide a tough test for Bayern, according to chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

"They are the leaders in the Premier League and so we have been warned," he told reporters.

Cristiano Ronaldo stands next to a wax figure of himself at the opening of a museum dedicated to his football career in his Portuguese hometown.Cristiano Ronaldo stands next to a wax figure of himself at the opening of a museum dedicated to his football career in his Portuguese hometown.
Locals gathered in Funchal for a glimpse of their hero and of the new museum.Locals gathered in Funchal for a glimpse of their hero and of the new museum.
The museum was officially opened by Ronaldo and his young son, Cristiano Junior.The museum was officially opened by Ronaldo and his young son, Cristiano Junior.
The Ballon d'Or awarded to Ronaldo in 2008, while he was at Manchester United, takes pride of place. Should the Portuguese receive the 2013 prize, there's plenty of room for another golden ball. The Ballon d'Or awarded to Ronaldo in 2008, while he was at Manchester United, takes pride of place. Should the Portuguese receive the 2013 prize, there's plenty of room for another golden ball.
The museum is close to Funchal city center on the Portuguese island of Madeira.The museum is close to Funchal city center on the Portuguese island of Madeira.
Cristiano Ronaldo opens a museum
Cristiano Ronaldo opens a museumCristiano Ronaldo opens a museum
Kevin Grosskreutz scored a late goal for Borussia Dortmund against Marseille to give the German side a vital win in Champions League Group F. The 2-1 victory coupled with Arsenal's 2-0 loss against Napoli means last year's beaten finalists finish top of the group.Kevin Grosskreutz scored a late goal for Borussia Dortmund against Marseille to give the German side a vital win in Champions League Group F. The 2-1 victory coupled with Arsenal's 2-0 loss against Napoli means last year's beaten finalists finish top of the group.
Argentinian forward Gonzalo Higuain scored in the 73rd minute for Napoli and Jose Callejon added a second in injury time, but Rafa Benitez's side miss out on the last 16 and will now play in the Europa League.
Argentinian forward Gonzalo Higuain scored in the 73rd minute for Napoli and Jose Callejon added a second in injury time, but Rafa Benitez's side miss out on the last 16 and will now play in the Europa League.
Barcelona striker Neymar celebrates scoring his first Champions League goal against Celtic in the Group H match at the Nou Camp. The Catalans thumped the Scottish champions 6-1 with Neymar completing a hat-trick.
Barcelona striker Neymar celebrates scoring his first Champions League goal against Celtic in the Group H match at the Nou Camp. The Catalans thumped the Scottish champions 6-1 with Neymar completing a hat-trick.
Dembe Ba (left) celebrates Chelsea's opening goal against Steaua Bucharest at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. Chelsea's 1-0 win against the Romanian champions ensured they finished Group E as winners. Dembe Ba (left) celebrates Chelsea's opening goal against Steaua Bucharest at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. Chelsea's 1-0 win against the Romanian champions ensured they finished Group E as winners.
Dutch forward Wesley Sneijder (right) scored a late goal for Galatasaray against Juventus in Istanbul. Victory for the Turkish champions means they and not the Italian league leaders go through to the last 16. The game which started on Tuesday, but was halted after 32 minutes because of a snowstorm, played to a conclusion on Wednesday. Dutch forward Wesley Sneijder (right) scored a late goal for Galatasaray against Juventus in Istanbul. Victory for the Turkish champions means they and not the Italian league leaders go through to the last 16. The game which started on Tuesday, but was halted after 32 minutes because of a snowstorm, played to a conclusion on Wednesday.
Champions League group matches: round six
Champions League group matches: round six
Champions League group matches: round six
Champions League group matches: round six
Champions League group matches: round six
James Milner celebrates scoring Manchester City's winning goal against Bayern Munich in the Group D match at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday.James Milner celebrates scoring Manchester City's winning goal against Bayern Munich in the Group D match at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday.
Bayern Munich's Thomas Muller got his side off to the perfect start with a goal in the fifth minute, but Manchester City came back to record a memorable 3-2 victory. Bayern Munich's Thomas Muller got his side off to the perfect start with a goal in the fifth minute, but Manchester City came back to record a memorable 3-2 victory.
Portuguese referee Pedro Proenca suspended the game between Galatasaray and Juventus in Istanbul following a snowstorm during the first half. Play was halted in the 32nd minute when players and officials could no longer see the white lines on the pitch. Portuguese referee Pedro Proenca suspended the game between Galatasaray and Juventus in Istanbul following a snowstorm during the first half. Play was halted in the 32nd minute when players and officials could no longer see the white lines on the pitch.
Snow teaming down at the Turk Telekom Arena in Istanbul on Tuesday night. Despite the best efforts of ground staff to make the pitch playable, the game was eventually abandoned. UEFA say the match will resume at 12pm GMT on Wednesday. Snow teaming down at the Turk Telekom Arena in Istanbul on Tuesday night. Despite the best efforts of ground staff to make the pitch playable, the game was eventually abandoned. UEFA say the match will resume at 12pm GMT on Wednesday.

"A few months ago we lost to them in Munich. They are a very tough team."

In 2012, Didier Drogba struck the winning penalty as Chelsea pulled off an unlikely Champions League triumph by defeating Bayern in the final in Munich.

Now at Galatasaray, Drogba will return to Stamford Bridge to face his beloved Blues in what promises to be an emotional reunion.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho had predicted that his side would be paired with the Turkish club, which defeated Juventus in a dramatic final group game to seal its place in the last 16.

Real Madrid has been paired with German side Schalke, with Carlo Ancelotti's men still harboring ambitions of winning "La Decima" -- the club's 10th title.

Real, which sits third in Spain, has not won the competition since 2002 and was beaten by Borussia Dortmund in last year's semifinal.

Dortmund, which was beaten in last season's final by Bayern, will travel to Russia to take on Zenit St Petersburg in the first leg.

Manchester United will be favorite to progress to the quarterfinal stage after being paired with Greek side Olympiakos.

David Moyes' side, which finished top of its group despite unconvincing domestic form, last won the competition in 2008.

Seven-time winner AC Milan has been handed a testing tie against Atletico Madrid.

Milan, which has endured a dismal season in Serie A, will face an Atletico side sitting level on points with Barcelona at the top of La Liga.

Elsewhere, French champion Paris Saint-Germain will travel to Bayer Leverkusen for its first leg tie.

Last-16 draw:

Manchester City vs Barcelona

Olympiakos vs Manchester United

AC Milan vs Atletico Madrid

Bayer Leverkusen vs Paris Saint-Germain

Galatasaray vs Chelsea

Schalke vs Real Madrid

Zenit vs Borussia Dortmund

Arsenal vs Bayern Munich

Ties to be played February 18/19 and 25/26 with second leg games on 11, 12, 18, 19 March.

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