Man City and Arsenal pay a high price

Arsenal and Manchester City’s failure to win their Champions League groups saw them pitted against Barcelona and defending champions Bayern Munich in this morning’s Champions League draw.

Manchester United will take on Olympiacos of Greece while Chelsea will come up against their former striker Didier Drogba after they were drawn with Galatasaray.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will be feeling a touch of deja vu after his side were paired with the team that knocked them out of last season’s competition at the same stage. However, it was the north London outfit that gave the Bundesliga and European champions their toughest test, with Bayern only progressing on the away goals rule after defeating Arsenal 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium before losing the return leg 2-0 at the Allianz Arena.

Wenger can also take heart from City’s come-from-behind victory over Bayern last week. City, who finished second behind Bayern in Group D, were handed an equally tough draw although it will be a momentous occasion for the club as they have never faced Barcelona in a competitive environment.

By contrast, 2012 winners Chelsea and Manchester United have been handed a kinder draw although both English clubs will face a stern examination in the away fixtures.

Elsewhere, seven-time winners AC Milan will face Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen must face Ligue 1 champions Paris St Germain, Schalke will play Real Madrid and Zenit St Petersburg have been paired with Borussia Dortmund.

Full round of 16 draw

February 18th

Manchester City v Barcelona

Bayer Leverkusen v Paris St Germain

February 19th

AC Milan v Atletico Madrid

Arsenal v Bayern Munich

February 25th

Olympiakos Piraeus v Manchester United

Zenit St Petersburg v Borussia Dortmund (5pm Irish time)

February 26th

Galatasaray v Chelsea

Schalke 04 v Real Madrid

Second leg

March 11th

Atletico Madrid v AC Milan

Bayern Munich v Arsenal

March 12th

Barcelona v Manchester City

Paris St Germain v Bayer Leverkusen

March 18th

Chelsea v Galatasaray

Real Madrid v Schalke 04

March 19th

Manchester United v Olympiakos Piraeus

Borussia Dortmund v Zenit St Petersburg