Photo by Joe Toth/ISIPhotos.com
By DAN KARELL
It’s deja-vu all over again for Arsenal.
For the second consecutive year, Arsenal have been paired with German powerhouse Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League round of 16, after UEFA completed their Champions League knockout round draw this morning at their headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. It’s another tough blow to Arsenal’s title hopes, as they could have secured the top spot in Group F had they been able to hold on for a draw or win last Wednesday at Napoli.
Bayern emphatically defeated Arsenal last season at the Emirates Stadium, 3-1, and though Arsenal played inspired at the Allianz Arena, the eventual Champions League winners advanced on away goals.
Meanwhile, in the north of England, Manchester City will rue their decision to not bring on Sergio Aguero during their 3-2 victory against Bayern Munich last Tuesday because by settling for the one-goal win and second-place in Group D, Man City has been drawn with FC Barcelona in the round of 16. Other match-ups to keep an eye on include Chelsea vs. Galatasaray, with a return to Stamford Bridge of Didier Drogba, and FC Schalke vs. Real Madrid.
The precise dates on which the games will be played on will be determined at a later time. The team’s finishing in second place will host the first leg of the Round of 16 and then travel for the second leg.
Here’s the full UEFA Champions League Round of 16 draw:
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DRAW
Manchester City vs. Barcelona
Olympiacos vs. Manchester United
AC Milan vs. Atletico Madrid
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Paris Saint-Germain
Galatasaray vs. Chelsea
FC Schalke vs. Real Madrid
Zenit St. Petersburg vs. Borussia Dortmund
Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich
———
What do you think of this draw? Excited for the Arsenal-Bayern and Man City-Barcelona match-ups? Which team do you feel received the best draw?
Share your thoughts below.
Kun Augero will be back for City since this round isn’t until February, they are my pick to win it all. No other team is playing so well right now (but this could change in 2 months)
this has got to be Madrid’s year. I see a City vs. Real final. PSG and Munich the runners up.
Soooooo….does JJ take out Ronaldo now or wait until June? I keed, I keed, of course. 😉
that would be AWESOME!
Jones, can just hack KP Boeteng in training too. He did it to Ballack. Karma man.
Jones can win this now!
Happy to see Dortmund get what appears to be a good draw after having to survive a group of death two years in a row. Pelligrini screwed up so bad not going for the fourth goal against Bayern. Unfathomable that he failed to realize and even more so that no one on his staff. The TV announcers were evening mentioning that his subbing seemed strange. That said, Man City I bet is going to put up a real strong fight against Barca.
Manchester United again manage the easiest draw. The statistical probability of them consistently drawing the easiest teams is almost incalculable.
Would any of the Group Winners not be considered favorites???
This draw is bland, for me. Wait for the quarters.
This tops a bad week for Arsenal, draw to everton, loss to napoli, loss to city, drawn with bayern in CL, ouch.
Well, my advice for Wenger would be to leave Ozil off the roster against FC Bayern, at least the game in Munich if not both. I don’t think Ozil has the right stuff to truly fight against all of his Germany teammates on Bayern. When Real Madrid played Bayern in the CL semi-finals two years ago, Ozil was generally weak and I think it would be worse this time around, especially after the verbal punishment from Mertesacker over the weekend.
I will be cheering for Arsenal and, actually, think they can pull off the upset.
Arsenal can pull off the upset of Bayern without Özil?
High hopes, there!
They almost did it last year, although I get your point, Ozil is a critical part of this team now and leaving him off seems unlikely
A critical part of the team, guys? A whole hell of a lot of good Ozil did in the humiliating 6-3 loss to Man City and the 2-0 debacle lost to Napoli and the unprecedented and massive screw-up 1-1 draw to Everton. I am a huge fan of Ozil, just saying that I think he would be a major liability playing against his good buddies at FC Bayern. Arsenal needs players who are capable of getting in the face of the Bayern players and able to (literally) push back when pushed, and I don’t see Ozil doing that.
Ozil, can’t push back? You probably did not see Spanish Supercopa game against Barcelona, when Pepe was restraining Ozil from going after David Villa.
EUROSNOB!!
Serious cherry-pickng there.
“Suarez didn’t do much against arsenal or hull, I’d leave him on the bench against city.”
Tough weekend for the Gunners!
aside from Man U and Dortmund, who I think landed the most favorable draws, I think every other match looks awesome and could go either way
Think the draw was at least as favorable to PSG, and perhaps more (esp considering they couldn’t be drawn against Olimpiacos).