Arsenal
have been drawn against holders Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions
League.
Chelsea will face Paris Saint-Germain in the knockout stages for the third
season running, while Manchester City's opponents are Dynamo Kiev.
Arsenal were always vulnerable to a difficult draw having scraped through
their qualifying group as runners-up, and the nightmare scenario was
confirmed when they were pulled out with the current champions.
Barca eliminated Arsene Wenger's side in successive years in 2010 and 2011
and denied the Gunners the trophy with two late goals in the 2006 final at
the Stade de France.
And the Londoners will be long odds-against to reverse those results against
opponents boasting two of the three Ballon d'Or nominees in Lionel Messi and
Neymar.
Chelsea, on paper at least, have been handed one of the more difficult draws
possible as group winners and must take on a PSG side that knocked them out
at the same stage last season.
The teams also met in the quarter-finals the previous year, Chelsea winning
that one on away goals.
City's tie against the Ukrainians represents a chance to get beyond the last
16 for the first time, and their away leg will be played in an empty stadium
as punishment for previous crowd disturbances and racist behaviour among
Dynamo supporters.
Last-16 ties:
Gent v Wolfsburg
Roma v Real Madrid
Paris Saint-Germain v Chelsea
Arsenal v Barcelona
Juventus v Bayern Munich
PSV v Atletico Madrid
Benfica v Zenit
Dynamo Kiev v Manchester City
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