Barcelona to play Arsenal again in Champions League

And while some of them were left beaming after the brief Champions league draw that lasted just over 15 minutes, several others faced the daunting prospect of seeing their teams face the best teams in Europe when the competition resumes in mid-February.

Barcelona, as you would expect, casually strolled into the round of 16 by topping their group with 14 points.

City will be pleased to have avoided the unsafe PSG as they bid to reach the quarter-finals for the first time, but their fans may be frustrated about the Kiev situation.

Barcelona playing Arsenal is a repeat of the 2006 final, which the Spanish champions won 2-1 thanks to two late goals in Paris. On the back of the great win in Athens, we were hoping for a good draw. Bayern Munich, who seem to be running away with their domestic Bundesliga title, were drawn against Juventus, last year’s losing finalists. They were always unlikely to take top spot above Bayern Munich in Group F, which meant there was always potential for them to meet one of the big guns in the second round.

But the draw has given us Barcelona and it’s up to us to make a good fist of it.

PSV Eindhoven are to take on Atletico Madrid and Benfica are to face Zenit St Petersburg. While they have improved over the past 12 months, Arsenal are not equipped to beat a team of Barcelona’s class. Theirs is a Champions League campaign full of familiar trips, well-trodden routes to the continent and dressing rooms and terraces which hold no surprises.

“Messi, Neymar, Suarez… you could go on, but we have our own world class players and I am sure they will be fantastic games in London and in Barcelona”.

Chelsea won in the quarterfinals in 2014 but PSG advanced from the round of 16 last season. Both are competition debutants, meaning there will be a new quarterfinalist in the Uefa Champions League this season.

They will feel the draw has gone against them again, with Wolfsburg, conquerors of Manchester United, their preferred opponent.

The North Londoners will entertain Luis Enrique’s side at the Emirates on February 23 before heading to the Nou Camp for the reverse fixture on March 16.