UCL last-16 draw: Chelsea face PSG, City take on Barca

niall 18:06 15/12/2014
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  • Europe's elite: Champions Real Madrid will face Schalke, while Manchester City tackle Barcelona.

    The Champions League last-16 draw pits Europe's top teams against each other. The first leg games are scheduled for 17/18 and 24/25 February, with the second legs on 10/11 and 17/18 March.

    Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) vs Chelsea (ENG)

    Last meeting: Quarter-finals, Champions League 2013-14 (Chelsea 3-3 PSG – Chelsea won on away goals)

    How they stand: Chelsea go into this last-16 tie against PSG having qualified from their group as winners, with the Blues’ current domestic form scintillating – they have tasted defeat only once in their first 16 games. PSG finished second in their group, their sole defeat coming against Barcelona, and currently sit second in Ligue 1. 

    Key Battle: DIEGO COSTA vs DAVID LUIZ

    Spain striker Costa is currently top scorer in the Premier League and is one of the most potent strikers on the continent. He comes up against David Luiz, who played for three trophy-laden seasons at Stamford Bridge before departing for Paris in the summer. Expect a physical battle between the pair.

    Manchester City (ENG) vs Barcelona (ESP)

    Last meeting: Last 16, Champions League 2003-14 (Manchester City 1-4 Barcelona)

    How they stand: Four-time European champions Barcelona progressed from Group F as winners and they face a Man City side brimming with ambition in Europe’s top club competition. Both teams sit second in their respective domestic leagues and have been suffering from inconsistent starts to the season.

    Key battle: LIONEL MESSI vs VINCENT KOMPANY

    The top scorer in Champions League history will face off against City’s most valuable defender. It’ll prove a tough task to marshal one of the best footballers ever to grace the game but if anyone can bring hope of stopping the Argentine, it's City's captain. 

    Bayer Leverkusen (GER) vs Atletico Madrid (ESP)

    Last meeting: It’s Bayer and Atletico’s first meeting in the Champions League, but the side’s met four years ago in the group stages of the Europa League with both legs finishing in 1-1 draws. Leverkusen qualified that year with Atletico finishing third in the group.

    How they stand: Both teams are third in their respective leagues, so it should be an evenly matched affair. Diego Simeone’s men aren’t the same cohesive force as the team that finished the Champions League final in May but will be favourites for this one.

    Key battle: LARS BENDER vs KOKE

    Koke has assisted the most goals (4) in the Champions League this season and he’s also covered the most metres out of any player in the group stages (nearly 45 miles in six games). The man tasked with curtailing his impact is Bayer vice captain Lars Bender, who will need to be at his combative best.

    Juventus (ITA) vs Borussia Dortmund (GER)

    Last meeting: Final, Champions League 1996/1997 (Borrussia Dortmund 3-1 Juve) 

    How they stand: In what has been an unpleasant season domestically, Dortmund will look for yet more relief in Europe against a Juventus side that heads Serie A with only one defeat from 15 games. Dortmund, surprisingly, finished as group winners ahead of Arsenal, while Juventus finished second behind Atletico.

    Key battle: CARLOS TEVEZ vs MATS HUMMELS

    Tevez has registered three goals for Juventus in the Champions League so far this season, while Matt Hummels is the rock in a usually strong Dortmund defensive line and will look to restrict the Argentine’s influence.

    Schalke (GER) vs Real Madrid (ESP)

    Last meeting: Round of 16, Champions League 2013/2014 (Real Madrid 9-2 Schalke)

    How they stand: Current champions Real Madrid moved into the last-16 stage of the competition without breaking a sweat. If their domestic form is anything to go by then it will take a team full of pace and confidence to prevent them from delivering another champions league title.

    Key battle: ROMAN NEUSTADTER vs TONI KROOS

    Away from the central players who could define the contest, such as Cristiano Ronaldo and the prolific former Real man Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, these two players are among the most accurate passers in the competition – with 95% and 96% completed respectively. Either’s influence could dictate the tempo of the tie.

    Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) vs Bayern Munich (GER)

    Last meeting: N/A

    How they stand: Shakhtar advanced from Group H behind Porto, and will be firmly up against it when facing 2013 European champions Bayern, who’ve only lost one game in 21 this season under Pep Guardiola. 

    Key Battle: LUIZ ADRIANO vs MANUEL NEUER

    Brazilian Luiz Adriano is the main reason behind Shakhtar’s dominance over the last two months. He’s the top scorer in the Champions League this season with nine goals and has also contributed one assist. The man looking to contain Adriano’s threat is Manuel Neuer, Ballon d’Or nominee, and the nailed-on FIFA Goalkeeper of the Year.

    Arsenal (ENG) vs Monaco (FRA) 

    Last meeting: No competitive games but a pre-season clash in the Emirates Cup ahead of this campaign saw Monaco win 1-0 thanks to a Falcao goal. 

    How they stand: Arsenal will be the happier side after drawing Arsene Wenger's former club Monaco, the exact opponent their manager said in advance that he wanted. Despite coming under criticism recently, Wenger’s men have looked threatening in the run up to Christmas. Monaco, who finished second in Ligue 1 last season, finished top of Group B and will be looking to book their place in the quarter-final.

    Key battle: AARON RAMSEY vs JOAO MOUTINHO

    Welshman Ramsey has been a revelation this season, scoring two goals against Galatasaray in the final group game. For Monaco, Moutinho has stepped up to be one of their key figures since the departures of talented triumvirate James Rodriguez, Emmanuel Rivière and Radamel Falcao. 

    Basel (SUI) vs Porto (POR)

    Last meeting: N/A

    How they stand: Porto reached the knockout stages comfortably, avoiding defeat as they topped their group. They face a Basel team, who will be looking to qualify for the quarter-finals of the tournament for the first time since 1974.

    Key Battle: FABIAN FREI vs YACINE BRAHIMI

    Basel midfielder Frei looked in emphatic form during the group stages, boasting a remarkable passing accuracy of nearly 90%, as well as contributing a goal and two assists. Brahimi, who was recently named Arab Player of the Year, meanwhile, is just as influential for his Porto side, with four goals and two assists in the 2013-14 competition so far.

    The final for Europe's elite club competition will take place in Berlin's Olympic stadium next May.

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