Champions League last 16 draw: What do we know about Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Galatasaray and Olympiakos?
A brief look at the four teams that Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United will face in the last 16
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Your support makes all the difference.The four English teams in the Champions League have today found out who they will face in the Round of 16. Manchester City face the enthralling two-legged tie against Barcelona, while Arsenal will take on Bayern Munich in a repeat of last year’s encounter at the same stage.
Chelsea will welcome Didier Drogba back to Stamford Bridge as the face Galatasaray, and Manchester United will take on Greek side Olympiakos. But what do we know about these teams?
BARCELONA
COACH: Gerardo Martino. The Argentine has enjoyed a stunning debut season in Europe with Barcelona flying despite a raft of recent injuries.
PEDIGREE: Won three of the last eight Champions Leagues and still the team to beat despite a thrashing by Bayern Munich in last year’s semi-finals.
FORM: Won 20 and lost two of 23 games this season despite a growing injury crisis, and one of those was in Amsterdam having already qualified. La Liga leaders.
PLAYER TO FEAR: Lionel Messi. Injured at present, but while Cristiano Ronaldo is likely to wrest the Ballon D’Or from him and Neymar is flourishing in his absence Messi remains the main man.
BAYERN MUNICH
COACH: Pep Guardiola. Uncertain start in Bavaria but in control now and seeking third Champions League in six years
PEDIGREE: Champions League and European Super Cup holders, utterly dominant in the Bundesliga, expected to win World Club Championship this wek
FORM: Lost a near-dead rubber at home to Manchester City last week but otherwise unbeaten in European domestic football this season.
PLAYER TO FEAR: Franck Ribery. Until Ronaldo blew Sweden away the French winger was a contender to win the Ballon D’Or. Quick, tricky and now working hard too.
GALATASARAY
COACH: Roberto Mancini. Former man City boss rReplaced Fatih Terim after 6-1 drubbing by Real Madrid in opening game, steered the Turks into the knock-out stages past Juventus – and Carlos Tevez.
PEDIGREE: Never gone beyond the last eight in the Champions League, but that was last year and they have growing financial muscle. Wesley Sneijder and Drogba are past winners.
FORM: Only won two of their six group stage games picking up only one point on the road. Trailing Fenerbache by nine points at home.
PLAYER TO FEAR: Didier Drogba. Not the player he was, but stil capable of devastating bursts of power and ability.
OLYMPIAKOS
COACH: Michel. Former Spanish international and long-serving Real Madrid midfielder. Fired by Getafe and Sevilla but doing well in Piraeus.
PEDIGREE: Perennial champions in Greece but never do much in Europe. Reached the last four once, in 1999.
FORM: Beat whipping boys Anderlecht twice, lost both games to Paris St Germain, edged out Benfica to qualify. Running away with Greek league with 43 points from 45.
PLAYER TO FEAR: Kostas Mitroglou can be a handful –he is nicknamed Mitrogoal and averages a goal every two games. Scored three in two play-off games as Greece beat Romania to qualify for the World Cup.
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