Manchester City to face Barcelona, Arsenal get lucky draw

Premier League champions Manchester City face a daunting task in the Champions League as they face Barcelona in the opening round of the knockout phase.

Manuel Pellegrini's men stuttered through the group stage and only ensured qualification with a victory over Roma in the final group game.

They take on the star-studded Catalans, who knocked City out of the tournament at the same stage last season, and who have since added £75m striker Luis Suarez to their ranks.

Arsenal, by contrast, drew statistically the weakest of the group winners in Monaco. Having finished runners-up in Group D - losing out to Juergen Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund on goal difference - they could have drawn one of Europe's footballing powerhouses, but instead face Arsene Wenger's former side, who scored just four goals in six matches to make the last-16.

Monaco's points tally of 11 was the least of any group winner, and they scored at least three fewer goals than any other team to make it through the group stage.

Chelsea, England’s only other participant in the competition following Liverpool’s exit, will take on Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain, who signed David Luiz for £50m from Stamford Bridge in the summer.

The ties take place on 17/18 and 24/25 February whilst the return legs will be played on 10/11 and 17/18 March.

Paris St-Germain v Chelsea

Manchester City v Barcelona

Bayer Leverkusen v Atletico Madrid

Juventus v Borussia Dortmund

Schalke v Real Madrid

Shakhtar Donetsk v Bayern Munich

Arsenal v Monaco

Basel v Porto