Reuters Soccer Blog

Holders Inter Milan will face Bayern Munich, the team they beat to clinch the trophy last season, in the Champions League last 16 with a repeat of the 2006 final also due after Barcelona were drawn to meet Arsenal. 

Bayern might actually be favourites given Inter’s struggles so far this term while Barca and Lionel Messi destroyed Arsenal in the quarter-finals second leg last season despite the two sides’ similar style of play.

Those two are definitely the standout ties with Manchester United probably chuffed to have got Marseille while Real Madrid will again clash with bogey side Olympique Lyon in what will be an interesting game for Karim Benzema.

Stuttering Chelsea will be glad to have drawn knockout round debutants Copenhagen and having given Inter a mighty fright in the group stage, Tottenham Hotspur and Gareth Bale have the chance to do the same to AC Milan after being paired together.

Here’s the draw in full, maybe not as many tasty ties as there could have been but we’ll still all be very excited come February I’m sure.

 Group stage runners-up first and will play first legs at home. 

   AS Roma                      v Shakhtar Donetsk

    AC Milan                     v  Tottenham Hotspur

    Valencia                       v  Schalke 04

    Inter Milan                  v  Bayern Munich

    Olympique Lyon        v Real Madrid

    Arsenal                          v  Barcelona

    Olympique Marseille v Manchester United

    FC Copenhagen            v Chelsea

 The first-leg ties will be played on Feb. 15/16 and 22/23 with the second legs scheduled for March 8/9 and 15/16.