Seven previous winners and three debutants are among the sides in the hat for today’s eagerly-awaited Champions League last 16 knock-out stage draw in Switzerland.

The teams that have made it through the first round group stage will be divided into two pots – group winners and group runners-up – in the draw at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon.

Clubs from the same group, or from the same country, cannot meet.

Holders Inter, who were pipped to first place in Group A by Champions League newcomers Tottenham, could face a trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United, or Chelsea.

Spurs, as reward for topping their table, will avoid the likes of Barcelona, nine-time winners Real Madrid, or Bayern Munich, with Danish outfit FC Copenhagen or Valencia among the sides they could be drawn against.

Arsenal, runners-up in their group to Shakhtar Donetsk, could be pitted against Barcelona, who knocked the Gunners out at the quarter-final stage last season.

“Let’s be realistic, Barcelona are the super favourite at the moment,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger reflected.

“But we take what we get and if it is Barcelona, it is Barcelona. In the last 16 it becomes a different competition, a cup competition and that means for 180 minutes you have to be at your top.”

For his part, Didier Deschamps, manager of Group F runners-up Marseille, commented: “I would like to avoid Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United or Bayern Munich.

“These sides have major match experience. At the moment those who are really strong are the Spanish. Manchester United will be even more performing in February than they are now, and Bayern will be better than they are now once they get back (Arjen) Robben.”

The eight seeded group winners will be away for the first legs and at home for the return legs.

Pot 1: (group winners) Tottenham Hotspur, Schalke 04, Manchester United, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk.

Pot 2: (runners-up) Inter, Lyon, Valencia, Copenhagen, Roma, Marseille, Milan, Arsenal.