The end of the group stage of this season’s Champions League confirmed the domination of German and English clubs in Europe, and the decline of the once powerful Italians.
For the first time, the four German and English teams that started the competition − Schalke 04, Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and title holders Bayern Munich, as well as Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City – have qualified for the first KO stage.
This is also the first time since 2011, and fifth in the last seven seasons, that all English representatives have progressed to the Last 16.
Spain has three teams, Zenit St Petersburg fly the Russian flag while the only Italian team to survive the group phase are Milan. The other three qualifiers are French giants Paris St Germain, Olympiakos, of Greece, and Turkish side Galatasaray.
Former Germany captain Lothar Matthaeus said: “I see the Bundesliga as the strongest league in Europe. I actually expected all four teams to reach the Champions League round of 16 for the first time ever.”
Cup holders Bayern Munich are bidding to become the first club to retain the glittering silverware in the Champions Leagua era.
Gunners aim at Bayern
Arsenal squeezed into the next round of the Champions League after a 2-0 upset at Napoli. Another goal for the Italians would have eliminated the Gunners. Yet, Arsene Wenger’s side were in the toughest group and their win in Dortmund was a feather in the cap for the Frenchman.
This will be the fourth time that Arsenal and Bayern Munich have met in the Champions League.
Last season, on their way to winning the competition at Wembley, the Germans ousted Arsenal in the second round on the away goal rule. At the Emirates, Bayern won 3-1 and the 2-0 victory for the Gunners in Munich was not enough to see them through.
The previous matches were: 2004-05 round two – Arsenal-Bayern 1-3, 1-0.
2000-01 group match – Arsenal-Bayern 2-2, 0-1 − the Germans gained four points.
This season, Manchester City have silenced their critics after reaching the knock-out stage for the first time. They were also the first English side to book their place in the Last 16 round.
Critics attributed this improvement to the appointment of Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini last summer.
Pellegrini is optimistic that City are capable of winning four competitions, including the Premier League.
The Citizens play the first leg against Barcelona at the Etihad Stadium where the Blues fans are expected to offer non-stop support to their favourites.
This is the first meeting between Manchester City and Barcelona in European competition.
Although the Citizens have not lost at home, they suffered two draws against Spanish sides as follows:
1969-70 (Cup Winners’ Cup first round): Athletic Bilbao 3-0.
1972-73 (UEFA Cup first round): Valencia 2-2.
2011-12 (Champions League group match): Villarreal 2-1.
2012-13 (Champions League group match): Real Madrid 1-1.
Manchester United, winners of Group A, take on Greek side Olympiakos, with the first leg away.
Olympiakos have been ordered to close the lower tier of the north stand at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium for the Last-16 first leg against United. They have also been fined €30,000 by UEFA following incidents during their home Champions League Group C game against Anderlecht on December 10.
David Moyes’s lack of European experience had been a concern but, contrary to expectations, the Champions League has brought the best out of United who are struggling badly in the Premier League.
United hold the upperhand in their past two Champions League encounters with Olympiakos:
2001-02 (group match): Man. United-Olympiakos − Away 2-0, Home 3-0.
2002-03 (group match): Man. United-Olympiakos − Home 4-0, Away 3-2.
Turkish task for Chelsea
Former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini will return to England after his new team, Turkish giants Galatasaray, were drawn against Chelsea, now under Jose Mourinho.
Didier Drogba, now at Galatasaray, will face his former Chelsea team-mates.
Reports suggest that Mourinho has contacted Drogba about the possibility of rejoining Chelsea in the summer.
The Blues, who won the Champions League at the expense of Bayern Munich two seasons ago, have high hopes of going all the way with Mourinho keen to win the prestigious trophy for club owner Roman Abramovich in his second spell at Stamford Bridge.
Galatasaray will host Chelsea at their newly-built Turk Telekom Arena in the first leg.
Chelsea’s previous tie with the Turks in the Champions League was in the group phase of season 1999-2000 with the Blues doing the double − home 1-0, away 5-0.