[attach id=236990 size="medium"]Lionel Messi (left) mobbed by Barcelona team-mates after his goal against Granada.[/attach]
Last year’s Champions League hero could return to the competition after his unhappy foray in the Far East while two of its oldest foes meet again in this week’s last-16 first leg ties.
Didier Drogba, who took the winning penalty for Chelsea in last season’s final, scored five minutes into his Galatasaray debut on Friday and could enter the fray along with newly-signed Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder against Schalke tomorrow.
Seven-times European champions Milan and Barcelona, who met in both the group stage and quarter-finals last season, face off again at the San Siro with the Lionel Messi-inspired Catalans hot favourites to pull off another win.
Arsenal, who have reached this stage for the 13th time in a row, host a rampant Bayern Munich while Porto are at home to impressive debutants Malaga in a match which features so many South Americans it resembles a Libertadores Cup tie.
Milan’s meeting with Barcelona is the pick of the ties although the Serie A side will not be able to field Mario Balotelli who has scored four goals in three games since his move from Manchester City.
The maverick striker is ineligible for tomorrow’s match at the San Siro, having played for the English side in the group stage when they were eliminated.
Milan have also lost fiery striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, injury-prone Brazilian Alexandre Pato and defender Thiago Silva since last season, instead fielding a younger side in an attempt to balance the books.
“It’s a new generation, and it’s a pleasure as they are still inexperienced but they bring something extra to the team,” defender Philippe Mexes said.
“They can bring a lot of things to the team, this new generation is very enthusiastic. They also demand a lot in training as they are very lively, and it’s doing good to all of us in the team.
“Milan can count on them as this is a long-term project.”
Expecting them to beat Barcelona, however, might be a little too much for Milan, who performed poorly in the group stage and finished second behind Malaga.
Arsenal were beaten by second-tier Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup on Saturday and their up-and-down form is in complete contrast to Bayern, who have won their five Bundesliga matches since the winter break without conceding a goal.
Galatasaray’s recent acquisitions could give an added edge to a team famous for their fanatical home crowd as they attempt to become the first Turkish side to reach the last eight since Fenerbahce five years ago.
The Turkish league leaders face a Schalke side in freefall after winning only one out of five league games since the winter break following the sacking of Huub Stevens and his replacement with Jens Keller.
Drogba, 34, who scored the equalising goal for Chelsea as they drew 1-1 with Bayern in last year’s final before netting the decisive penalty, moved to Shanghai Shenhua after that but cut short his stay in China amid reports of unpaid wages.
Sneijder joined the Turkish club from Inter, the side where he won the title in 2010.
Porto’s match at home to Malaga tonight features a host of players with South American international experience.
The Portuguese side regularly field seven or eight South Americans in their starting line-up while their opponents, who have already exceeded expectations in their debut season, are led by Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini.
Their side includes a number of familiar faces such as Argentine Javier Saviola, Brazilian Julio Baptista and Paraguayan Roque Santa Cruz.
Last 16 – first legs
Playing today – 20.45
Porto vs Malaga
Arsenal vs Bayern Munich
Second legs: March 13
Tomorrow – 20.45
Galatasaray vs Schalke
Milan vs Barcelona
Second legs: March 12
Played last week
Real Madrid vs Manchester United - 1-1
S. Donetsk vs Borussia Dortmund - 2-2
Second legs: March 5.
Celtic vs Juventus - 0-3
Valencia vs Paris St Germain - 1-2
Second legs: March 6.