United face the Real test in Europe
Ferguson’s men drawn against Spanish giants in last-16.
NYON:
Barcelona versus AC Milan and Manchester United against Real Madrid were the pick of the ties in the Champions League last-16 draw yesterday, as the knock-out phase of this year’s competition took shape.
United’s tie with Madrid will see Portugal skipper Cristiano Ronaldo face his former club for the first time since leaving Old Trafford for the Spanish capital in 2009. United club secretary John Alexander admitted the club would have preferred a more gentle draw.
“Out of several stand-out ties, I think this is the one,” he told Sky Sports News. “If history has anything in our favour, our one victory against Real Madrid in this competition was in the season when we won the final at Wembley (in 1968).”
Former Madrid player and club director Emilio Butragueno said it was going to be a special game for Ronaldo.
“He’s a great professional,” said Butragueno. “I’m sure he’s going to do his best to help Real Madrid qualify for the next round, but going back there will be special for him.”
Puyol ‘happy’ about facing Milan
Perennial favourites Barcelona, champions in 2009 and 2011, are currently nine points clear in La Liga.“Personally, I’m happy about facing Milan,” said Barca captain Carles Puyol. “Not because it’s an easy opponent but because it’s a team I’ve always liked.”
Barcelona and Milan locked horns four times in last season’s competition, with Barca finishing above Massimiliano Allegri’s side in the group phase and then prevailing 3-1 on aggregate when they met again in the last-eight.
Arsenal were drawn against last season’s beaten finalists, Bayern Munich, who have constructed a nine-point lead in the Bundesliga after a storming start to the season.
“We know Arsenal well,” said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. “That’s fortunate and we can be happy about the draw. The game won’t be a foregone conclusion and we should not under-estimate Arsenal.”
Meanwhile, Celtic’s reward for reaching the knockout phase for the first time since 2007-08 is a rendezvous with Italian champions Juventus.
“In terms of glamour, it is great,” said Celtic coach Neil Lennon. “In terms of qualification it is going to be very tough. But we will take it as it comes and our supporters will be looking forward to this match.”
Big-spending French club Paris Saint-Germain will take on Valencia, with German champions Borussia Dortmund slated to face their Ukrainian counterparts Shakhtar Donetsk. In the remaining ties, competition debutants Malaga tackle Porto and Turkish outfit Galatasaray meet German side Schalke.
In a remarkable quirk, the draw for the matches in February and March produced exactly the same ties as had been drawn in Wednesday’s rehearsal.
Chelsea to play Sparta in Europa League
European champions Chelsea will play Czech side Sparta Prague in the last 32 of the Europa League.
The west London club dropped down into the competition after becoming the first reigning European champions to fail to get through the group stage of the Champions League.
Among the other ties, Tottenham will face Lyon and Europa League holders Atletico Madrid take on Rubin Kazan. Liverpool face Russian side Zenit St Petersburg.
The first legs will be played on Feb. 14 with the return fixtures a week later.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 21st, 2012.
Barcelona versus AC Milan and Manchester United against Real Madrid were the pick of the ties in the Champions League last-16 draw yesterday, as the knock-out phase of this year’s competition took shape.
United’s tie with Madrid will see Portugal skipper Cristiano Ronaldo face his former club for the first time since leaving Old Trafford for the Spanish capital in 2009. United club secretary John Alexander admitted the club would have preferred a more gentle draw.
“Out of several stand-out ties, I think this is the one,” he told Sky Sports News. “If history has anything in our favour, our one victory against Real Madrid in this competition was in the season when we won the final at Wembley (in 1968).”
Former Madrid player and club director Emilio Butragueno said it was going to be a special game for Ronaldo.
“He’s a great professional,” said Butragueno. “I’m sure he’s going to do his best to help Real Madrid qualify for the next round, but going back there will be special for him.”
Puyol ‘happy’ about facing Milan
Perennial favourites Barcelona, champions in 2009 and 2011, are currently nine points clear in La Liga.“Personally, I’m happy about facing Milan,” said Barca captain Carles Puyol. “Not because it’s an easy opponent but because it’s a team I’ve always liked.”
Barcelona and Milan locked horns four times in last season’s competition, with Barca finishing above Massimiliano Allegri’s side in the group phase and then prevailing 3-1 on aggregate when they met again in the last-eight.
Arsenal were drawn against last season’s beaten finalists, Bayern Munich, who have constructed a nine-point lead in the Bundesliga after a storming start to the season.
“We know Arsenal well,” said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. “That’s fortunate and we can be happy about the draw. The game won’t be a foregone conclusion and we should not under-estimate Arsenal.”
Meanwhile, Celtic’s reward for reaching the knockout phase for the first time since 2007-08 is a rendezvous with Italian champions Juventus.
“In terms of glamour, it is great,” said Celtic coach Neil Lennon. “In terms of qualification it is going to be very tough. But we will take it as it comes and our supporters will be looking forward to this match.”
Big-spending French club Paris Saint-Germain will take on Valencia, with German champions Borussia Dortmund slated to face their Ukrainian counterparts Shakhtar Donetsk. In the remaining ties, competition debutants Malaga tackle Porto and Turkish outfit Galatasaray meet German side Schalke.
In a remarkable quirk, the draw for the matches in February and March produced exactly the same ties as had been drawn in Wednesday’s rehearsal.
Chelsea to play Sparta in Europa League
European champions Chelsea will play Czech side Sparta Prague in the last 32 of the Europa League.
The west London club dropped down into the competition after becoming the first reigning European champions to fail to get through the group stage of the Champions League.
Among the other ties, Tottenham will face Lyon and Europa League holders Atletico Madrid take on Rubin Kazan. Liverpool face Russian side Zenit St Petersburg.
The first legs will be played on Feb. 14 with the return fixtures a week later.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 21st, 2012.