The draw for the Champions League Round of 16 pits Arsenal with Bayern Munich; Man City with Monaco, and Leicester with Sevilla.
As an Englishman, it’s been interesting absorbing the interest in the Champions League since the group phase ended. Talk of Man City and Leicester has been minimal with most of the focus being on Arsenal.
The central message has been one of failure. Arsenal has qualified for the Champions League every year since 2000-2001, but they have failed to navigate their way past the treacle of the Round of 16 in the previous six attempts.
I don’t think failure is the reason the English media is focusing on Arsenal. I believe they are in the spotlight because they represent our best hope of winning the thing, and if that’s true, they are once again going to have to do it the hard way.
The two strongest teams in European football are Barcelona and Bayern Munich. All of the major bookmakers make these two the favourites to lift the trophy in the heart of the Welsh capital this summer. And in the past six seasons, Arsenal have faced them a combined four times, losing on aggregate on all of them.
Despite winning their group for the first time since 2011-12, giving them the potential to draw Benfica, Bayer Leverkusen, Porto or Sevilla – you somehow knew they would be attracted to the two giants like flies and that sticky stuff that hangs from your roof.
And so Arsenal will face Bayern Munich in the Round of 16. It’s not much of a reward for finishing on top of the group – that is until you see that Paris St Germain (runners-up) get to play Barcelona.
As you can see below, Arsenal has faced the German giants twice at this stage of the finals, losing both ties – but the second was on away goals. Arsenal also beat Bayern at The Emirates last season but was spanked in Germany. Arsenal is going to have to keep the damage flesh wound like in Germany and then turn on the style at the Emirates if they are going to venture any further.
Arsenal Round of 16 Failures
2010-11 – Barcelona
2011-12 – AC Milan
2012-13 – Bayern Munich
2013-14 – Bayern Munich
2014-15 – Monaco
2015-16 – Barcelona
Man City Draw Monaco; Leicester Draw Sevilla
Pep Guardiola will be delighted with the draw against Monaco. Leonardo Jardim’s side are currently second in Ligue 1, and won their group at a canter, defeating Spurs both home and away, but they are no match for City over two legs.
Leicester will have to beat Sevilla if they are to keep the fairytale alive. It will be tough to pick up anything at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, so their performance at the King Power will make all the difference. Sevilla knows a thing or two about winning European club competitions. They have won the past three Europa League contests.
The Best of the Rest
The reigning champs, Real Madrid, should make short work of Napoli. Noisy neighbours Atletico should inch past Bayer Leverkusen, Dortmund will make mincemeat out of Benfica and you can toss a coin for the winner of the Porto and Juventus pairing.
Here is the draw in full:
Round of 16 Draw
Manchester City v AS Monaco
Real Madrid v Napoli
Benfica v Borussia Dortmund
Bayern Munich v Arsenal
Porto v Juventus
Bayer Leverkusen v Atletico Madrid
Paris St Germain v Barcelona
Sevilla v Leicester City
Champions League Winning Odds (Courtesy of Bodog)
Barcelona +300
Bayern Munich +400
Real Madrid +450
Atletico Madrid +800
Man City +1000
