It was a case ofdeja vufor Real Madrid and Barcelona. For the second year running, Carlo Ancelotti’s side were paired with Schalke in the last 16 of the Champions League, while the Catalans will meet Manchester City – just as they did in 2013-14.
The rest of the second-round draw sees Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea renew rivalries in a repeat of last season’s quarter-final tie, while Italian champions Juventus face Dortmund, Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich meet Shakhtar Donetsk, Arsenal avoid the big teams for once with a clash against Monaco, Basel play Porto, and last season’s beaten finalists Atletico are in action versus Bayer Leverkusen.
For Madrid and Atletico in particular, the draw represents an accessible route to the last eight. Real thrashed Schalke 9-1 on aggregate in the second round of last season’s competition en route toLa Decimaand will be expected to triumph with ease again this time around, while Atleti should also advance with few problems against a Leverkusen side that finished second in Group C behind Monaco, having lost twice to the French team.
“Bayer? Nothing is straightforward, but we can get through it,” said Atletico spokesman Clemete Villaverde of the test ahead for Diego Simeone’s side.
“Ninety minutes in Germany is always complicated and a lack of concentration could cost us,” said a diplomatic Emilio Butragueno of Madrid’s draw, meanwhile. “We will have to go there with the maximum respect.”
For Madrid, currently on a remarkable 20-match winning streak, it appears a case of fortune favouring the brave, with Real rewarded in Monday’s draw for their recent fine form, positivity and belief over the last couple of months.
Ties to be played between Feb. 17, 18; 24, 25; and March 10, 11; 17, 18:
Paris Saint-GermainvChelsea
Manchester CityvBarcelona
Bayer LeverkusenvAtletico Madrid
JuventusvBorussia Dortmund
SchalkevReal Madrid
Shakhtar DonetskvBayern Munich
ArsenalvMonaco
BaselvPorto
For Barca, however, the opposite is true, and just like last season, the Catalans face a tough test against City. In 2013-14, Gerardo Martino’s men came through 4-1 aggregate winners in their last-16 tie with Manuel Pellegrini’s side, but the Premier League champions will likely learn from that experience and Luis Enrique’s inconsistent side are set to face a thorough examination of their credentials in the two-legged tie early next year.
Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta looked less than amused when the cameras caught his reaction just as the Catalan club were paired with City for a second year running, but later said: “It’s a great tie. We know each other well. There is still a long way to go until February, so let’s see how we go. We are still growing and we’ll go to Manchester to attack and to play in the opposition half.”
Like last season, one thing that could favour Barca is that City are a team who will come out and play football, not one that will sit back and defend. And against such sides, Barca often prevail.
Luis Enrique is confident that is what will happen and said: “I prefer to think positively. They are one of the most difficult teams we could have faced and a candidate for the title, but I believe we will go through against City.”
Still struggling to find their identity this term, though, amid doubts over the team’s form in La Liga and in Europe following constant changes to the starting line-up and tactics. February’s meeting with City looks perilous to say the least for Barcelona.
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