Chelsea land Barcelona in Champions League last 16 as Tottenham take on Juventus and Manchester United face Sevilla... plus Real Madrid clash with Paris Saint-Germain
- Chelsea have been drawn against Barcelona in the Champions League last 16
- Manchester United face Sevilla, while Tottenham play Italian giants Juventus
- Liverpool will play Porto, with Manchester City drawn against Swiss side Basle
- Reigning champions Real Madrid face a glamour tie against Paris Saint-Germain
Chelsea will renew their simmering feud with Barcelona after Antonio Conte’s team were handed the most daunting of Champions League ties.
The Premier League champions were drawn against Lionel Messi and Co in one of the glamour ties of Monday’s last-16 draw.
While Liverpool will fancy their chances of progressing against Portuguese giants Porto, Tottenham were also handed a tough draw, landing Juventus.
Chelsea who finished second in Group C, face Barcelona in the Champions League last 16
Ernesto Valverde's side have made a flying start to the season and lead La Liga
The teams have met 15 times in Europe and have shared some iconic moments in recent years
Former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso was on hand to draw the teams
Despite the prospect of taking on the Italian champions, striker Harry Kane is licking his lips at clashing with one of European football’s traditional giants.
He said: ‘This is what the Champions League is all about. To go far you have to beat the best and we’ve done that in the group stage, now it’s the next step.’
But it was Chelsea’s clash with Ernesto Valverde’s side that really caught the imagination.
Speaking after the draw, Conte spoke of his fear that Chelsea will be exhausted by the time they face Barca — a point underlined by the fact star striker Alvaro Morata will miss Tuesday’s trip to Huddersfield suffering from fatigue and a back problem.
Chelsea face a busy festive period, and with a squad that is already thin, he is concerned his players will run out of steam before they come to face Barca.
To add to Conte’s concerns, the draw means Chelsea will face the two matches against Barca and massive Premier League fixtures against the Manchester clubs in the space of a month.
The manager said of the Barcelona tie: ‘For sure it is difficult because to face a game every three days is not simple, especially if your squad is not big, but at the same time we have to face this situation.
‘Some players can be tired, that’s normal because some players are playing from this summer and our tours in China and Singapore.’
Tottenham have been handed a tough draw. They will face Italian champions Juventus
Group A winners Manchester United, meanwhile, have been drawn against Spain's Sevilla
Liverpool, who finished top of Group E ahead of Sevilla, will take on 2004 winners Porto
The draw for the knockout state took place on Monday at the headquarters of UEFA in Nyon
Nevertheless, the tie will stir memories of classic European battles between the two clubs.
The sides have clashed five times in the Champions League knockout stages, with Barca advancing in 2000, 2006 and 2009 and Chelsea in 2005 and 2012.
But the ties have been strewn with controversy. None more so than the infamous 2009 semi-final, second leg when Andres Iniesta’s brilliant injury-time winner sent Barca through on away goals.
If the ending wasn’t dramatic enough, chaos ensued after the final whistle as Chelsea players vented their fury at Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo over his performance.
Chelsea fans would rather recall their most recent meeting. Down to 10 men for the majority of the game after John Terry’s red card, the Blues left the Nou Camp with a 2-2 draw to book their place in the 2012 final, where they beat Bayern Munich to lift the trophy.
Premier League leaders Manchester City, meanwhile, will play Basle in the knockout stages
Paris Saint-Germain will face Spanish giants Real Madrid in another glamorous last-16 tie
Madrid have lifted the trophy in the past two seasons but face a trip to the Parc des Princes
Conte urged his team to write their own history. The Chelsea manager’s view certainly applies to Eden Hazard, who can underline his growing status as one of the planet’s greatest players.
‘Those games are in the past, the present is another story,’ insisted Conte. ‘It is totally different. This type of game is a good chance for every player, not only Messi, to show the right value.’
Conte provided no assurances that the club will be looking to strengthen the squad in next month’s transfer window, the Italian insisting the decision rests with those above him in the Chelsea hierarchy. On the chances of January incomings, Conte added: ‘It’s normal, in every team, the coach speaks to his club.
‘We can have an idea but you can have an idea in summer. But the final decision is always the club’s. That will be the same in January. It is right to do this, I’m only the coach and not sporting director or manager.’
Most watched Sport videos
- Mike Tyson trains ahead of fight with Jake Paul
- Eminem helps Roger Goodell get street cred in promo ahead of draft
- Arsenal Manager Arteta reflects on 5-0 win against Chelsea
- Sheffield United boss speaks after 4-2 loss to Manchester United
- See the moments that made Terry Hill a legendary footy larrikin
- Everton 2-0 Liverpool: Everton Boss Sean Dyche's press conference
- Two Premier League stars have been ARRESTED
- Mauricio Pochettino is 'disappointed' for Chelsea defeat to Arsenal
- Carlos Tevez has been RUSHED to hospital
- Ryan Garcia spotted in Miami with model Grace Boor
- Cristiano Ronaldo enjoys his holidays while serving suspension
- Premier League stars arrested in rape probe have been 'suspended'