Man City and Arsenal handed horror Champions League clashes against Barcelona and Bayern Munich... while Drogba returns to face Chelsea

• Manchester City drawn against Spanish giants Barcelona in last 16
  
• Arsenal face current Champions League holders Bayern Munich
  
• Former Blues hero Didier Drogba returns to face Chelsea with Galatasaray
  
• Manchester United picked to play Greek side Olympiacos
  

By Neil Ashton for MailOnline and Pete Jenson for MailOnline

Published: 06:22 EDT, 16 December 2013 | Updated: 10:41 EDT, 16 December 2013

Manchester City have been given a horror Champions League clash against Spanish giants Barcelona while Arsenal face the holders Bayern Munich.

In a quirk of fate, Didier Drogba returns to face Chelsea with Turkish outfit Galatasaray.

Rivals Manchester United have the most favourable draw of the English sides, against Greek side Olympiacos.

VIDEO Scroll down to watch Pellegrini: We'll see in February which team is best

The draw in full - with Neil Ashton's verdicts

Manchester City v Barcelona: The draw City didn't want: Barcelona. So much politics internally with Begiristain and Soriano now at City. Huge game, but fantastic tie. Great test for City and their development. Feb 18, March 12.

Olympiacos v Manchester United: Good draw for David Moyes, they will feel they have drawn one of the weakest teams left in the competition. Good chance to progress. Feb 25, March 19.

AC Milan v Atletico Madrid: Atletico Madrid the emerging team in Europe to play the 2007 champions Milan. Could be a decent tie. Feb 19, March 11.

Bayer Leverkusen v Paris St Germain: PSG will be happy with that, despite their lack of consistency. All down to Zlatan. Feb 18, March 12.

Galatasaray v Chelsea: Inevitable. Drogba and Jose love-in begins all over again. Sneijder won Champions Leagie with Inter in 2010 with Mourinho too. Cracker. Feb 26, March 18.

Schalke v Real Madrid: Real will be happy with that, straightforward second round tie. Feb 26, March 18.

Zenit St Petersburg v Borussia Dortmund: Dortmund, last season's beaten finalists, will be expected to progress. Klopp's team too strong here. Feb 25, March 19.

Bayern Munich v Arsenal: We have been here before with Arsenal... And we will go back there again. Arsenal won 2-0 in the Allianz Arena last season, but they blew it in the home leg and went out on away goals. Cannot see them getting through this time either. Feb 19, March 11.

First legs: 18/19th, 25/26th of February
Second legs: 11/12th, 18/19th of March.

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Up your game: Mesut Ozil and his Arsenal team-mates know they face a tricky task to get through

Roaring on: Man City are a formidable force but have their work cut out for them in the last 16

Bringer of doom: Luis Figo holds up the name of Barcelona during the draw for the last 16

Master of fate: UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino picks out a ball during the draw in Nyon

Real Madrid, Paris St Germain and Borussia Dortmund will be happy with their ties, against Schalke, Bayer Leverkusen and Zenit St Petersburg respectively.

AC Milan have a tough game against Atletico Madrid, who are fighting for the title in Spain alongside usual suspects Madrid and Barcelona.

The draw took place in Nyon, conducted by UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino, UEFA director of competitions Giorgio Marchetti and final ambassador Luis Figo.

Group winners will be away in their first legs, which take place on the 18/19th, 25/26th of February, with the return matches on the 11/12th, 18/19th of March.

Man City manager Manuel Pellegrini said: 'I think it is a beautiful game. Two very good teams and we will see which team arrives at the best moment.

''It is not only Messi and Aguero, we will see which plays better but we worry about that in February.

Time to shine? Eden Hazard and Chelsea will play their second leg at Stamford Bridge

Leading the way: Wayne Rooney will be looking forward to the Champions League last 16 clash

'Winning against Bayern gave us a lot of confidence. The most very important thing was that we had qualified. To play against Bayern was a big test for what we can do in the future. There were many critics after we played here against Bayern Munich at home here (lost 3-1), maybe same critics were then saying how we should have scored four against Bayern. That shows how far we have come.'

The draw means there will also be a return to Barcelona for Manchester City directors Txiki Begiristain and Ferran Soriano.

Barça director of football Andoni Zubizarreta said: 'Going up against Yaya Toure again and Txiki Begiristain means the game has absolutely everything. For a long time if you thought about a big European game in Manchester you would always think United but not anymore.'

City was the draw Barcelona dreaded, as reflected in one more paper in the city printed beforehand which simply said: 'City, No'.

But Zubizarreta recognised that the team who have won the Champions League three times in the last 10 years were also the ones everyone else wanted to avoid.

'City will also have not wanted to draw us,' he said.

On the move: Carles Puyol has suffered with injury this season and has only featured four times

Plotting City's destruction: Tata Martino (left) pictured during Barcelona training on Monday

City, No: The front cover of Mundo Deportivo newspaper, in Spain, said Barcelona didn't want to face City

Barcelona coach Tata Martino said: 'I imagine that they didn't want to face us. What we have to do now is make sure we are in the right shape for the game in February.

'We know they are a good side. They have top players and they seem to score goals easily.

'Pellegrini is one of the best coaches in Europe and it will be an honour to face one of his teams.'

Begiristain said: 'We have drawn against a fantastic team that has a champion's mentality. But we are playing very well too.

'We have to get a better equilibrium between defence and attack and we will be just right. We will go into the game with plenty of confidence because (Manuel) Pellegrini is experienced in terms of playing Barcelona.'

David Silva told Marca beforehand: 'There is a lot of talk about them [Barcelona] at the moment but they are first in everything. People say they are not playing well but they are top in Spain and they topped their group. I would like us to be in their situation.'

Silva’s thoughts were echoed by Jesus Navas speaking ahead of Monday’s draw which paired the two teams. He said: 'Barcelona have players of enormous quality and you can never doubt them.'

Out injured: Lionel Messi has been back home in Argentina recuperating, but Barcelona haven't missed him...

... because Neymar has stepped up to fill his boots, bagging five goals in the last two matches

Lionel Messi has been out of action for the last two weeks but will be back for the last-16 games. In his absence Brazilian striker Neymar has scored five goals in his last two matches.

Jesus Navas said: 'We faced him in the Confederations Cup and he showed what a player he is. Negredo added: 'It is not easy to adapt to a new league when he does he is going to be one of the best players in the world.

Javi Garcia added: 'Messi will be back by the time the games are played and he will want to do well in the run-up to the World Cup. That’s why it is best we don’t face them.'

But City striker Alvaro Negredo gave Manuel Pellegrini’s team hope saying: 'Their rivals know them better now. They study the way they play and they don’t allow them to play the way they like to play.'

Drogba, meanwhile, is looking forward with his return to Stamford Bridge.

The striker is a Chelsea legend and with his last kick for the club, scored the penalty which won them the 2012 Champions League.

He wrote on Instagram: 'What a draw… I’m the luckiest man in this competition,In both games I’ll be playing home!!!!!See you in few months.'

Reunited: Drogba will return to London to face his old side Chelsea and former boss Jose Mourinho

Guide to the teams the English sides will face

Barcelona (v Man City)

Manager: Gerardo Martino

A vastly experienced coach… but only in South America. This season has been Martino's first in Europe but his star studded squad is so far masking any problems that the Argentine could be suffering, if any at all.

Star player: Lionel Messi

Neymar is the new kid on the block but Messi is a proven class on the grandest stage of all and will still be the Spanish side's weapon of choice as they look to go all the way to the Lisbon final.

Road to recovery: Barcelona will be hoping that star forward Lionel Messi (right) is back to full fitness for the Champions League knockout stages

Group H placing: Winners (13 points)

Who could they face in the last 16?

Bayer Leverkusen, Galatasaray, Olympiacos, Manchester City, Schalke, Arsenal, Zenit. Champions League history

Best finish: Winners (4 – 1992, 2006, 2009, 2011)

Appearances: 24

Did you know? Barcelona hold the record for the most consecutive semi-final appearances, with six stretching back to 2008. They could make it seven this season.

Danger rating: 5/5

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Bayern Munich (v Arsenal)

Manager: Pep Guardiola

Managerial genius or just blessed with world class players? Either way, the Spaniard consistently got the best out of his Barcelona stars and is doing likewise with Munich. He isn't rated as one of Europe's finest managers for nothing.

Star player: Franck Ribery

Now in his 30s but the French midfielder looks better than ever. Hard to see him beating Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to the Ballon d'Or prize but the fact he is a contender speaks volumes of the year he has had.

In control: Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery (right), pictured here in action against Manchester City's Pablo Zabaleta, will be hoping to help his side retain their Champions League crown

Group D placing: Winners (15 points)

Who could they face in the last 16?

Galatasaray, Olympiacos, Arsenal, Zenit, AC Milan.

Champions League history

Best finish: Winners (5 – 1974-1976, 2001, 2013)

Appearances: 30

Did you know? In between their home defeats to Arsenal and Manchester City this year, Bayern Munich set a Champions League record by winning 10 consecutive games.

Danger rating: 5/5

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Galatasaray (v Chelsea)

Manager: Roberto Mancini

Cautious in his approach but isn't afraid to attack when the best tools are available to him. Fell out with many Manchester City stars last term but has proven success as a manager.

Star man: Didier Drogba

Still going strong well into his mid-30s, Drogba's goals are not as regular as they were in his Chelsea days but his experience will be invaluable to the Turkish side.

Still going strong: Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba (front), pictured here celebrating Galatasaray's qualification for the last 16 with team-mate Wesley Sneijder, could face his old club in the knockout stage

Group B placing: Runners-up (7 points)

Who could they face in the last 16?

Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona.

Champions League history

Best finish: Quarter-finalists (1 - 2013)

Appearances: 20

Did you know? Seven European Cup ties have been decided by a coin toss, Galatasaray are the only side to be involved twice, with one win and one loss.

Danger rating: 3/5

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Olympiacos (v Man United)

Manager: Michel

A former Real Madrid midfielder and Spain international, Michel's success as a manager had been minor up until this season. But he has worked wonders to guide the Greek outfit into the knockout stages in his first few months in charge.

Star man: Kostas Mitroglou

A powerful striker whose only goals in the group stage came with a hat-trick in the win at Anderlecht. Nevertheless he will be a key figure in terms of holding play up.

On the attack: Greek striker Kostas Mitroglou (left), pictured shooting against PSG in the group stage, will be key to Olympiacos' hopes of progression

Group C placing: Runners-up (10 points)

Who could they face in the last 16?

Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona.

Champions League history

Best finish: Quarter-finalists (1 - 1999)

Appearances: 25

Did you know? As an Olympiacos player, Peter Ofori-Quaye holds the record as the youngest Champions League goal scorer when at 17 years and 194 days he netted against Rosenborg on 1 October 1997.

Danger rating: 2/5

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