Ronaldo to return as Real draw Man United
Reuters - Thursday 20 December 2012, 11:05
Cristiano
Ronaldo will return with nine-times winners Real Madrid to Manchester
United, where he developed into one of the world's greatest forwards,
and Lionel Messi's Barcelona take on AC Milan in the Champions League
last 16.
Bayern Munich, last
season's beaten finalists, play Arsenal and Juventus take on surprise
qualifiers Celtic. Big-spending Paris Saint-Germain face Valencia.
But
the fate of the two Spanish giants in Thursday's draw at UEFA
headquarters attracted most interest and both were pitted against clubs
with decades of European experience.
Real,
the Spanish champions, have been disappointing in La Liga this season
and they finished second in their Champions League group behind Borussia
Dortmund.
But Ronaldo, a
United player from 2003 to 2009, will be desperate for Real to rise to
the occasion against the club at which he won the European Cup in 2008.
Real manager Jose Mourinho, once of Chelsea, will also come up against his old rival Sir Alex Ferguson.
"I'm
sure it's going to be a special game for him [Ronaldo]," said Emilio
Butragueno, Real Madrid's director of institutional relations. "I think
the fans will be very, very happy with this very attractive, thrilling
tie.
"It will be a great
experience for everybody. I would have liked to have played against
United later in the competition but they won't be pleased either."
United,
three-times European champions, have played Real eight times and won
only twice. Real, who will host United in the first leg on February 13, last
won the European Cup in 2002.
Barcelona
are now 2-1 favourites to win the Champions League although they could
hardly have picked a club with more experience of success in Europe in
seven-times winners AC Milan when the competition resumes in
mid-February.
World player of
the year Messi has scored 90 goals in 2012 and has fired Barcelona to a
nine-point lead in La Liga while Milan are 14 points adrift of Juventus
in Serie A and finished second behind Malaga in their group.
Barcelona
vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu told Spanish broadcaster Canal
Plus: "Milan are one of Europe's greats and a club that commands a huge
amount of respect.
"They are
not going well in their league right now but they have some excellent
players. They are not currently at their best but football changes from
one day to the next."
Juventus,
who last won the European Cup in 1996, finished top of their group and
will not be disappointed to have drawn Celtic who pulled off a major
shock by beating Barcelona this season.
Celtic manager Neil Lennon believes Scottish lightning could strike twice.
"Over two games anything is possible," he said. "It's a beauty against one of the traditional European teams.
"In terms of quality it's going to be very, very tough."
BAYERN CONFIDENT
Bayern
Munich, beaten by Chelsea in last season's final, have a nine-point
lead in the Bundesliga and were content to have drawn Arsenal who have
struggled this season for any consistency.
"We can be satisfied with the draw, but we mustn't under-estimate them," said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
"It's
important we try to come away from London with a good result, score a
goal there and lay down a marker. We can win it, and we start as
favourites."
Chelsea failed to qualify for the last 16 from the group won by Juventus.
Paris
Saint-Germain have invested heavily in players over the past 12 months
and now lead Ligue 1 on goal difference. Valencia are mid-table in Spain
and in some disarray after losing to Rayo Vallecano at home at the
weekend.
PSG sports director Leonardo said current form would have little importance in February.
"In the Champions League, it always depends on the moment you play the game, the run of form," he said.
"We are going to have a difficult encounter with Valencia who are an experienced side," he said.
Valencia
director Fernando Giner told Canal Plus: "If we have got this far it's
because we are among the 16 best teams in Europe but PSG are a tough
opponent.
"We have to be
satisfied to be here and it's a way of coming together at a difficult
moment to achieve the result we all want. During these difficult times
the Champions League is tremendously exciting for us."
In the other ties, Galatasaray will play Schalke 04, Shakhtar Donetsk take on Dortmund and Porto face Malaga.
Dortmund,
Bundesliga champions and winners of a tough group including Real, Ajax
and Manchester City, were wary of their Ukrainian opponents.
"They
are not necessarily the team we would have wanted," said Dortmund chief
executive Hans-Joachim Watzke. "It's a very difficult tie but we showed
in the group stage that we can beat strong opponents."
Schalke were happy to draw Turkey's Galatasaray.
"There
are no easy opponents at this stage of the competition but to be frank I
think we have a good chance of reaching the quarter-finals if we play
to our potential," said team captain Benedikt Howedes.
Draw for the Champions League round of 16
made in Nyon, Switzerland on Thursday:
Galatasaray v Schalke 04
Celtic v Juventus
Arsenal v Bayern Munich
Shakhtar Donetsk v Borussia Dortmund
AC Milan v Barcelona
Real Madrid v Manchester United
Valencia v Paris Saint-Germain
Porto v Malaga
Group stage runners-up listed first and will play first legs
at home.
First legs to be played February 12/13 and 19/20, second legs
March 5/6 and 12/13.