16.12.2010 19:00

All set for Nyon

Roger Bogunyà

Barça will find out who they are to face in the last 16 knock out round of the Champions League when the draw is made at UEFA HQ in Nyon(Switzerland) on Friday lunchtime. Arsenal, Roma, Inter, AC Milan, Marseilles and Lyon are all possible opponents.

Wembley legend Sir Bobby Charlton has been asked to make the draw to mark the fact that the final of this year’s competition will be held at the scene of his successes in 1966 and 1968.

The draw begins at 12.00 and Vice President Josep Maria Bartomeu and Professional Football Director Andoni Zubizarreta will represent the club.

Three Italian teams, two French and one English

The six rivals who could be drawn against Barça are three Italian teams (Inter, AC Milan and Roma), two French teams(Olympic Marseilles and Lyon) and the Premier League side Arsenal, all of whom finished second in their Groups.

All six are big teams, Current champions Inter boast leading scorer Samuel Eto’s and Thiago Motta, AC Milan lead the Italian lead and have Ronaldinho and Ibrahimovic in their team and Roma have proved themselves to be one of the toughest sides in Italy. Arsenal played Barça in the quarter finals last year and Arsene Wenger’s team lie second in the Premier, whilst both French teams are strong physical outfits.

Barça cannot be drawn against Copenhagen, who were in their group, or fellow La Liga team Valencia, as well as the other sides who won their groups: Tottenham, Schalke 04, Manchester United, Bayern, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Shaktar Donetsk.

Draw and dates

Only the last 16 round will be drawn on Friday, as well as the exact dates of the games, which will be held on 15/16 or 22/23 February, with the return leg, which will be held at the Nou Camp, on 8/9 or 15/16 March. Another draw for the quarter finals and semis will be held in March.

Wins over last three years

Over the last three years, Barça have faced Stuttgart, Lyon and Glasgow Celtic, wining all the ties. The last time the team went out at this stage was in 2006/07 when they were beaten by Liverpool.