Bayern in Gunners' crosshairs

Arsenal draws German giant, PSG gets Barcelona in Champions League

Arsenal was once again drawn against Bayern Munich in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League on Monday, while Barcelona will also come up against a familiar foe in Paris Saint-Germain.

Arsenal had hoped winning its group for the first time in five years would spare it a tie against one of the continent's giants in the first knockout round, but instead the Gunners will face Carlo Ancelotti's German champion, with the first leg in Bavaria.

Bayern eliminated Arsenal en route to winning the trophy in 2012-13 and repeated the feat a year later, while the teams also met in the group stage last season. The Gunners won 2-0 in London but lost 5-1 at Allianz Arena.

"It's an interesting and difficult draw," said Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

"We know Arsenal from the last few years when we often played against them, twice already in the last 16, when we had a good experience and got through.

"Arsenal is a strong team and I rate them as stronger at the moment than in the last few years."

PSG came second to Arsenal in Group A, leaving it more vulnerable to a tough draw, and five-time winner Barcelona has eliminated the French club in the quarterfinals in two of the past four seasons.

The teams also met in the group stage in 2014-15.

"If I could have chosen another team, I would have," said Paris director of soccer Patrick Kluivert, a former Barcelona striker.

Barcelona vice-president Jordi Mestre told beIN Sports Spain: "There is no guarantee, but it gives you a certain confidence to have beaten them before. Every game is different and we will see what happens."

City struggling

Reigning European champion Real Madrid will face Napoli as it looks to win the trophy for a record 12th time, while Pep Guardiola's Manchester City faces a difficult two-legged encounter against Monaco.

City, currently struggling for form, cannot afford to take the principality side lightly - it is the most prolific squad in Europe's leading leagues this season and has beaten Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League in the past two years.

"We are happy to be here; we have avoided Real Madrid and Barcelona," City's director of soccer Txiki Begiristain told BT Sport.

"Monaco is playing probably the best football in France now. In a group with Tottenham and Bayer Leverkusen, they were top and they have talented young players."

Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim said: "Manchester City is looking to win the Champions League. We are not the favorites, but we believe in our qualities."

Premier League champion Leicester City will take on last season's Europa League winner Sevilla as a reward for topping its group in its debut appearance in the competition, with a visit to Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in the first leg.

Leicester's European form - an English-record 5-0 loss at Porto last week apart - has provided a welcome tonic amid a poor defense of its domestic title, and manager Claudio Ranieri said his team remains the underdog.

"Whoever we played would have been a tough opponent, but I think all the teams who arrived second will have wanted to play against us and I know that we will be the underdogs once again. Always we are underdogs, every time," Ranieri told the club's website.

Atletico Madrid, runner-up to city rival Real in two of the past three seasons, was drawn against Germany's Bayer Leverkusen in a repeat of its clash at the same stage in 2014-15.

On that occasion, Atletico emerged victorious after a tense penalty shootout.

Two-time winner Juventus was drawn against Porto, while Borussia Dortmund also faces Portuguese opposition in the shape of Benfica.

The first legs will be played on Feb 14, 15, 21 and 22, with the second legs on March 7, 8, 14 and 15.