Arsenal to play AC Milan in Champions League knockout stage

London: The draw for the last-16 of the UEFA Champions League has pitted English giants Arsenal and Chelsea against seven-time champions AC Milan and Napoli.

Arsenal who beat Milan at San Siro in 08-09 tournament will have their hands full with some marquee players like Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri leaving the club in the summer. Napoli, who will face 2008 finalists Chelsea, the Italian side has already dumped one English side out of the competition. The all-stars from Manchester City had no answer to the stubborn Italian defence and became their biggest scalp en route the last 16. Defending champions Barcelona will face Germans Bayern Leverkusen, who finished second behind Chelsea in the group stages. The Spanish side should have no problem in disposing the German side who have played in the tournament only six times. The same cannot be said for their Spanish counterpart Real Madrid who will face a tough trip to the freezing climate of CSKA Moscow. First-timers Apoel Nicosia have a golden opportunity to progress to the next stage of the tournament as they face the struggling French side, Lyon. Swiss surprise package FC Basel, who knocked out English giants Manchester United out of the tournament were drawn against the dangerous Bayern Munich. IANS