http://sg.sports.yahoo.com/news/mila...0326--spt.html
Milan, Barca face first serious tests
AC Milan & Barcelona, having cantered untroubled thru the group stage, finally face testing opposition tis week as the Champions League resumes following a 2-month winter break.
Titleholders Barcelona, who averaged 4 goals per away game in the group stage, should find the going alot tougher when they visit Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday, the scene of their last defeat in Germany.
Milan host Arsenal on Wednesday & will be painfully aware tat their last 3 participations in the tournament hv ended in the last 16 @ the hands of English Premier League opposition.
APOEL Nicosia, who visit Olympique Lyon on Tuesday, & Zenit St Petersburg, who host twice former winners Benfica in the freezing Russian winter on Wednesday, r the only newcomers 2 tis stage of the tournament.
The remaining 4 ties will be played on February 21-22.
The line-up 4 the round of 16 has a familiar look with 8 of the teams having reached the same stage last year.
France, Spain, England, Italy & Germany r represented as usual, joined by clubs fr Russia, Cyprus & Portugal, instead of Ukraine & Denmark last time around.
ManU were the only 1 of the fav who failed 2 make it past a group stage which has generally become a formality 4 the top sides with frequent 1-sided contests.
AC Milan & Barcelona faced each other in the group stage but were untroubled by Viktoria Plzen & BATE Borisov as they both qualified with 2 matches 2 spare.
Barcelona r unbeaten on their last 7 visits 2 Germany, their last defeat coming against the same opponents in the 2000-01 season.
Leverkusen, although unimpressive in the Bundesliga, won all their home games in Group E as they qualified @ the expense of Valencia.
Serie A leaders Milan lost 3-2 @ home 2 Barcelona in the group stage, with both teams having already qualified, & Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger has promised 2 follow Barca's example by attacking @ the San Siro.
"You always hv 2 push 4 a goal when u play away in the 1st leg becos it gives u a cushion 4 the 2nd leg," said the Frenchman whose side eliminated Milan @ the same stage 3 years ago & r in the last 16 4 the 12th season in a row.
"We will try 2 score, of course - we always do. The system rewards the audacious away fr home."
7-times champions Milan subsequently lost 2 ManU in 2010 & Tottenham Hotspur last year.
Benfica, with a largely South American team, r likely 2 face temperatures well below freezing when they visit Zenit St Petersburg.
The Russians may be rusty, however, as it will be their 1st competitive match since the winter break.
In the other tie, there is a vast gulf in experience betw Olympique Lyon, who r in the last 16 for the 9th time in a row, against APOEL, the 1st team fr Cyprus 2 reach tis stage.