October 1 – Manchester City were handed a difficult tie against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League’s round of 16, but English champions Arsenal were given a favorable draw against Slavia Prague.
In the round of 32 the Manchester club recorded a giant 11-1 win over Swiss club Lugano, but will feel unlucky to draw Atletico Madrid who knocked out City last season in the round of 32. They lost 0-2 on home soil and 3-1 on aggregate.
Man City have reached the last four of the competition twice and like their male counterparts have Champions League glory as one of their primary goals. Atletico have not been in great form following their Spanish championship win last season. They lost 6-1 to Barcelona in the last round of league matches and are currently in third place behind Barca and La Coruna in the league.
In the Champions League they just edged through against ŽFK Spartak Subotica from Serbia 4-3 on aggregate.
Arsenal were handed a tie that shouldn’t present the English champions with too many problems. In meeting Slavia Prague they have avoided Europe’s big guns and will be heavy favorites to reach the last eight of the competition. Arsenal had not been seeded in the draw. They dispatched Italian club Fiorentina 6-0 in the previous round of the Champions League.
The ties will be played on October 16-17, and 30-31. In other match ups, Glasgow City will play Danish champions Brøndby. The Glaswegians eliminated Chertanovo Moscow in the round of 32.
Powerhouses Lyon, Barcelona, PSG and Wolfsburg were all paired with opponents that look unlikely to be competitive over the course of the two-legged ties. Wolfsburg will face the Netherlands’ Twente, Lyon play Denmark’s Fortuna Hjorring, PSG meet Iceland’s Breidablik and Barcelona encounter Belarus’ Minsk.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1714164647labto1714164647ofdlr1714164647owedi1714164647sni@o1714164647fni1714164647