© EuroFootball.com
This year, two former champions of the last seasons of the UEFA Champions League, Barcelona and Liverpool, will face each other in the round of 16, and only one team will move on to the quarterfinals.
"Two champions of the last seasons will face each other, so these will be extraordinary matches," said Barcelona president Joan Laporta. "I am pleased with the draw. Liverpool is one of the teams we wanted to face in the round of 16. They are strong opponents who like to play physical football. But let's not forget that this year we are a team that everyone wants to beat."
Meanwhile, Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez, familiar with Barcelona from his time at Valencia, was happy to face strong opponents.
"We know they are a strong team. Last year they won the Champions League, so the matches will be really tough," said the Spaniard. "But we have two months to prepare, and we have nothing to lose. Everyone says that Barcelona is one of the strongest teams in the world, so we just have to try to prove them wrong."
"It's important to be well prepared psychologically," said R. Benitez. "I have experience playing at the Nou Camp stadium from my time at Valencia. We did pretty well there. I hope it goes well this time too."
Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard, on the other hand, did not comment officially on the draw as he is currently preparing for the World Club Championship final in Japan.
The history of matches between these teams is not very extensive. They last met in the 2001-02 season when they were in the same group in the second stage of the UEFA Champions League. Barcelona won 3-1 at Anfield stadium, and the match at Nou Camp ended in a goalless draw.
Barcelona and Liverpool have met in the UEFA Cup semi-finals twice in which the English club triumphed. In 1976, Liverpool won 1-0 in Barcelona and drew 1-1 at home, and twenty years later Liverpool scored the only goal at Anfield. It is worth mentioning that Liverpool won the UEFA Cup both times.
The first leg of these teams' matches will take place in Barcelona on February 21, Tuesday, and the second leg at Anfield stadium will be played on March 6, Tuesday.
