Reds get Real in last 16

Liverpool have been drawn with Real Madrid in the Champions League Last 16, meaning a return to his homecity and the club he coached at in his younger days for manager Rafa Benitez.

It is a tie which many fans, and indeed the players, wanted, with Xabi Alonso expressing his desire to face the Spaniards this week.

Liverpool are yet to have faced Real under Benitez but will do so in late February when they travel to the Bernabeu and then at Anfield in the return two weeks later.

The two sides have won the European Cup 14 times between them (5 for Liverpool, 9 for Real) but amazing the last and only time they have met in competitive competition was the 1981 Final, which won by Alan Kennedy’s goal in Paris.

The tie will also see a return to England for sacked Spurs boss Juande Ramos who recently took charge at Real. He is expected to spend money in the January transfer window with Portsmouth’s Lassana Diarra and Ajax’s Klaas-Jan Huntelaar already confirmed.

Bernabeu

Elsewhere, Chelsea drew Juventus, Man United face Jose Mourinho and Inter Milan, and Arsenal face Roma.

  • Video: LFC 1-0 Real Madrid, European Cup Final 1981
  • Discuss the draw here
  • Full draw:

    Chelsea v Juventus
    Villarreal v Panathinaikos
    Sporting Lisbon v Bayern Munich
    Atletico Madrid v Porto
    Lyon v Barcelona
    Real Madrid v Liverpool
    Arsenal v Roma
    Inter Milan v Manchester United

    Confirmed Dates: February 25th and March 10th.