Read the preview and live updates of the match between Arsenal and Barcelona and Juventus and Bayern Munich
Arsenal welcome Barcelona for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 clash.
What does history tell us about the two teams. Scroll to the end of thee page to follow the LIVE updates of the matches to be played tonight. Wenger has already hailed the impact of Luis Suarez on Barcelona and suggested he might have to target the Uruguayan for marking when the teams kick-off tonight.
Below are six things you need to know ahead of the clash;
1. Club relationship with each other: Arsenal and Barcelona have traded players over the years. The most popular leaving Barcelona for London in recent time is Alexis Sanchez, while the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Alexander Song, Thierry Henry and Alexandr Hleb, Marc Overmars, Emmanuel Petit have left London for Barcelona.
Seems like a one way type of relationship.
2. Barca has a record of three wins, one loss, one draw against Arsenal in their last five encounters.
March 8 2011: Barcelona 3-1 Arsenal (Champions League)
February 16 2011: Arsenal 2-1 Barcelona (Champions League)
April 6 2010: Barcelona 4-1 Arsenal (Champions League)
March 31 2010: Arsenal 2-2 Barcelona (Champions League)
May 17 2006: Barcelona 2-1 Arsenal (Champions League final)
3. Injuries: Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere are unavaliable for the Gunners while Mesut Ozil will return from the cold that kept him out of Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Hull. Rafinha is Barcelona’s only long-term absentee, whose cruciate ligament injury has kept him out of action since September.
4. Barca’s main man: Arsene Wenger believes Luis Suarez is Barcelona’s main man not Lionel Messi. 5. Cech vs Messi: Lionel Messi is yet to score against Petr Cech in six meetings. Will Cech do his magic again? Could Petr Cech be the difference for #Arsenal? @9smudge rates both line-
Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) February 23, 2016 6. Match details: Arsenal host Barcelona at the Emirates, in one of the games of the tournament so far tonight. The other being Bayern Munich vs Juventus. The match kicks off at 8.45pm (Nigerian time).
The return leg will be played in three weeks, at Camp Nou on Wednesday, March 22. Arsenal vs. Barcelona: Čech; Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Ramsey; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Özil, Sanchez; Giroud Barcelona XI vs. Arsenal: Ter Stegen; Alves, Pique , Mascherano, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta; Messi, Neymar, Suarez Juventus XI vs. Bayern Munich: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Barzagli, Bonucci, Evra; Cuadrado, Khedira, Marchisio, Pogba; Mandzukic, Dybala Bayern Munich XI vs. Juventus: Neuer; Lahm, Kimmich, Alaba, Bernat; Vidal, Thiago, Muller; Robben, Costa, Lewandowski
FT: Arsenal 0 – 2 Barcelona (Messi X2) Juve 2 – 2 Bayern Munich (Dybala, Sturaro/Mueller, Robben) 90′ Petr Cech does well to stop a close range header from Neymar, Arsenal could have been punished further
84′ Yellow card for Gerard Pique who fell Danny Welbeck on the left
82′ GOOOOOOOOAAAAALLLLLL!!!! Messi double’s Barcelona’s lead from the spot after Flamini (who just came on for Coquelin) brought him down
76′ GOOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!! Stefano Sturaro equalizes for the Old Lady. Juve 2 – 2 Bayern Munich
74′ SUB: Giroud off, Welbeck on for Arsenal
70′ GOOOOOOAAAAALLLLLL!!! Messi finally scores against Cech. A beautifully executed counter by Neymar feeds La Pulga who scores into an empty net 67′ GOOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!! Dybala scores for Juve
64′ END TO END STUFF!!! Barcelona’s defence does well to block a snarling shot by Shanchez from inside the box while Per does well to block a Messi shot…Suarez misses from a tight angle
57′ GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL!!! Robben (Bayern) scores! The Dutch international doubles the Bayern lead with a powerful left-footed shot that beats Gianluigi Buffon. Juve 0 – 2 Bayern
56′ WHAT A MISSED CHANCE! Giroud’s header is pushed away by Ter Stegen, Arsenal looking Dangerous again
55′ SUCH AWARENESS! Per does great to read a one-two between Neymar and Messi
53′ Rakitic punished for a foul on Alexis Sanchez 50′ SUB: Walcott on, Chamberlain off for Arsenal 48′ SAVE!!! Cech does well to deny Neymar, what a chance
46′ Barcelona start the second half, Juve vs Bayern also resumes…the Bavarians have been dominating in that match HT: Arsenal 0 – 0 Barcelona Juve 0 – 1 Bayern Munich (Thomas Muller scored in the 43rd minute)
45′ WHAT A MISSED CHANCE! Dani Alves acrobatically sends a cross to Suarez via his shin but the striker (who is unmarked) does not connect well. Arsenal survive
44′ Nice attacking move by Barca sees Messi release Suarez who finds Neymar on the left who in turn sends a low cross back to Suarez but the chance is snuffed out by Monreal
42′ Arsenal fans are furious that a throw-in decision goes against them. Chamberlain struggling with an injury after that clash with Masherano
40′ Neymar is penalised for a foul on Giroud who tries to counter while Sanchez wastes a goof attacking opportunity by conceding a goal kick
35′ Another trademark run from deep by Messi forces Kosceinly to concede a free-kick just in front of the box, the wall clears and Chamberlain clears…Masherano is brave to stop the attack
34′ Arsenal’s defense have pocketed Sanchez who tries to wiggle past Arsenal’s center backs but is forced to concede a goal-kick
31′ In truth Arsenal have looked more threatening and it only seems a matter of time before the goal comes. Messi tries a shot from distance but its narrowly wide and Cech has it covered
29′ Messi goes on a trademark run from midfield and he is pulled back by Coquelin. The Frenchman escapes a yellow card
27′ Sanchez is felled by Busquests in the center and the Chilean is furious, ref does not dish out a card
25′ Counter again and Sanchez finds Ozil who quick cross is cleared for a corner by Pique
22′ WHAT A MISS!!! Arsenal counter with precision via Sanchez and Ozil but the cut back to Chamberlain is not well connected to and Ter Stegen can thank his stars the Englishman missed from seven yards out
20′ The Spanish side try ann attaccking move with the silky Neymar but Mertesacker shows good awareness to snuff it out…in the other Champions League game its still Juve 0 – 0 Bayern Munich
17′ Barcelona have now pegged Arsenal in their own half…Suarez tries to wiggle through the Arsenal defence but Coquelin and Koscienly combine well to stop the attacker
14′ Rakitic tries a shot from afar but its put out for a corner which is easily cleared…Barcelona having more of the possession now
13′ Rakitic is given a talking to by the ref for a foul on Sanchez…Arsenal looking more likely to score with a great start to this match
11′ Messi is found by a long ball on the left with Monreal out of position, but La Pulga cannot connect. Arsenal have started brighter in this match
8′ What a miss!!! Giroud, Ramsey and Sanchez work the ball well into the box, Sanchez pull out for Ramsey from the left is not well connected by the Welshman, Barcelona survive
7′ Yellow card for Moreal for a foul o Rakitic, Arsenal have started the brighter of the two
3′ Ramsey is cautioned for a foul on Neymar, Messi’s freekick from the left meets Dani Alves who is offside
2′ Giroud with an early chance from an early cross by Sanchez but Pique is there to clear
1′ Kick off, Arseal gets us started
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