Arsenal and Barcelona resume their decade-long rivalry in the Champions league this week.
It’s been a one-sided tale.
It started in 2006 when Barcelona came from behind against 10 men to score two late goals and win 2-1 in the final in Paris. Arsenal hasn’t reached the title match since. Barcelona won 6-3 over two legs in the 2010 quarterfinals, and 4-3 on aggregate in the last 16 in 2011.
There’s rarely a dull moment when these two entertaining and attack-minded teams meet, with those five matchups averaging almost four goals a game. And this year could be no different considering the way Barca is playing.
lionel Messi, luis Suarez and Neymar have scored a combined 91 goals this season, helping the Catalan team establish a club-record 32 matches without a loss heading to london.
No team has successfully defended the Champions league trophy but Barca is in prime shape to do so, even though coach luis Enrique knows the potential of Arsenal heading into the first leg at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.
“We are talking about a game that lasts 180 minutes,” Enrique said. “It will be complicated, because it’s a rival that can cause us problems.” Arsenal has exited at the last-16 stage for the past five years and has never won the tournament.
Here’s a look at the other three matches this week:
JUVENTUS face BAYERN
Even if he scores, Bayern Munich midfielder Arturo Vidal won’t be celebrating against Juventus.
The Chile international spent four seasons at Juventus before joining Bayern last year, helping the Bianconeri to four league titles and an Italian Cup. He also reached the Champions league final with Juventus last season.
On Tuesday, Vidal and his new Bayern teammates will face Juventus and his old teammates in the last 16 of the Champions league.
“For me it will be a special match because I have ties to Juve and I am grateful to them,” Vidal. “I had four incredible years there. I felt at home. The fans and the club always supported me.
“I would have liked to meet Juve in the semifinals or in the final. I didn’t like the draw but that’s football.”
Vidal was loved by Juventus fans for his combative nature and dedication to the team, and he won’t be expected to give any less against his old team.
“I admit, I miss Juve,” Vidal said. “But now I defend the shirt and the colors of Bayern, and I will give my absolute all so my team manages to win the two matches and reach the quarterfinals.”
Of the eight previous meetings between the sides, Bayern has four wins and Juventus three. But the German side has won the past three encounters.
Apart from Vidal and Kingsley Coman, who return to their previous club after joining Bayern last year, Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic provides another familiar face after spending two seasons at Bayern from 2012-14.
Mandzukic, a combative forward and awkward opponent for any defender, helped Bayern win two Bundesliga titles and he scored in the Champions league final to help the side win its treble in 2013. Altogether, he scored 39 goals in 74 appearances, 33 in 54 league games.
But Mandzukic had a rocky relationship with Pep Guardiola, who took over as coach in 2013, and the club was known to favor Robert lewandowski.