Barcelona to face Arsenal in Champions League

Arsenal face Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals in a repeat of the 2006 final won by the Spanish giants.

Manchester United, beaten by Barcelona in last year’s final, face Bayern Munich, Inter Milan are up against CSKA Moscow and Lyon were pitted against fellow French side Bordeaux in the draw made here Friday.

The first legs are scheduled for March 30/31 with the second legs on April 6/7.

The semi-final draw was also held, with the winner of the United and Bayern tie meeting Lyon or Bordeaux, and Inter or CSKA playing Arsenal or Barca.

The last eight match-ups guarantee a French side in the semi-finals for the first time since Monaco in 2004.

For Arsenal the draw offers up a chance to gain revenge on missing out to Barcelona 2-1 at the Stade de France in Paris four years ago.

The Gunners motored into the last eight this time with a 5-0 thrashing of 2004 winners Porto on Tuesday for a 6-2 aggregate victory.

Arsene Wenger’s side are seeking their first European crown.

For three-time winners Manchester United Friday’s draw meant they cross swords again with Bayern, the team they beat with two injury-time goals at the Camp Nou for the 1999 title.

But two years later Bayern beat United in the quarter-finals to go on to lift the trophy themselves.

This season’s final is being staged at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium on May 22, the first time the final is being held on a Saturday.

Champions League quarter-finals

Lyon (FRA) v Bordeaux (FRA)

Bayern Munich (GER) v Manchester United (ENG)

Arsenal (ENG) v Barcelona (ESP)

Inter Milan (ITA) v CSKA Moscow (RUS)

1st leg – March 30/31

2nd leg – April 6/7