Arsenal aim to avoid Real Madrid clash in Champions League last 16

Arsene Wenger's side topped their Champions League group for the first time in five seasons by finishing above Paris St Germain.

But Arsenal's 'reward' could be a last-16 meeting with 11-time champions Real, who were denied top spot in their section by Borussia Dortmund in a 2-2 draw at the Bernabeu last week.

Real extended their unbeaten run to a club-record 35 matches when beating Deportivo La Coruna 3-2 on Saturday night, and Arsenal are one of only five potential opponents for Zinedine Zidane's side.

That is because Real cannot face Dortmund again, or Spanish rivals Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in the first knockout round.

Arsenal could also be paired with Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Porto or Sevilla.

Leicester have a similar set of potential opponents having marked their debut in the competition by beating Porto, FC Copenhagen and Club Brugge to take top spot in Group G.

The Foxes will face either Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Paris St Germain, Real Madrid or Sevilla and Leicester fans might prefer a real glamour tie in February.

Manchester City reached the semi-finals last season when Manuel Pellegrini was in charge at the Etihad Stadium, but finishing top of their group was always a tall order with Barcelona for company.

Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Monaco and Napoli are all potential last-16 opponents for Pep Guardiola's side this time around

Barcelona have been installed as 3-1 favourites to win their sixth European crown and they could line up against Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Benfica, PSG or Porto.

The draw for the last 32 of the Europa League will also be made in Nyon on Monday with Manchester United and Tottenham both in the hat.

United made heavy weather of getting through the group stages after suffering away defeats to Feyenoord and Fenerbahce.

They finished runners-up to Fenerbahce and tough-looking potential opponents include Fiorentina, Lyon, Shakhtar Donetsk and Zenit St Petersburg.

Spurs drop down after a disappointing Champions League campaign, but manager Mauricio Pochettino has promised to take the competition seriously and his side are among the 16 seeds.

But Spurs might want to avoid the likes of Borussia Monchengladbach, Celta Vigo, Rostov - who beat Bayern Munich at home in the Champions League - and Villarreal.

United and Spurs will be kept apart as teams from the same country cannot meet until the last 16 of the competition.

Source : PA

Source: PA