The two-legged clash between Inter and Bayern Munich seems to be the most enticing fixture in the last 16 stage of the Champions League, the draws for which were held yesterday in Lyon. The matches will be played on 15-16 and 22-23 February, and 8-9 and 15-16 March.

It is the only one that will pit together two clubs that have won the competition but, most of all, it is a repetition of the final of the last edition, which Inter won 2-0 to re-crown themselves European champions for the first time in 45 years.

Inter will be seeking to become the first club to win back-to-back editions since their city rivals Milan did so in 1989 and 1990.

Only six of the 16 clubs still in the competition have won the title before and yesterday’s draw, apart from the Inter-Bayern clash, avoided bringing together the top clubs.

The second most intriguing encounter will be that between Arsenal and Barcelona, which is also a repetition of a recent final, that which Barcelona won in 2006.

The easiest passage to the quarter-finals should be Chelsea’s, who were drawn against FC Copenhagen, the first Danish club to make it to the last 16. If Chelsea recover the early-season form which they seem to have lost in the last weeks, it should not be a problem for the Blues to make it through.

Manchester United, the only English club of the four that qualified to the last 16 stage to have won the competition, should also find little problems to overcome the challenge of Marseille.

The other English club still in the competition, Tottenham, have to face current Italian league leaders Milan. After beating Inter to the top place in their group, the Spurs will now face their rivals in a direct elimination clash, one that carries a different weight than a group stage match.

Real Madrid will start as the favourites against Lyon, but the French have already beaten the Spaniards, in the 2005-2006 edition. They will be doing their best to outsmart Real who, under coach Mourinho, will be seeking their first quarter-final berth since 2004.

The other two clashes, Roma-Shakhtar Donetsk and Valencia-Schalke 04 seem to be among the most balanced. All four clubs must be already satisfied to have made it this far and a place in the last eight will be a bonus. The fact that they avoided the big guns and will be facing opponents that are more or less of the same level will add to their chances.

What is sure is that football fans are in for an exciting time.