LONDON, Dec 17: Chelsea take on Barcelona, Real Madrid face Juventus and AC Milan return to Manchester, scene of their 2003 European Cup triumph, following Friday's draw for the first knockout round of the Champions League.

All eight ties will be eagerly awaited as Europe's top clubs begin the sudden-death phase of the tournament which reaches its finale in Istanbul on May 25. Whoever is still standing will have earned their right to be there the hard way because there are no lightweight ties once the competition restarts at the end of February.

Chelsea are relishing the opportunity to take revenge on Barcelona who knocked them out at the quarter-final stage five seasons ago. They will also be praying that history does not repeat itself.

In 1966 Barcelona beat Chelsea 5-0 in a semi-final playoff in the old Inter Cities Fairs Cup and in 2000 they crushed them 5-1 in the second leg of their Champions League quarterfinal after Chelsea won the first leg 3-1 in London.

Another standout tie pitted nine-time champions Real Madrid against Juventus, managed by former Real boss Fabio Capello. The clubs have met 10 times since 1962 with Real winning six ties - including the 1998 final in Amsterdam - and Juventus four, including a semi-final victory in 2003 when they came back from a 2-1 defeat to triumph 3-1 in the return.

AC Milan return to Old Trafford to face Manchester United, the Italians being the only major European side United have not met during manager Alex Ferguson's 18-year reign at Old Trafford. Ferguson predicted before the draw that fate would throw the two clubs together.

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