Arsenal will 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.

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.

It will also mean a return to the Emirates Stadium for Arsenal old boy Thierry Henry.

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

Manager Arsene Wenger said: "I believe we will not be favourites but for me it will be a 50-50 game. That's how we have to take it.

"When you get to the quarter-finals of the Champions League you play good teams and Barcelona are a good team.

"Of course they are a good side and so are we. It will be an interesting, exciting game. We have to make sure we have the belief and focus right."

Club secretary David Miles added: "This draw gives us what it gives us - we can only play and hopefully beat what's in front of us.

"Actually we owe Barcelona one - if that's the word. We'll be up for it - and we are looking to get a couple of decent results."

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.

Sir Alex Ferguson feels United have a "good chance" even though his side's overall record against the Germans makes for sobering reading - United's 1999 final win their only triumph in seven meetings.

"The history of playing Bayern in past European ties tells you it’s going to be a very difficult tie for us," Ferguson told the club's website.

"It’ll be a fantastic atmosphere in both games. They have a great stadium and a good pitch and we’re up against a good, experienced team."

His Bayern counterpart, Louis van Gaal ranked United alongside Barcelona as the competition's favourites.

"It's a difficult draw. Manchester United are enjoying a very good phase at the moment and ut will be hard to beat them.

"English teams like to play and that will help us because normally our rivals like to only defend agaisnt us.

"For the fans it'll be a superb match."

Bayern captain Mark van Bommel added: "Manchester United are one of the great clubs of Europe, excatly like Bayern. The only negative point for us is that we have to play the second leg at Old Trafford."

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.

Real's dream of lifting a tenth trophy on home turf were dashed by Lyon this week, with the former French champions' reward a date with Laurent Blanc's Bordeaux.

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas commented: "It's very special. At least it means there will be a French club in the semi-finals. It will also be a clash between the reigning (French) champions and the champions of the season before."

Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan, who ended Chelsea's European hopes, face a trip to first time quarter-finalists CSKA Moscow before the return leg at the San Siro.

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

AFP

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