Drogba set for Stamford Bridge return as English sides drawn against familiar foes
FORMER Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has revealed his joy after his new team Galatasaray were drawn against the Blues in the Champions League last 16.
It is one of several reunions thrown up by the draw, which sees Arsenal face holders Bayern Munich in a repeat of last year’s tie and Manchester City, who boast two former Barcelona directors and one ex-player, meet the Spanish champions.
Drogba scored a late equaliser and then the winning penalty as Chelsea beat Bayern in the 2012 final – his last appearance for the club. He wrote on social networking site Instagram: “What a draw. I’m the luckiest man in this competition. In both games I’ll be playing [at] home! See you in few months.”
Premier League champions Manchester United have perhaps the easiest opponents of the English clubs, having been drawn against Olympiacos of Greece.
Wales star Gareth Bale and Real Madrid will face Schalke, last year’s runners-up Borussia Dortmund meet Zenit St Petersburg, big-spending Paris Saint-Germain take on Bayer Leverkusen and in-form Atletico Madrid play AC Milan.
Tottenham also face a reunion with former boss Juande Ramos, after they were drawn against Ukrainian club Dnipro in the Europa League last 32. Should they progress they will meet Benfica or PAOK in the last 16.
Swansea, England’s other representatives in the competition, play Napoli, followed by Porto or Eintracht Frankfurt.