Manchester United will have to overcome Bayern Munich then unstitch the French connection to reach the final of the Champions League.

And Arsenal will have to put the might of defending champions Barcelona to the sword following today’s draw for the quarter and semi-final showdowns.

United’s game will be a repeat of the 1999 final when Sir Alex Ferguson’s men staged a grandstand finish to defeat the German cracks.

If they beat Bayern, the Old Trafford giants will face a semi-final with either Lyon or Bordeaux who were paired together in an all-French clash.

United have been handed the first leg at home, potentially setting up a firecracker return in Munich.

Arsene Wenger’s Gunners, on a high after their emphatic defeat of Porto, face the most difficult challenge against the tournament favourites.

Barcelona’s midweek rout of Stuttgart made the whole of Europe sit up and take notice – and in Lionel Messi they have a player who can destroy teams single-handed.

The fourth tie sets up a quarter-final clash between Chelsea’s conquerors Inter Milan and CSKA Moscow with the winners facing either Barca or Arsenal.

Former Celtic and Arsenal hero Charlie Nicholas today admitted his old side face a tough task to put the Spanish matadors to the sword.

But he refused to write off their chances. Sky pundit Charlie said: “It’s a massive tie, the match of the round without question.

“But Arsenal are playing with confidence and with a real swagger and there is no reason whatsoever why they can’t reach the semis.”