Mourinho and Beckham set for Champs League returns

The draw for the last 16 of the Champions League has delivered two plum ties featuring English clubs, with Jose Mourinho returning to Chelsea and David Beckham heading back to Old Trafford.

Former boss Mourinho walked out on Chelsea two years ago and is now manager of Inter Milan, the Blues' opponents in the first knock-out stage. Despite domestic success in Italy the prickly Portuguese is reported to be close to the exit door at the San Siro, but if anything will motivate him to extend his tenure it would surely be the chance to get one over on his old employers next March.

There is added spice in the contest as Mourinho never won the Champions League with Chelsea, but success in Europe is seen as vital at Inter. Indeed, should Chelsea progress at the expense of the Italians it could be the end of the road for the Special One.

David Beckham, who will spend the latter part of the season on loan at AC Milan, now has an added incentive to force his way into the Italian club's first team.

The Rossoneri have drawn Manchester United in the last 16 and the former Old Trafford favourite could get one last chance to strutt his stuff at the Theatre of Dreams.

Aside from the Beckham sideshow the tie is a true clash of the titans. Between them Milan and United have 10 European Cups. They last met in the 2007 semi-final when the Italians emerged victorious.

The other English club, Arsenal, have an altogether more low-key draw. They will play Porto, a club they know well after coming up against them three times in the past four seasons. The Champions, Barcelona, will face Stuttgart.

Last 16 draw in full:

Stuttgart v Barcelona
Olympiacos v Bordeaux
Inter Milan v Chelsea
Bayern Munich v Fiorentina
CSKA Moscow v Sevilla
Lyon v Real Madrid
Porto v Arsenal
AC Milan v Manchester United

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