UEFA Champions League Returns On Viasat 1

After two months away, the UEFA Champions League returns this week, commencing 13 February with the first batch of round of 16 first legs. Viasat 1 is set to broadcast the Wednesday matches and looks ahead to day two of the fixtures of the knockout stage.

Italian giants AC Milan and Arsenal go head-to-head LIVE on Viasat 1 on Wednesday 15 February 2012 at 7pm. AC Milan are unlikely to be delighted at drawing Arsenal, with the Rossoneri's last three UEFA Champions League campaigns having ended in elimination by an English side in the round of 16.

Still jostling with Juventus for Serie A supremacy, Milan have not experienced the most fluent of European challenges so far and will no doubt recall exiting the competition at the hands of Arsenal in 2007/08.

The Gunners, still without Jack Wilshere, have endured something of a lull since they were last in continental action, but will have been boosted by ending a four-game winless run in the Premier League in emphatic style on 4 February – triumphing 7-1 at home to Blackburn Rovers FC. AC Milan v Arsenal FC (Wednesday 15 February 2012; 7:45pm LIVE)

With no domestic assignments because of the Russian winter break, Zenit – who have lost forward Danny to injury for the season – have not played competitively since they knocked out Porto to progress on match day six.

They return to the European scene against another Portuguese outfit, Benfica, who had not made it to the knockout rounds since 2005/06. This time around, the double European champions got through having topped their group for the first time since 1995. FC Zenit St Petersburg v SL Benfica(Wednesday 15 February 2012; 10pm Delayed).

The remaining four rounds of 16 first legs take place on 21 and 22 February. Host of the UCL Studio discussion is Anthony “Tony” Baffoe.