Over to soccer and an intriguing tie in the UEFA Champions League. Barcelona travelling to face Chelsea. The Blues proving to be a real puzzle for the Catalans. The EPL champs unbeaten against Barca in their last 7 games, two wins and five draws. Even more puzzling, Lionel Messi had not scored in 8 career games against the EPL champs. And it looked like the trend would continue, as the host took a 1-nil lead in the 62nd minute on a Willian effort. But the Argentine finally got on the score sheet about 15 minutes later, firing a shot past Thibaut Courtois to earn the visitors a 1-1 draw in the opening leg of their last 16 encounter.

Elsewhere Bayern Munich equalled their record winning run of 14 matches in a completely lopsided affair against Besiktas who were down to ten men after 16 minutes. Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski each scoring a brace in a crushing 5-nil win against the Turkish outfit. The Bavarians looking like a good bet to reach the quarter-finals of the continental tournament for the seventh straight year. The return legs set for March 14.