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With the news that Bayern Munich and Arsenal will face each other in the Round of 16 for the third time in five years, fans on both sides groaned about facing each other again. Still, things could’ve been worse for the two sides. Bayern could’ve drawn Barcelona, and Arsenal could be facing Real Madrid.
One of the most important things about these big Champions League clashes are the matches that surround the two-legged affair. Let’s take a look at the schedules of Bayern Munich and Arsenal ahead of the Round of 16 tie.
Bayern Munich Schedule
February 11 - Ingolstadt vs. Bayern Munich
February 15 - Bayern Munich vs. Arsenal
February 17-19 - Hertha Berlin vs. Bayern Munich
March 3-5 - Köln vs. Bayern Munich
March 7 - Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich
March 10-12 - Bayern Munich vs. Eintracht Frankfurt
Bayern’s schedule is friendly around the two Champions League matches. The difficult one is the match around the trip to London in March. A visit to Köln precedes a flight to England, which is followed by a match in Munich against a tough Frankfurt squad.
Arsenal Schedule
February 11 - Arsenal vs. Hull City
February 15 - Bayern Munich vs. Arsenal
February 18 - FA Cup Round 5
March 4 - Liverpool vs. Arsenal
March 7 - Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich
March 11 - Arsenal vs. Leicester City
Arsenal’s schedule could be a bit trickier. They’ll need to advance to the fifth round of the FA Cup, but once they qualify, they could find themselves up against another of England’s big clubs. Then, just three days before Bayern visit London for the return match, Arsenal must travel to Liverpool for what could be a huge EPL clash.
Of course, Bayern’s easier schedule for the Round of 16 means that, if they should advance, then their potential quarterfinals and semifinals will have more difficult Bundesliga matches around them.