BARCA: IT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY TIE

BARCA: IT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY TIE
Paul Eaton 15 December 2006

Barcelona president Joan Laporta watched his side paired with Liverpool in today's Champions League draw and admitted: "It's an extraordinary tie."

The Spanish giants will welcome Liverpool to the Nou Camp in late February before travelling to Anfield two weeks later with a place in the quarter finals at stake.

"It will be a meeting between the last two champions, so it is going to be an extraordinary tie," said Laporta.

"I am happy with the draw, Liverpool is a team that I had a preference for in order to face at this stage.

"Liverpool are powerful opponents that play very physical football and have players that we know very well, such as

Luis Garcia and Xabi Alonso and Miki Roqué.

"Let's not forget, we are the team to beat this season."