AC Milan to Play Tottenham Hotspur In UEFA Champions League Last 16

The draw for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 was held today and seven-time winners AC Milan have been paired with Champions League rookies Tottenham Hotspur.

The first leg will be played February 15th at the San Siro in Milan before a trip to White Hart Lane on March 9th in London.

Milan will be facing a tough test in Spurs, who have taken the English Premier League by storm the past couple seasons. Harry Redknapp's men won Group A over Inter Milan, Werder Bremen, and FC Twente. Milan finished second in Group G behind Real Madrid and ahead of Ajax Amsterdam and AJ Auxerre.

Milan were drawn with the London club over Barcelona, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Schalke 04, and Shakhtar Donetsk, the other group winners.

Massimilano Allegri kept the confidence that Milan have built all year, something that seems to have been missing in recent seasons, in addressing the draw.

"Tottenham are an excellent team," the first year Milan manager said, "but of all the opponents we could have had, they are not as tough."

"Tottenham are excellent and they deserve respect. We still have two months though and many games before them. Roma tomorrow, so a step at a time,"

The Rossoneri are in first place in Serie A heading into Round 17. They are six points clear of Juventus, Napoli, and Lazio, all of whom they have to play near or during the tie with Tottenham.

Tottenham in the meantime are fifth in the Premier League but are within striking distance of the top four. They sit only four points out of a Champions League spot and seven off leaders Manchester United.

The biggest splash has been in the Champions League. This is Spurs' first year in the competition and they won their group with reigning winners Inter Milan, who they beat in the process.

The draw with Milan has the club very excited, especially defender Michael Dawson.

"It is fantastic for the football club to be involved in such a big game," Dawson told Spurstv.

"For me personally, I missed the group stages and I'm devastated about that. But to be part of the game in February, all being well, will be great and I look forward to it."

"The list goes on, there are so many world class players [in the Milan team]. It's where our players in that dressing room want to be - playing against the best players in the world and luckily enough we are going to get the chance to."

Milan's return to success is in part thanks to some of those world class players Dawson mentioned. In the summer, the club brought in strikers Robinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic as well as young midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng. The three have been instrumental to Milan's success. Now, reports say that Sampdoria star Antonio Cassano has agreed to join the club. A move is likely when the transfer window opens.

Tottenham are not lacking for stars either. Gareth Bale and Jermaine Defoe are among the many stars that will be taking the field for Spurs.

Of all the match-ups in the Round of 16, look for Milan-Tottenham to provide some of the best excitement.