Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has said that Spanish side Barcelona are the team to beat in this years Champions League.

Both teams are through to the final 16 of the competition. Man United will play Marseille and Barcelona face Arsenal. Barcelona finished top of their group with four wins and two draws. They scored 14 goals and only conceded three. Man United also finished top of their group with four wins and two draws but only seven and let in one goal.

Rooney told the official Champions League magazine: "They [Barcelona] are the team to beat".

"They are a fantastic team and people will remember what this Barcelona side have done for a long time to come, like the great Real Madrid and Manchester United teams.

"Their football is brilliant to watch and they win games playing that way, which is the main thing.

"Barcelona stand out for me. You can safely say if you beat Barcelona you have a good chance of winning the competition."

The last time Man United played Barcelona was in the 2009 final at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy., United lost 2-0 after goals from Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi. The year before the two sides played each other in the semi-final stage, it was United who progressed after a 1-0 aggregate win. Man United went on to beat Chelsea and lift the Champions League trophy.