Pedro wanted to avoid Manchester City

Barcelona winger Pedro has admitted that his side wanted to avoid Manchester City in the last-16 stage of the Champions League.

The Spanish champions travel to Manchester for the first leg on Tuesday evening.

"You try to avoid the strongest teams [by winning the group] but we knew we could get them," he told The Guardian.

"There are some opponents you prefer, that's the truth. Maybe this way we will be even more focused than ever, though, because we know how difficult it is."

Barcelona lost in the semi-finals to eventual winners Bayern Munich last season.