The showdown between the two former European champions is the stand-out tie of the round, with the winner facing either Fulham or Shakhtar Donetsk in the last 16.

Ajax won the Champions League in 1995 and were beaten in the final on penalties by Juve the following year.

"(This is) a beautiful draw," Jol told Ajax's official website.

"Especially for our young players it will be a good experience to play two games against this kind of opposition.

"Juventus are a strong team. I think their main focus is up front, with players like (Vincenzo) Iaquinta, Amauri, (David) Trezeguet and Diego."

Juve's sporting director Alessio Secco believes the Italians have what it takes to progress.

He told the Juventus Channel: "With the right motivation and by showing our qualities, Juventus can make it.

"Let's hope that the happy memory of the 1996 Champions League victory in Rome may help us."

Werder Bremen, last year's beaten UEFA Cup finalists, were drawn against Eredivisie leaders FC Twente.

Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf is expecting a tough tie, even though the Bundesliga outfit have lost just twice in all competitions this term.

"Certainly Twente are not to be underestimated in any way," he said on www.werder.de. "They are the leaders in Holland, have still not lost a games in the league this season and already won 15."

The winners of the clash between Twente and Bremen will face Club Brugge of Belgium or Valencia.

Wolfsburg coach Armin Veh gives the German champions a "50-50 chance" of getting through their tie with Spanish side Villarreal.

Both sides have struggled to match their success of last season so far this term.

"That is an opponent of Champions League quality," Veh told the Wolves' official website.

"Villarreal are a top team in Spain, they have consistently been among the top sides there in recent years. I would consider us to have a 50-50 chance."

Hamburg will take on PSV Eindhoven in a clash which offers PSV boss Fred Rutten - sacked by Schalke earlier this year after less than a season in charge - the chance to lock horns again with German opposition.

"Eindhoven are an absolutely top European team," said Hamburg coach Bruno Labbadia on www.hsv.de.

"With Fred Rutten they have a coach who is perfectly informed about the Bundesliga.

"They will certainly be two hot and exciting games."

Rutten added on www.psv.nl: "Hamburg play in a stronger league and are consequently slight favourites. We have a tough task ahead."

Marseille coach Didier Deschamps admits his side could have been given tougher draws after the Ligue 1 outfit were paired with FC Copenhagen - but he also sounded a note of caution.

Deschamps told www.om.net: "It's always difficult to analyse a draw. It could have gone worse, obviously.

"There were teams in there with more flashy names, more recognised at European level and which could be more complicated to play against.

"But we are also aware that Copenhagen are champions, and always in leading positions this season. If they are there, it is not coincidence."

Should they beat Copenhagen, Marseille will challenge Hertha Berlin or Benfica in the last 16.

Another boss pleased with his team's draw was Salzburg's Huub Stevens.

The Austrian champions, the only side to win all their games in the group stage, were drawn against Belgian side Standard Liege.

"The Europa League went really sensationally for us - the will to win, dedication, games and successes have just been unbelievably great," Stevens told the club's website.

"It's a new competition but we knew the way to approach it.

"Standard are well equipped in every position and the fans get really behind them at home. They are definitely not opponents that everyone can expect to beat easily.

"But it was a good draw as it could have been a lot worse. We will prepare extensively to face them as always."

Elsewhere, Rubin Kazan, who beat Barcelona in the Nou Camp before finishing third in their Champions League group, will take on Hapoel Tel Aviv, with the winners facing Wolfsburg or Villarreal in the last 16.

Liverpool take on Unirea Urziceni of Romania for the right to play Lille or Fenerbahce in the last 16, while another Premier League side, Everton, are up against Sporting Lisbon.

Whoever comes through that tie will play the winners of the showdown between Atletico Madrid and Galatasaray.

Athletic Bilbao face Anderlecht, with the winners taking on Hamburg or PSV, while Panathinaikos take on Roma for the right to play Standard Liege or Salzburg.

The first-leg matches in the last 32 will be played on February 18, with the return games on February 25.