LIVERPOOL will play Real Madrid and Man City face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League quarter finals.
Chelsea are set to face FC Porto after the Champions League draw was made in Nyon.
The semi-finals were also drawn, with the Reds and Blues potentially facing each other in the last four if they make it through, 16 years after the ‘ghost goal’ tie.
Stay up to date with every tie in our live blog, below…
GOODBYE
We have our eight quarter-finalists. We have our four quarter-finals. We even have our two semi-finals.
Now, we just await one winner.
Manchester City are favourites. Bayern Munich are holders. Chelsea are the movers with momentum. Porto are the outsiders. Real Madrid are the most successful team in the competition’s history. Liverpool are six-time winners. PSG have the world’s most expensive players. Borussia Dortmund have the game’s most in-demand striker.
The competition could not be set up any better.
So, one more time, here is the list of the four Champions League quarter-finals:
- Man City v Borussia Dortmund
- Porto v Chelsea
- Bayern Munich v PSG
- Real Madrid v Liverpool
The first legs will be played on April 6/7, the second legs a week later on April 13/14.
And, of course, here are the semi-finals that await the victors of each tie:
- Bayern Munich/PSG v Man City/Dortmund
- Real Madrid/Liverpool v Porto/Chelsea
The first game of the semis will take place on April 27/28 with the returns on May 4/5.
We really cannot wait.
That’s all from us this afternoon, but if you’re after more European excitement, why not take a look at how the Europa League draw has panned out.
From the Home of European Football in Nyon, goodbye.
CITY SAFE FROM GERMAN THREAT
Manchester City welcome Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their quarter-final tie, and the Bundesliga side will arrive in England with both Europe’s most sought-after striker, Erling Haaland, and a former City youngster, Jadon Sancho, in their ranks.
However, the Premier League leaders have a fine record against opponents from Germany with their only home defeat by one coming against Bayern Munich in 2013. Their manager? Pep Guardiola. Whatever happened to him?
THE PATH TO ISTANBUL
A reminder that the semi-final draws have also been made in Nyon this afternoon, and are as follows:
- Bayern Munich/PSG v Man City/Dortmund
- Real Madrid/Liverpool v Porto/Chelsea
The first legs of the semis will take place on April 27/28 before the return games a week later on May 4/5.
GIANTS REUNITED
Another recent Champions League final saw Real Madrid defeat Liverpool 3-1 in 2018, a match memorable for Gareth Bale’s overhead kick, Loris Karius’ blunder and Sergio Ramos crocking Mo Salah. The English champions now have their chance for revenge.
The Reds finest hour and a half with Los Blancos came in 2009 when they prevailed 5-0 on aggregate following a thumping 4-0 success at Anfield, a night fondly remembered by Jamie Carragher.
Liverpool also defeated Real in the 1981 European Cup final, courtesy of Alan Kennedy’s late goal.
FINAL REPEAT
Holders Bayern Munich will face Paris Saint-Germain in this season’s quarter-finals in what will be a repeat of the 2020 Champions League final.
Here’s a reminder of how the action played out in Lisbon last August when Kingsley Coman’s header ensured Bayern took the trophy back to Bavaria.
When patience was demanded of them in this Champions League Final, Bayern prevailed against a Paris Saint-Germain side containing the two most expensive footballers on the planet in Neymar and Kylian Mbappe. They have scored 43 goals in this European campaign, winning 11 out of 11, and not even all the oil wealth in Qatar could knock them off course.
BRIDGE TOO FAR FOR PORTO?
In drawing Porto, Chelsea were the recipients of the favourable draw that all the top clubs wanted although they should bear in mind the fighting spirit displayed by the Dragons in their Last 16 tie with Juventus.
However, the Blues’ record against the Portuguese club at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League is exceptional.
Chelsea will host Porto in the second leg on either April 13 or 14, having faced them a week earlier at Estadio do Dragao.
MADRID CARRY KARIM THREAT
Liverpool fans have been quick to clock that Real Madrid are due to host El Clasico rivals Barcelona in between their two games with the reigning La Liga champions.
However, there are also reasons for the Reds to be cautious, most notably their record in dealing with Karim Benzema. The French striker already has four Champions League goals against the Anfield club to his name.
MARKET MOVERS
Chelsea have been the biggest movers in the outright betting for the Champions League since the draw, moving from 8/1 to 5/1 on the exchanges.
The Blues face outsiders Porto in the quarter-finals with the winners due to face either Real Madrid or Liverpool in the semis.
On Chelsea’s two previous appearances in the final of the Champions League, they had changed manager mid-season. Will Thomas Tuchel ensure it happens for a third time? Peter Crouch certainly seems to think so.
Chelsea have to be the favourites on their side of the draw to get to the final.
Peter Crouch
HAALAND COMING HOME?
There have been many rumours linking Erling Haaland with a summer move to Manchester City, and now the Norwegian hot-shot will have his chance to impress at the Etihad as a Borussia Dortmund player.
The striker’s father, Alf-Inge Haaland, was a midfielder at Man City between 2000 and 2003.
WHAT A DRAW!
Here’s are the Champions League quarter-finals:
- Man City v Borussia Dortmund
- Porto v Chelsea
- Bayern Munich v PSG
- Real Madrid v Liverpool
The first legs will be played on April 6/7 with the return games a week later on April 13/14.
Champions League quarter-final draw sees Liverpool take on Real Madrid and Man City face Borussia DortmundSEMI-FINAL TWO
The winners of quarter-final four versus the winners of quarter-final two.
That means it’s Real Madrid or Liverpool v Porto or Chelsea.
SEMI-FINAL ONE
The winners of quarter-final three will take on the winners of quarter-final one.
Bayern Munich or PSG v Man City or Dortmund.
AND NOW IT’S THE SEMI-FINAL DRAW!
REAL MADRID V LIVERPOOL
Finally, it’s Real Madrid against Liverpool.
Both clubs are a shade of their former glories this season, but this quarter-final tie offers both a great chance of progressing to the final four.
BAYERN MUNICH V PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN!
It’s a repeat of last year’s final!
PORTO V CHELSEA
After shocking Juventus in the Last 16, Porto are rewarded with a quarter-final tie against Chelsea.
MANCHESTER CITY V BORUSSIA DORTMUND
First out are the Premier League leaders Manchester City, and they will take on Borussia Dortmund.
HERE WE GO!
ALTINTOP MAN
Former Bayern Munich and Real Madrid midfielder Hamit Altintop has been introduced to conduct the draw.
CHANGING OF THE GUARD
As Pedro Pinto introduces viewers to the eight remaining clubs via some stuttering VT and European electropop, it’s worth acknowledging that these quarter-finals will take place without either Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo for the first time since 2005.
Instead, this has been the Champions League campaign of Kyllian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. The PSG forward bagged a sensational hat-trick against Barcelona at the Camp Nou in the Last 16 while Borussia Dortmund’s Norwegian striker leads the scoring charts with ten goals in the competition.
BALLS AT THE READY
The Champions League anthem is pumping out around ‘the House of European Football’ in Nyon which can only mean one thing.
It’s almost time for the draw.
QUADRUPLE ON FOR FOUR-SOME CITY?
Pep Guardiola was quick to put Oleksandr Zinchenko in his place after the Manchester City left-back suggested the Premier League leaders were capable of bringing four trophies back to the Etihad Stadium this season.
However, City fans are dreaming and few would bet against them in their current form; the Citizens have won 24 of their last 25 games in all competition.
If they are to complete the impossible, they will have to finally click in the Champions League. The club’s best performance in the competition came in 2015-16 when they were eliminated at the semi-final stage by Real Madrid, going down 1-0 on aggregate.
TUCHEL CAREFREE
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel cut a relaxed figure on Wednesday evening, following his side’s defeat of Atletico Madrid at Stamford Bridge.
The German head coach maintained that he was unaware as to when the draw was due to take place, but later stated that he didn’t think any of the remaining sides would want to draw his team.
The Blues are unbeaten since Tuchel took charge at the end of January, and have conceded just two goals in 13 matches under the former PSG manager.
I am pretty sure that no-one wants to play against us.
Thomas Tuchel
FINAL DESTINATION
The Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul is the venue for this season’s Champions League final, due to take place on May 29.
The Turkish stadium was originally due to host last season’s final, but the 2020 showpiece was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and then relocated to the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon.
REDS READY FOR ISTANBUL RETURN
The Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul was the scene of one of Liverpool’s greatest nights back in 2005 – and the Anfield club will be eyeing a return to Turkey if they are to salvage this season.
With the Premier League champions’ title defence having fallen apart in 2021, Jurgen Klopp’s men surely need to bring home a seventh European Cup if they are to take their place in next season’s competition.
Who would be their ideal opponent in the last eight?
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
