MANCHESTER CITY and Liverpool remain on a collision course for a dream all-English Champions League Final.
The six-time winners Liverpool triumphed 6-4 on aggregate against Benfica while the Cityzens overcame a bruising clash with Atletico Madrid to reach the semi-finals.
Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola remain on course to meet in the Champions League final Credit: Reuters
Man City battled to a 0-0 draw away to Atletico Madrid to reach the Champions League semis Credit: AFP
Roberto Firmino netted twice at Anfield as Liverpool reached the last four Credit: EPA And Jurgen Klopp’s men will certainly fancy their chances of progressing when they meet Spanish side Villareal, who are in the last-four for the first time.
And it is another trip to Madrid for Pep Guardiola and his men as they face the record 13-time European champions Real.
The first leg of that tie will be played on either April 26 or 27 at the Etihad Stadium.
And the second takes place at the Bernabeu on either May 3 or 4 the following week.
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Football free bets – Get £40 bonus when you stake £10 this week with Betfair Liverpool also have home advantage in the first leg on either April 26 or 27, with the return match on either May 3 or 4 in Spain.
The Anfield side, who have already lifted the Carabao Cup this term, are still chasing a unique Quadruple while there is still the prospect of a Treble on the cards for City.
The two rivals produced a stunning contest when they collided last Sunday to continue their thrilling fight for the Premier League title.
Reigning champions City took the lead twice at the Etihad through Kevin De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus, but first a Diogo Jota strike and then Sadio Mane earned them a point from the 2-2 draw.
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That left the Reds still trailing Guardiola’s team by a point with only seven games remaining.
But football fans will get another opportunity to see them go toe-to-toe once again this Saturday.
They meet at Wembley in the semi-final of the FA Cup.
And, of course, we could be just weeks away from the goliaths meeting once more in the Champions League final in Paris.
That showpiece takes place on May 28 – a fortnight after one of them appears in the FA Cup Final.
De Bruyne’s first leg goal proved to be the difference as City kept their composure to edge past Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Tempers boiled over on several occasions as the Belgian and Kyle Walker both limped off, but it was Guardiola’s boys that were left celebrating at full-time following the goalless second leg.
Liverpool were leading 3-1 from the first leg as they welcomed Benfica to Anfield and the pair produced a thrilling 3-3 draw on Merseyside.
Ibrahima Konate’s header extended the Reds’ advantage before Goncalo Ramos equalised on the night.
Roberto Firmino then scored twice in the second period but Roman Yaremchuk pulled one back and then Darwin Nunez scored a late equaliser.
But that was still not enough to stop Liverpool from advancing 6-4 on aggregate.
Klopp said afterwards: “The day we qualify for the semi-final of the Champions League, and I’m not happy, please come here and knock me out.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk