Friday’s Uefa Champions League quarter-final draw has set up the wonderful possibility of an El Clasico final between Real Madrid and Barcelona, but alot still has to happen first.
European champions Barcelona have drawn Italian champions AC Milan in the pick of the ties in the quarters, which will definitely test Pep Guardiola’s men.
Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta said on the club’s website: “We’ve already played against them in the group stages, and it’s not very appealing to take on teams you’ve already played against. We prefer to play against new teams, sides that don’t know us as well and that we can better analyse.
“It’s Milan, and that’s that. They are a great club, with great players. We’ll have to play football well and be better than them in order to get to the semi-finals.”
Meanwhile, Milan boss Max Allegri said: “We are facing the strongest team in the world but we must believe we can do it. My players will not fear them.”
Real face Cypriot surprise packets APOEL, while in-form Bayern meet Marseille, and England’s final representative Chelsea take on Benfica.
Quarter-final draw, APOEL v Real Madrid, Olympique Marseille v Bayern Munich, Benfica v Chelsea, AC Milan v FC Barcelona