Real Madrid will face Liverpool in the Champions League quarterfinals, and there will be a repeat of last season’s final as Bayern Munich were drawn against Paris Saint-Germain.
The other ties will see Manchester City taking on Borussia Dortmund and FC Porto facing Chelsea.
City’s clash with Dortmund will represent in-demand forward Erling Haaland’s first visit to the Etihad Stadium. The Norway international is a transfer target for several of Europe’s top sides, and his father, Alf-Inge, played for City.
Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane is looking to become the first manager to win the competition on four occasions, but he will have to overcome Liverpool, whom Los Blancos beat in the 2018 final. Jurgen Klopp’s side recovered to win the trophy the next season.
Bayern boss Hansi Flick could become the second manager of a men’s side to retain the Champions League after Zidane achieved the feat with Madrid, while PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino will be hoping to go one better, having seen his Tottenham Hotspur lose the final to Liverpool in 2019.
Thomas Tuchel, who led PSG to the final last season, will fancy his side’s chances against Porto, though Chelsea should be wary after the Portuguese side overcame Juventus in the round of 16.
Chelsea and Liverpool met each other in five consecutive seasons in the Champions League from 2005 to 2009, but, should both make it to the semifinal, it would be their first encounter in the competition since.
Only two of the remaining teams are top of the table in their domestic leagues, with La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid having been knocked out in the round of 16.
City and PSG are the only sides left in the competition who have never won the Champions League, though the French side did reach the final last season and will be looking to build on that.
The quarterfinal first legs will be played on April 6/7 with the returns on April 13/14, and the first semifinals will be on April 27/28 with second legs to take place on May 4/5. The final will be played in the Turkish city of Istanbul on May 29.
QUARTERFINALS
Manchester City vs. Borussia Dortmund
FC Porto vs. Chelsea
Bayern Munich vs. Paris Saint-Germain
Real Madrid vs. Liverpool
SEMIFINALS
Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain vs. Manchester City or Borussia Dortmund
Real Madrid or Liverpool vs. FC Porto or Chelsea
Got a story or tip for us? Email Sports Gossip editors at tips@sportsgossip.com
Want More From Sports Gossip?
For all the latest breaking Sports Gossip, be sure to follow SportsGossip.com on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
You can view the original article HERE.
