‘We face two demanding matches’

FC Bayern will take on top Portuguese outfit Benfica in the Champions League quarter-finals. “We’re looking forward to the matches,” David Alaba said after Friday’s draw. Xabi Alonso urged caution: “We have the experience from last year against Porto. Every opponent can be difficult at this stage of the competition.”

Reaction to Friday’s draw

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge: “We can be happy with the draw, but we mustn’t make the mistake of underestimating a team that has qualified for the Champions League quarter-finals. We face two demanding matches in which we’ll have to be focused and determined if we’re to reach our goal, the semi-finals.”

David Alaba: “We’re looking forward to the matches although it won’t be easy, Benfica won both their Round of 16 matches against St. Petersburg and deserved to get through. They’re dangerous. We want to go as far as possible, so we have to set ourselves the target of beating every opponent. We’re aiming for success.”

Xabi Alonso: “Benfica did very well last season. We have to be focused, and then hopefully we’ll reach the semi-finals. We have the experience from last year against Porto. Every opponent can be difficult at this stage of the competition. These are the eight best teams in Europe.”

Franck Ribéry: “It’s a good draw for us. Benfica are a good team with lots of good players, so we’ll have to concentrate. It’s the quarter-finals so there are no easy games. Every match is tough. We’ll have to work very hard in the first match at home.”