FCB primed for Champions League draw
The draw for the Champions League quarter-finals takes place in Nyon, Switzerland from 12.00 noon CET on Friday. FC Bayern and the club's fans are eagerly awaiting the event to learn the identity of their next opponents in Europe's premier club competition. After the remaining Round of 16 ties were played on Wednesday evening it is certain who will contest the quarter-finals, and just as in the last few years challenging draws await the German record champions.
"All the teams who qualify are heavyweights," Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said after the victory away to Arsenal. "We shouldn't dream now but calmly wait for our draw. We'd better approach it step by step and calmly," Rummenigge added. The FCB chairman will follow Friday's draw in the FC Bayern.tv live studio and immediately assess the upcoming opponents.
Besides the Bavarians, Borussia Dortmund are the second Bundesliga team to have progressed to the last eight. The Ruhr valley outfit prevailed over Benfica in the Round of 16. A Champions League encounter with them would mean Bayern and Borussia cross swords four times in 18 days. They also face off in the DFB Cup and in the Bundesliga in April.
Three Spanish sides have booked a berth in the last eight: holders Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Atlético Madrid. Real downed SSC Napoli, whereas local rivals Atlético, Bayern's group opponents, prevailed over Bayer Leverkusen. Barca knocked out Paris Saint-Germain in a remarkable encounter featuring one of the greatest comebacks in sporting history.
Juventus have become regulars in the Champions League knockout stages. The Italien record champions, who lost to Bayern in last year's Round of 16, downed FC Porto. Somewhat surprisingly, English champions Leicester City have sealed a spot in the next round. The Foxes, relegation-threatened in their domestic league, eliminated FC Sevilla, causing a stir on the European stage in their very first Champions League season .
AS Monaco edged into the quarter-finals on Wednesday evening. The Ligue 1 table-toppers won 3-1 against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, meaning the tie ended 6-6 on aggregate, with Monaco going through on away goals. The quarter-finals will be played on 11/12 (first legs) and 18/19 April (return legs).