Champions League
The Champions League semi-final draw: a repeat of last year’s final or Bayern vs PSG. What pairings have the draw determined?
The Champions League has finished its regular season, from which some big clubs unexpectedly dropped out. The top 16 teams in Europe made it to the eighth round and today’s draw offered several interesting encounters.
The Champions League has finished its regular season, from which some big clubs unexpectedly dropped out. The top 16 teams in Europe made it to the eighth round and today’s draw offered several interesting encounters.
The draw in Nyon, Switzerland, lined up 16 teams. The top seeds were the group winners – Bayern, Benfica, Chelsea, Man City, Napoli, Porto, Real Madrid and Tottenham.
As unseeded teams, the following teams – Brugge, Dortmund, Frankfurt, Inter, Leipzig, Liverpool, AC Milan and PSG – made it through to the eight-finals from second place in the group.
In the eighth finals, teams from the same country cannot play each other and teams that have already played each other in the group stage cannot play each other.
The first matches are set for 14/15 and 21/22 February, with the rematches scheduled for 7/8 and 14/15 March. All matches will be played at 9pm.
And which teams will face each other to advance to the quarterfinals? The first draw was a duel between Leipzig and Manchester City. A very interesting match will then be played between Bruges and Benfica Lisbon. Fans can also look forward to a replay of last year’s final between Liverpool and Real Madrid.
Great expectations were then had by the representatives of the Italian champion, who after years finally reached the knockout stage of the Champions League. AC Milan will challenge Tottenham in the eighth round, so the Rossoneri will once again face an English team in the most prestigious club competition.
The current Serie A leader SSC Napoli will play Eintracht Frankfurt, while Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea will face each other in a very attractive clash.
The other big club in Milan, Inter, will play the ambitious Porto in the Champions League eighth round. PSG and Bayern will be the showpiece of the eighth round.
Source: UEFA Champions League