"An English team will win" Reaction to the UCL Quarter-Final Draw
The UCL Finals are set…
On Friday morning, the highly anticipated UEFA Champions League quarter-finals and semi-finals were drawn at the UEFA Headquarters.
Whilst Ranieri’s look-a-like, Giorgio Marchetti, conducted the draw, there was a special guest in Hamit Altintop who was tasked with picking the balls of the eight teams that are left.
Rather impressively, three of the eight teams that remain are representatives of the Premier League, with the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea heading deep into the competition.
Surprisingly, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side were the first out of the bowl, being drawn against a somewhat youthful and ambitious Bundesliga side in Borussia Dortmund - a draw that could excite tactically. It’s also a draw that will see the return of a certain Jadon Sancho, along with his colleague and future Ballon d’Or winner-elect; Erling Haaland - an apparent transfer target for The Cityzens.
Meanwhile, Chelsea find themselves up against a stubborn FC Porto outfit who gave everything they had against Juventus to reach this stage of the tournament. Out of the teams left, it’s undoubtably the easiest draw but by no means will Thomas Tuchel underestimate the overachieving Sergio Conceicao.
The final representatives of the Premier League, Liverpool, have been drawn into a fixture that will see a direct repeat of the 2018 Champions League final.
In a season that has been difficult to digest domestically, The 2019 Champions League Winners have the perfect opportunity to seek vengeance, against a Madrid side that are by no means as convincing in comparison to previous years.
Dialing in with a splash more of Deja Vu is the quarter-final fixture that sees World Champions Bayern Munich take on an inspired PSG side, in what is yet again a direct repeat of a previous final - last year’s final in fact.
Although it will be a very tough ask, it’s a chance for PSG to get their own back on Bayern Munich and in doing so it would serve them with an unprecedented amount of confidence as they continue to hunt down the ultimate club football prize.
“UCL QUARTER-FINAL AND SEMI-FINAL DRAW IN FULL”
Quarter-Final Draw
First legs to be played on April 6th/7th and second legs on April 13th/14th.
Manchester City vs Borussia Dortmund
FC Porto vs Chelsea FC
FC Bayern Munich vs Paris Saint-Germain
Real Madrid vs Liverpool
Semi-Final Draw
First legs to be played on April 27th/28th and second legs on May 4th/5th.
FC Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain vs Manchester City or Borussia Dortmund.
Real Madrid or Liverpool vs FC Porto or Chelsea FC