Friday, March 20, 2009

Champions League draw



Defending European champions Manchester United drew Portuguese title holders FC Porto during Friday's Champions League quarter-final draw at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

The match brings back memories of 2004, when then Porto boss Jose Mourinho charged up the Old Trafford touchline in delight after a 90th-minute Costinha goal took the Portuguese side through at the expense of the English team.

Liverpool drew Chelsea yet again and means Rafa Benitez's 2005 champions will face last season's beaten finalists for the fourth time in the knock-out stages in five seasons. The duo have also previously met in the group stages of the competition, making it five meetings in a row.

Arsenal will play their first leg away to Villarreal in a repeat of the semi-final of 2006, although the Gunners played the first match at home on that occasion and went through 1-0 on aggregate after success at Highbury.

Barcelona, winners in 2006 drew Bayern Munich, champions in 2001 and the German giants have never lost to the La Liga leaders in Europe.

The winners of Liverpool's match against Chelsea will face the winners of Barcelona's match against Bayern for a place in the final.

United will take on Arsenal for a place in the Rome showdown - assuming both Premier League teams win their quarter-final ties.

Quarter-finals

Tuesday, April 7

Villarreal v Arsenal

Manchester United v FC Porto

Wednesday, April 8

Liverpool v Chelsea

Barcelona v Bayern Munich

Tuesday, April 14

Chelsea v Liverpool

Bayern Munich v Barcelona

Wednesday, April 15

Arsenal v Villarreal

FC Porto v Manchester United

Semi-Finals:

SEMI-FINALS: Ties to be played April 28/29 and May 5/6

Manchester United or FC Porto v Villarreal or Arsenal

Barcelona or Bayern Munich v Liverpool or Chelsea

The winner of Barcelona/Bayern Munich v Liverpool/Chelsea will be classed as the home team in the final.

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