Well, that’s your lot. The ties will be played on 14/15 and 21/22 April.
So, Atlético v Real Madrid grabs the headlines. In six attempts since the final last year, Madrid haven’t been able to beat Atlético. Two legs seem to suit Diego Simeone’s side much more than a one-off occasion. It’s hard to call. PSG v Barcelona is tasty too but there’ll be no Zlatan in the first leg of that one. He’ll miss that match against his former employers due to his suspension.
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The full draw for the quarter-finals
PSG v Barcelona
Atlético Madrid v Real Madrid
Porto v Bayern Munich
Juventus v Monaco
And that’s your balls all plucked out of the bowl. Well done Karl. Not so well done Uefa, whose own feed was well behind that of the real telly.
And it’s Juventus v Monaco in the final tie. Juve without the injured Paul Pogba. Monaco will be happy with that.
It’s Porto v Bayern! A repeat of the 1987 final.
It’s Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid in a repeat of last year’s final.
The draw is here!
The first tie is PSG v Barcelona. There’ll be no Zlatan for PSG in the first leg.
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Who’s the former European Cup winner who is going to take part in the tombola? It’s Karl-Heinz Riedle! Now, that’s made me happy. Look, here he is doing his thing …
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Look, the balls open up like Kinder eggs. It’s a bit disappointing that there are no toys inside.
Well, Gianni Infantino has begun his spiel. First some bad news, folks. Michel Platini isn’t going to be present. What a blow.
“What the devil is Bale wearing?” asks Charles Antaki. “Could you describe it in a bit more detail? I couldn’t quite see it through the welder’s visor that I had on after the eclipse.” A scarf around his head, that’s what. For a sit-down interview!
I tell you who has made a difference for Real Madrid this season? No, not Him. Luka Modric, that’s who. They badly missed him when he was injured over the past couple of months. He’s a crafty little player who can fin space where there doesn’t appear to be any. He’ll be key against whoever they face in the quarter-final.
Still twiddling your thumbs waiting for something to happen? Me too. So here’s Barry Glendenning getting his chat on with former Bolton forward Kevin Davies. He thought it was a “wind-up” when he got he England call. Oh Kev!
While we wait, you may want to have read of this: it’s Jacob Steinberg remembering Paolo Di Canio’s golden goal for West Ham v Wimbledon in 2000. It was 15 years ago! I feel old. You remember it, don’t you? The near-impossible outside-of-the boot scissor-volley. Anyway, this is a cracking read.
On Wednesday, the official Champions League Twitter account tweeted the draw by mistake. Presumably, a test-run was taking place (and a test tweet being prepped that some errant fingers sent out into the ether by mistake). Here’s how it looked … PSG v Real Madrid would be a right old goal-fest, one imagines.
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Morning. Right, so we all know the drill. There will be endless waffling in Switzerland, some montage or other, a former European Cup winner doing some red-hot chat and then, finally, the eight balls will be plucked from the bowl.
What you do need to know is that there is no nation protection in the last eight, so the clásico could be drawn, or a repeat of last year’s final, the Madrid derby. There’d be no hype around those ties, oh no. The side drawn first will play the first leg at home.
While we wait why don’t you get in touch and tell me who’s going to win the Big One. My money is on Bayern Munich. They seem the most balanced of the remaining sides. I’ll back them just above Barcelona, who are gathering a rare old head of steam, mind. As for the holders, Real Madrid, it’s hard to know what to make of their chances given the shenanigans at the Bernabéu right now.
A dark horse? Porto. They’re in fine form at the moment and they swept Basel aside without breaking sweat in the second leg of their last 16 tie. The midfielder Casemiro, on loan from Madrid, and the right-back Danilo, who is probably going to be at Madrid next season, have been in wonderful form this season.
I thought Juventus might be a good outside bet, but the hamstring injury to Paul Pogba, expected to keep him out until mid-May, is a huge blow. He’s such an important player for them.
Oh, and here’s Gareth Bale talking about what it was like winning the Champions League with Madrid last season. But you won’y listen to what he’s saying as you’ll be dazzled by his attire. Did he go to a flashdance afterwards?
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