That’s all from me. Manchester City v Real Madrid. Atletico Madrid v Bayern Munich. I’ll have coverage of the Europa League draw soon. Thanks. Bye.
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My tentative prediction? The teams with the second leg at home will meet in the final. It’s going to be Bayern Munich v Real Madrid in San Siro on 28 May. Though why I’m underestimating Atletico is beyond me. That first leg is going to be exceedingly tricky for Bayern, especially when you consider that Guardiola’s record in away matches in Europe isn’t particularly convincing.
The first legs of the semi-finals will be played on 26 and 27 April, the second legs will be on 4 and 5 May.
If we agree that Real Madrid are the best draw for Manchester City, then we must also agree that playing the second leg away is something of a setback. Bayern will be delighted to have the second leg against Atletico at home. That one promises to be a fascinating clash of styles, Guardiola’s possession obsession against Simeone’s counter punchers.
The home team in the final will be the winner of the first semi-final. The away team will be...
Atletico Madrid v Bayern Munich? Well that’s a repeat of the 1974 final.
Atletico Madrid v Bayern Munich
Manchester City v Real Madrid
The draw is moments away. I hope you’re sitting down.
Dejan Stankovic. Take that, Manuel Neuer!
Former Inter legend Dejan Stankovic is on stage to do the draw. He’s speaking in Italian but I understand that he really enjoyed winning the Champions League in 2010.
UEFA competitions director Giorgio Marchetti is on stage!
“For me the best draw for city has to be Bayern,” says Zack Robertson. “City have had them in the group stages twice and have beaten them away from home and at home, so city are obviously capable.”
Yes, no, maybe so - City’s group wins over Bayern have come when the Germans have already qualified.
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With San Siro hosting the final, the mayor of Milan is doing a speech.
And now, it’s over to Nyon, a place that always sounds like a zooming Formula One car. It’s almost time for the draw, but we’ll have some pointless jabbering first.
“Thanks for making me a City fan for the purposes of the blog - as a Derby fan most of the time such prestige draws are usually beyond my ken,” says David Hopkins. “Anyway, City want Real Madrid don’t they? They may have Ronaldo, but they lack the ruthlessness of the other two, and are flightly enough to offer City the chance of an away goal or two.”
Can a side with Ronaldo, the scorer of a hat-trick on Tuesday, lack ruthlessness?
Here’s today’s Joy of Six. It’s on player-managers. I wonder if Zidane could still do a job for Madrid.
“Real Madrid is only team that Man City can beat over 2 legs given RM’s suspect defence, City could win a high scoring tie,” says Mike Mackenzie.
If it’s you score, we score against Bale, Ronaldo and Benzema, I’m backing Real Madrid. Isn’t City’s best hope in that kind of tie to rein it in a little, to play with discipline? They stifled PSG well. If everyone is fit, there is no chance Yaya Toure should start.
Is it fair to say that no one wants Atletico Madrid? Are they the most irritating side to play against in, say, the last 20 years? What a team.
You’re a Manchester City fan. Sorry, but you are. My blog, my rules, you’re a Manchester City fan. What’s the best draw?
Hello. I was going to begin by saying that only two members of Europe’s Big Four are still left standing, only to remind myself that Paris Saint-Germain have just suffered their fourth consecutive last-eight defeat in the Champions League and haven’t been in a semi-final for 21 years. My argument would have contained more holes than the Borussia Dortmund defence.
What can be said with absolute certainty, however, is that one of the Big Three have been toppled; the resounding favourites and holders, no less. The draw has been blown wide open by Barcelona’s defeat to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night and it’s not easy to pick a favourite now. Exciting, right?
Real Madrid have Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, but their performance in the first leg of their quarter-final against Wolfsburg leaves a few doubts over their ability to defend, while Zinedine Zidane is a rookie manager at this level (not that it stopped Roberto Di Matteo from winning the thing in 2012). Bayern Munich, perhaps the most complete side still standing, have Pep Guardiola in the dugout, top players in every position and a lot of depth, but they suffered ignominious defeats at this stage in 2014 and 2015 and have conceded six goals in four knockout matches so far. Atletico have beaten Messi, Suarez and Neymar, are a nightmare to play against, have the manic but astute Diego Simeone leading them and the best defence by far, but they don’t score too many. City have Sergio Aguero, Kevin de Bruyne, David Silva and Martin Demichelis, and they grew up a lot in their impressively cool win over PSG, but they lack experience at this level and can be chaotic in defence.
Conclusion: it’s up for grabs.
Obvious prediction: Pep Guardiola’s current club against his future club and another Madrid derby.
Worth of prediction: zero pounds.
Attention you should pay to prediction: none.
The draw begins at: an optimistic 10.30am BST.
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