In their first appearance in the semi finals of the Champions League Manchester City will meet ten-times winners Real Madrid following the draw on
ADVERTISEMENTIn their first appearance in the semi finals of the Champions League Manchester City will meet ten-times winners Real Madrid following the draw on Friday at Uefa’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.
Txiki Begiristain, director of football at Manchester City is under no illusion of the tough task ahead for his club but insists the Citizens deserve to be in this stage of the competition.
Begiristain – a former Barcelona player – said: “They are a giant of football. They won so many times. And they have reached the semi final so many times that they are absolutely a big team. We are here because we deserve to be here. We have been solid in the 1-16s (knockout stage) and solid in the quarter finals against Paris Saint-Germain so now we have the right to dream about the final.”
City now face the prospect of meeting incoming manager Pep Guardiola in the final as Bayern Munich were drawn against Atletico Madrid – who stunned holders Barcelona to reach the last four.
It will be the second time Atletico and Bayern will meet in Europe – the last was the 1974 final, which the German giants won.
The first legs take place on the 26 and 27 April.
The Europa league semi-final draw also took place on the day and out of the bowls popped a last four tie between the Ukrainians of Shakhtar Donetsk and Sevilla – the winners of the competition for the past two years.
In the other semi-final fellow Spaniards Villarreal were drawn against Liverpool who produced one of the most thrilling comebacks in the competition’s history to reach this stage.
Juergen Klopp’s men came from 3-1 down on aggregate against Borussia Dortmund to win 5-4 with a goal in the last minute.
The first legs are on April 28.