Soccer - Champions League: Manchester United were drawn against Bayern Munich in a repeat of the 1999 final, while Arsenal will take on holders and favourites Barcelona in a repeat of the 2006 showpiece after the Champions League quarter-final and semi-final draws were made in Nyon today.
United famously came back from the brink in 1999 to deny the German side. Alex Ferguson's men struck twice in injury-time in the Nou Camp 11 years ago to break Bayern's hearts. Two years later Bayern beat United in the quarter-finals en route to lifting the trophy themselves.
And this year's last eight meeting will provide an intriguing test for Ferguson's side. They'll come up against France superstar Franck Ribery and former Chelsea ace Arjen Robben - now plying his trade with the Bavarian giants.
Arsenal against Barcelona is undoubtedly the tie of the quarter-finals and a repeat of the 2006 final in Paris when the Gunners led until late in the game before the Spanish giants turned the game around to lift the trophy.
It will also mean a return to the Emirates Stadium for former Arsenal hero Thierry Henry, now with the Catalan giants.
And it means Gunners midfielder Cesc Fabregas - strongly linked with a summer move to the Camp Nou - will pit his wits against his former club.
Barca sporting director Txiki Beguiristain does not expect either side to curb their attacking instincts.
Barcelona and Arsenal both recorded thumping second-leg wins in the last 16, Pep Guardiola’s men beating Stuttgart 4-0 and Arsenal going one better with a 5-0 thrashing of Porto.
The Spaniards, who will play the first leg at home, came out on top when the sides met in the final four years ago, coming from behind to claim a 2-1 success. The winners will play either Inter or CSKA in the last four.
“It‘s a great tie,” Beguiristain said. “We are two teams who don’t shut up shop and play long ball football, and this tie will be nice for the fans. It will be a good spectacle and we‘ll see if we are a little stronger than them.
In any case, the best news is knowing that we will be playing the return leg at home. We are strong at home and we‘ve shown that.”
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger added: “I believe we will not be favourites but for me it will be a 50-50 game. That’s how we have to take it. Of course they are a good side, so are we. It will be an interesting, exciting game. We have to make sure we have the belief and focus right.”
United boss Alex Ferguson is relishing the prospect of locking horns with Bayern again.
“The history of playing Bayern in past European ties tells you it’s going to be a very difficult tie for us,” said Ferguson. “It’ll be a fantastic atmosphere [in both games]. They have a great stadium and good pitch and we’re up against a good experienced team.”
Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge labelled the tie a “tough but attractive draw”.
“We will have to push ourselves to our limits and possibly even beyond to go through,” he added on the club’s website. “Manchester are the favourites, but that is where the attraction lies: to try to beat a favourite.”
The winners will be guaranteed to face French opposition in the last four with Lyon taking on Bordeaux. Bordeaux are currently two points ahead of Lyon, the conquerors of Real Madrid, in the Ligue 1 table and won 1-0 at Lyon back in December.
Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan side, who knocked out Chelsea earlier in the week, will take on CSKA Moscow.
Inter will be hot favourites to make it through against a CSKA side who have never been to this stage of the competition before. But general director Ernesto Paolillo believes Jose Mourinho’s men cannot afford to be over-confident, CSKA having won 2-1 away in Sevilla to progress.
“I believe the tie against CSKA is no easy match,” he said on the club’s official website. “It would be a mistake to underestimate them for several reasons. CSKA have just begun their campaign and they are rested and fresh and in Moscow, you play on a synthetic pitch that favours teams that have less technical quality while the more talented teams have less control of the ball.”
Champions League Quarter-final Draw
March 30th
Lyon v Bordeaux
Bayern Munich v Manchester United
March 31st
Arsenal v Barcelona
Inter Milan v CSKA Moscow
April 6th
Barcelona v Arsenal
CSKA Moscow v Inter Milan
April 7th
Bordeaux v Lyon
Manchester United v Bayern Munich
Semi-final Draw
Bayern Munich/Manchester United v Lyon/Bordeaux
Inter Milan/CSKA Moscow v Arsenal/Barcelona