LONDON – A repeat of the 2014 Champions League final between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid is still possible after Friday’s semi-final draw.
Real, who won that game 4-1 after extra-time, will play first-time semi-finalists Manchester City, with the first leg in north-west England.
Atletico, who beat holders Barcelona in the last eight, host Bayern Munich in their first leg.
Bayern manager Pep Guardiola misses what would have been a difficult semi-final for him personally against City, the Premier League side he will take charge of next season.
“It’s a great tie against the team that has won the competition the most times,” Txiki Begiristain, Manchester City’s sporting director, told reporters.
“But we have got this far and we want to keep dreaming.
“I think that Madrid are the favourites. They have been in the semi-finals 27 times, six in a row. But Paris (St Germain) were also a great team and we were able to knock them out.”
Real, record ten-time champions, are unbeaten in their last eight games against English clubs. Their only previous tie against City came in 2012 when the Spanish side won 3-2 at home before drawing 1-1 in Manchester.
The only time Atletico have met Bayern was in the 1974 final, when the German side won 4-0 in a replay after a 1-1 draw.
City will host Real on April 26 and Atletico face Bayern the following evening.
The final is in Milan on May 28. (Reuters)
