See you soon Kroos, Ronaldo and co. The newly-crowned Bundesliga champions Bayern have been drawn against defending champions Real Madrid in what has turned out to be a firecracker of a semi final draw. The Ukranian ambassador Andrij Schewtschenko revealed the draw this Friday in the UEFA headquarters in Nyon. Last year, the German champions were eliminated by the Spanish team in the quarter finals after two enthralling games.
FC Bayern will play the first leg in the Allianz Arena on either the 24th or 25th April, with the second leg being the very next week in the Santiago Bernabeu on either the 1st or 2nd May. The second semi final sees Jürgen Klopp, Emre Can and the rest of this Liverpool side meet AS Roma. The two teams that progress will meet on 26th May in the Olympiastadion in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev.
"It will be a blockbuster match," said Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes. Sporting Director Hasan Salihamidzic added, "They are a top opponent with huge amounts of quality. Real don't only have Cristiano Ronaldo but also plenty of other top players. Last year they got the better of us but this time we will be looking to do better. We want to be in that final, whoever our opponent may be. I am optimistic. We will be respectful but by no means afraid. We will do everything we can to be there in Kiev on 26th May."
Özil and Arsenal draw Atlético
Arsenal, along with World Cup champions Mesut Özil, Per Mertesacker and Shkodran Mustafi have drawn Atlético Madrid in the semi final of the UEFA Europa League. The draw was also released this Friday in Nyon.
Arsenal will have the home advantage for the first leg on 26th April and then will travel to Madrid the week after for the second leg on 3rd May. Should they be successful they will progress through to the final on 16th May in Lyon. The other semi final sees Olympique Marseille play Salzburg, with Marseille playing at home in the first leg.