adminHOLDERS Real Madrid will have to overcome city rivals Atletico in the Champions League quarter-finals, in a repeat of last year’s final, while Barcelona face familiar opponents in Paris Saint-Germain after the draw made yesterday in Nyon. Portuguese giants Porto host Bayern Munich of Germany in the first leg of their last eight matchup while Italian champions Juventus host the Monaco side who knocked out English side Arsenal in midweek.
Sergio Ramos equalised in the dying minutes in Lisbon last year to send the final to extra-time before Real prevailed 4-1 over Diego Simeone’s Atletico for their 10th European crown.
Atletico are the Spanish champions and currently third in La Liga with Real seven points above them in second and Barcelona top of the league and one point above Carlo Ancelotti’s glamour side led by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Barcelona and PSG met in the group stages with both teams winning their respective home ties while they also met in the 2013 quarter-finals when the Spaniards prevailed on away goals after a 3-3 aggregate draw.
The French champions will be without suspended star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the first leg after the Swede was given a one match ban following his sending off in the last-16 victory over Chelsea.
Barca, who overcame Manchester City 3-1 on aggregate, are on track for a treble of Liga, Copa del Rey and the Champions League trophies as their high flying side ride on the crest of a streak that has seen them win 17 of their last 18 matches. Porto won the first of their two European Cups in 1987 when they defeated Bayern, their quarter-final opponents, in Vienna.
Finally Serie A leaders Juventus, who won the competition in 1985 and 1996, take on 2004 finalists Monaco with the first leg scheduled for Turin.
First leg matches will be played on April 14/15 with the return legs on April 21/22.
The final will be played in Berlin on June 6.
Full Draw
Paris Saint-Germain v Barcelona
Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid
Porto v Bayern Munich
Juventus v Monaco
First leg matches on April 14/15
Return leg matches on April 21/22. — AFP
Online Reporter