MADRID, April 12 (Xinhua) -- The possibility of a 'Classico' between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid in the Champions League will have to wait until the final as a result of the semifinal draw made for the competition in Nyon (Switzerland) on Friday.
The draw saw Barcelona against Bayern Munich, while Real Madrid will take on Borussia Dortmund for a place in the final, which will be played in Wembley.
That opens up a full range of possibilities for the Champions League final which could see two Germany sides go head to head, or a Germany-Spain final, or Barca-Real Madrid should both sides qualify.
Barcelona will probably be the least happy with the draw given that they have to face the German league Champions, who are also last year's beaten finalists and showed their excellent form with a 4-0 aggregate win over Italian league leaders, Juventus in the quarterfinalists.
"I think it is a great tie between two great sides with different styles we will try to do what we do best, which is play good football to try and get to Wembley, which is a magical place for us," said FC Barcelona's Director of Football, Andoni Zubizarreta after the draw had been made.
The two Spanish sides have the slight advantage of playing the first leg away from home, meaning that they will have the return leg in front of their fans and Real Madrid's Director of Institutional Relations, Emilio Butragueno was optimistic about his club' s prospects.
Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund met in the group stage with the German side defeating Madrid at home and drawing in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, although former Madrid and Spain striker, Butragueno believes that will change this time around.
We have played twice this season and we have not been able to beat them, but we are confident that this time we will be able to beat them and get to the Wembley final that we all dream about," he said.
Prior to the draw opinions between the fans of two Spanish sides were divided over who they would rather have faced in the semi-finalists.
While Real Madrid fans, perhaps buoyed by their recent victories over Barca in the Copa del Rey and in the BBVA Primera Liga, said they would like the chance to knock their rivals out of the semifinals and deprive them of a place in the final, Barca supporters said they preferred to face Borussia Dortmund, who are perhaps seen as the most accessible side in the last four.
Barca were boosted on Thursday when Leo Messi, whose cameo as a substitute was vital in seeing his side through on away goals against Paris Saint Germain, said he would be fit to play in the semi-finals.
Messi had played despite a muscle problem and despite helping set up Pedro Rodriguez for Barca's equalizing goal, he looked as if he was struggling in the closing minutes of the game.
"It was worth the risk," Messi told Barcelona based newspaper: el Mundo Deportivo on Friday.
WWII TV dramas border on the ridiculous
Feedback
RSS
