The draw for the UEFA Champions League semi-final, held on Friday, is complete and ha handed football fans from across the globe two very exciting fixtures.
10-time winners Real Madrid, who needed a Man of the Match performance from hat-trick hero Cristiano Ronaldo to guide them to the last 4 after losing 2-0 in the first leg, were paired against England’s only remaining side: Manchester City.
The Citizens, a side who despite conquering the Premier League in recent seasons, always disappointed in Europe; however, this season, Manuel Pellegrini’s boys have finally lived up to expectations and went far in the competition.
The Chilean boss will be hoping to win Man City their first ever European crown before making vacating his managerial set for incoming boss Pep Guardiola, but will have to fend off rookie coach Zinedine Zidane and his high-scoring Blancos side.
Atletico Madrid, who also fought back from a first-leg loss to overcome reigning champions and favorites Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate, were paired against Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.
The final #UCLDraw is out! Exciting semi-finals right there!@MCFC vs @realmadriden @Atleti vs @FCBayernEN
— LiveSoccerTV.com (@LiveSoccerTV) April 15, 2016
Huge! pic.twitter.com/6DmlBi5NDx
Diego Simeone will be keen on emulating the 2013/14 season in which he guided Los Rojiblancos to a runners-up finish, or better that campaign and lift the coveted trophy.
Of course, with Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid avoided each other in the semis, this means we could be seeing a second Madrid derby final in three years in a repeat of the 2014 affair.
In addition, with Man City getting Les Merengues and Bayern Munich drawing Atletico, Pellegrini could face the man set to replace him this summer in the ultimate game.
Check out the best tweets.
Man City vs Real Madrid
As a @ManUtd fan, I really hope @Cristiano completely destroys Manchester City; for all the Man Utd fans in the world! #UCLDraw
— Michael Otadende (@MichaelOtadende) April 15, 2016
Real Madrid's route to the final:
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) April 15, 2016
Roma in the last-16
Wolfsburg in the quarter-finals
Man City in the semi-finals pic.twitter.com/IAlqaIfVEo
This is a joke, Real yet to face a single decent opponent and they're almost in final... #UCLDraw
— Nomadic (@a_Zephyr) April 15, 2016
Real Madrid are undefeated in their last 8 UCL matches vs English teams [6 wins, 2 draws].
— Real Madrid Stats (@RMadrid_Stats) April 15, 2016
.@MCFC have met @realmadrid on two previous occasions #SSNHQ pic.twitter.com/tkKEnt5Rjp
— Sky Sports News HQ (@SkySportsNewsHQ) April 15, 2016
2012/13 #UCL group stage
— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 15, 2016
Real Madrid 3-2 Man. City
Man. City 1-1 Real Madrid #UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/l7m3MZrGrA
Manchester City vs Real Madrid #UCLDraw pic.twitter.com/r3qGdFEWki
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) April 15, 2016
Atletico vs Bayern
Imagine if City finish 5th this season and end up facing Bayern in the final..
— TheODDSbible (@TheOddsBible) April 15, 2016
What would Pep do!?
Man City don't make Top Four.
— Football Tips (@footballtips) April 15, 2016
Need to win Champions League final vs Pep's Bayern to qualify.#UCLDraw #MCFC pic.twitter.com/IgnEspVHE1
Bayern and Atlético's only previous meeting came in the 1974 final, the Bundesliga side winning 4-0.#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/XLKq6WKQVv
— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 15, 2016
See you in 2 weeks, @atletienglish! #FCBAtleti #UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/VetOvjlWCh
— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) April 15, 2016
Atlético are unbeaten in their last five home matches against German clubs.#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/7rGjygixVR
— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 15, 2016
Bayern will face a Spanish team in the semi final for the 5th year in a row (Won 2, Lost2)
— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) April 15, 2016
And here is what we can expect for the final in Milan...
@Mzizana45 I think we could actually see a repeat of the 2014 final: @RealMadridEN vs @Atleti #UCLDraw
— Babalo (@BabaloRSA) April 15, 2016
Champions League finals we could still have:
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) April 15, 2016
Pep vs. his next team
Madrid v Madrid
Ex-Barca boss v Real#UCLDraw pic.twitter.com/lnsj90kwJq
Wedstrijdgegevens, uitslag en oorspronkelijke uitzendinformatie
UEFA Champions League Semifinals Draw
april 15, 2016 5:30De wedstrijd is afgelopen. Hieronder is de originele live uitzendinformatie voor deze wedstrijd.
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