Real Madrid relish Champions League reunion with Manchester United
'It's the tie of the round' says Alex Ferguson as draw sends Jose Mourinho to Manchester while Arsenal are paired with Bayern Munich
Friday 21 December 2012
Related articles
The Real Madrid president, Florentino Perez, said last night he was more than happy to have drawn Manchester United in the Champions League.
"It's a good draw," Perez said. "We have played them twice before and knocked them out both times." Real defeated United in the Champions League quarter-finals in 2000 and 2003. United manager Sir Alex Ferguson revelled in the chance to welcome Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford as well as Real's manager, Jose Mourinho.
"Well, it's the tie of the round," Ferguson said. "It's a great opportunity for our fans to see Cristiano again and also for me to meet up with Jose again – I'll need to order some good wine!"
Real Madrid will host United at the Bernabeu on 13 February. The return leg is on 5 March.
The other two British teams in the draw do not have easy ties either. Arsenal will play Bayern Munich, current leaders of the Bundesliga and beaten finalists in 2010 and 2012, hosting them in London first before travelling to Germany.
"We will face a good team in Germany," Arsenal's German defender Per Mertesacker told Arsenal Media. "They are top of the league and went through to the knockout stage in a phenomenal way. They have strong individual players and have created a team."
Celtic will face Italian champions Juventus, who took four points from Chelsea in the group stage, helping to knock the defending champions down into the Europa League.
Chelsea have one of the easier Europa League ties. Making their first appearance in the competition, Rafael Benitez's team will face Sparta Prague.
Tottenham Hotspur, managed by 2011 Europa League winner Andre Villas-Boas, have drawn French league leaders Lyons, a "tremendous" tie said Villas-Boas, who added that it was like a Champions League dress rehearsal.
Liverpool have one of the hardest ties of the round, against Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg, who recently spent €50m on Hulk and €40m on Axel Witsel. Newcastle United have Ukrainian opponents in Metalist Kharkiv. All of the Europa League first-leg ties will be held on 14 February with the return legs on 21 February.
Latest in Sport
Sport blogs
Brits on fire in the wet at Le Mans!
Wow - what a weekend for British Motorcycle racing!
by Luke Wilkins
22 May 2013 05:00 AM
iBet: Bale and Rooney transfer specials
The dust is barely settling on the Premier League season and the bookies are looking to persuade us ...
by Gareth Purnell
22 May 2013 02:01 AM
A changing of the guards in English football: From Sir Alex Ferguson to Jose Mourinho
The guard has changed at Old Trafford for the first time in 26 years. Meanwhile, down the road, the ...
by The Sports Lawyer
21 May 2013 10:01 PM
-
Sergio Garcia at centre of racism row as dispute with Tiger Woods continues
-
Gaël Clichy: Roberto Mancini must take share of blame for dismissal
-
Exclusive: Championship clubs set to push for safe-standing trials
-
Phil Neville in frame for role at Stoke City
-
Andy Carroll stalls on £15m move to West Ham in hope Newcastle step in
- 1 Gay couple beaten in park urge MPs to moderate language on gay marriage
- 2 Swedes set up 'ultimate Viking movie'
- 3 After woman sells virginity for $780,000, here are the results of our prostitution survey
- 4 China agrees to impose carbon targets by 2016
- 5 Far-right French historian, 78-year-old Dominique Venner, commits suicide in Notre Dame in protest against gay marriage
Get your summer started with British Military Fitness
BMF is the UK’s biggest and best loved outdoor fitness classes
Visit York
Find out what The Independent's resident travel expert has to say about one of the most beautiful small cities in the world
Enter the latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Business videos from commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
How to say ‘I’m a sellout’
Why clubs are keen to take a stand



Comments