Champions League draw LIVE: Premier League quartet set to learn quarter-final opponents
- The draw takes place in Nyon, Switzerland at 11am UK time
- No seedings or country protection in the quarter-final draw
- First-leg fixtures will be held on April 9/10 – return legs on April 16/17
- Following the quarter-final draw, the draw for the semi-finals will also be made
100/1
10:48: The bookmakers certainly aren’t worried about the ‘leaked document’ because Paddy Power are offering odds of 100/1 for those to be the official quarter-final fixtures.
“So at least if UEFA are corrupt, you can make a few bob out of it…” they write on their Twitter post.
Champions League draw LIVE: Premier League quartet set to learn quarter-final opponents
The infamous leak…
10:45: I’ve been looking forward to analysing this absolute peach from the Twittersphere.
Yes, I also hate me for using that word.
Anyway, I’m talking about the claims a leaked document has surfaced showing the Champions League quarter-final draw has already been decided…
The blurred image – that contains a blurred UEFA logo and blurred text put together on Microsoft Word – shows the four ties.
Liverpool vs Ajax, Juventus vs Porto, Manchester United vs Tottenham and Barcelona vs Manchester City.
It’s CLAIMED that the piece of paper was accidentally uploaded by a mystery ‘Uefa director’ whose name shall never be known…
Champions League draw LIVE: Premier League quartet set to learn quarter-final opponents
Twitter round-up
Jeremiah: Its Liverpool vs Man City, Tottenham vs Barcelona, Juventus vs Porto and Man Utd vs Ajax. The first four grouped for semi 1 and the last four for semi 2. You can thank me later. Jerry from South Africa. Europa league draw coming shortly…
Phil: Office banter has started from the Liverpool fans at work: “we can’t get the hardest draw as we can’t play ourselves”
Ken: If Liverpool do draw an English side it would be good to draw Spurs. Spurs v Liverpool was supposed to be the first game at their new Stadium back in the Autumn. If Liverpool can avoid any side it would probably be Barcelona but they are probably thinking the same.
Champions League draw LIVE: Premier League quartet set to learn quarter-final opponents
The tension
10:33: Nerves are clearly affecting everyone ahead of the quarter-final draw.
Manchester United boss and Baby-faced assassin Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has just dropped the ‘S’ bomb in his press conference.
Don’t worry Ole, everyone’s allowed one!
Doubled delight
10:30: Not only will the remaining eight sides learn their quarter-final opponents – they’ll also know which team they could play in the semi-finals.
UEFA, staggeringly, have decided to revert back to the old format of draw to presumably save everyone the hassle of flying back to Nyom, Switzerland on another jolly.
Surprisingly efficient.
Champions League draw LIVE: Premier League quartet set to learn quarter-final opponents
Morning…
10:25: I mean… it doesn’t really get more exciting than this on a Friday morning, right?
A Champions League quarter-final draw with four, yes, four English clubs set to learn their fate.
Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester United all in the last eight and they’ll know their opponents within the next hour if UEFA don’t stall with four hours worth of montages…
And with the Cheltenham Gold Cup coming up later this afternoon – I think this could be my perfect day.
Anyway, let’s get the juices flowing with some build-up. Standby…
Champions League draw LIVE: Premier League quartet set to learn quarter-final opponents
Ajax
Coach: Erik ten Hag
Star man: Dusan Tadic
Champions League best: Winner x 4 (1971, 1972, 1973 and 1995)
The Dutch giants are looking forward to their first Champions League quarter-final in 16 years after roaring past Real Madrid so impressively.
Barcelona
Coach: Ernesto Valverde
Star man: Lionel Messi
Champions League best: Winners x 5 (1992, 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2015)
The Messi-inspired La Liga winners are dreaming of a treble, although they have not made it past the quarter-final stage since last winning the Champions League in 2015.
Champions League draw LIVE: Premier League quartet set to learn quarter-final opponents
Juventus
Coach: Massimiliano Allegri
Star man: Cristiano Ronaldo
Champions League best: Winners x 2 (1985 and 1996)
The perennial Serie A winners have Champions League glory in their sights after big-name summer signing Ronaldo produced a hat-trick to overturn 2019 final hosts Atletico Madrid in midweek.
Liverpool
Coach: Jurgen Klopp
Star man: Sadio Mane
Champions League best: Winner x 5 (1977, 1978, 1981, 1984 and 2005)
Battling it out with Manchester City for the Premier League crown, last season’s Champions League runners-up will be confident of kicking on after winning at German giants Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
Manchester City
Coach: Pep Guardiola
Star man: Sergio Aguero
Champions League best: Semi-finals (2016)
One of two sides left in the competition not to have being crowned champions of Europe, there are plenty of reasons why Guardiola’s swashbuckling side are favourites to lift the trophy.
Champions League draw LIVE: Premier League quartet set to learn quarter-final opponents
Manchester United
Coach: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (caretaker)
Star man: Paul Pogba
Champions League best: Winners x 3 (1968, 1999 and 2008)
Jose Mourinho started United’s campaign and inspired interim choice Solskjaer will finish it, having overseen a historic comeback win at Paris St Germain in the round of 16.
Porto
Coach: Sergio Conceicao
Star man: Eder Militao
Champions League best: Winners x 2 (1987 and 2004)
A surprise name in the quarter-final draw, Porto sealed their place in the last eight for the first time in four years by shocking last season’s semi-finalists Roma.
Tottenham
Coach: Mauricio Pochettino
Star man: Harry Kane
Champions League best: Semi-finals (1962)
Despite failing to make a signing or move into their new stadium on time, Spurs have performed impressively this term and dispatched highly-rated Borussia Dortmund in the last 16.