Friday, 12 April 2013

Champions League: Real Madrid and Barcelona kept apart

 
Barcelona and Real Madrid could meet in the Champions League final at Wembley after being kept apart in the semi-final draw.

Barcelona drew Bayern Munich, with Real Madrid set to play Borussia Dortmund.

The games will be played on 23 and 24 April, with the return legs on 30 April and 1 May.

In the Europa League, Chelsea will travel to Switzerland for the first leg of their last-four tie against Basel on 25 April.

"I don't think Madrid will be afraid because of what happened in the group stage," Dortmund general manager Hans-Joachim Watzke said. "They will respect us, just like we respect them."

Real ambassador Emilio Butragueno also believed their previous meetings would not be an influence.

"We have a lot of respect for Borussia Dortmund," the former Spain striker said. "We played them twice [in the group stage] but didn't manage to beat them.

"This time we hope it will different as we want to be in the final."

In regards to the other half of the draw, Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says his club will play "the best team in Europe".

"I think we will see two very good games, played at the highest possible level," the former Germany international striker said.

"Barcelona are the benchmark for me in Europe. They are the best team in Europe at the moment, with fantastic attacking potential."

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