The road to Madrid has been mapped out for Europe's top teams after the Champions League draw was made in Lyon on Friday morning.
After big spending Real Madrid were knocked out in the last round, no side will have a discernable advantage in the May 22nd final at Estadio Santiago Bernebeu.
The reward for Lyon, conquerors of los Galacticos, is an all French quarter final against Bordeaux, who usurped the French league title after seven years of OL domination.
The winners of the French quarter final will enter the semi-finals for the first time in their history. And vying for a place against the comparative rookies will be the teams who contested the 1999 final. Bayern Munich will have home advantage over Manchester United in the first leg, and will hope the twin threat of Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery can overcome the Wayne Rooney inspired Red Devils, Though the tie will sandwich what would be a potential league decider with Chelsea for Alex Ferguson's men.
In the other side of the draw, holders Barcelona will face fellow 'beautiful game' merchants Arsenal in a tie which will see boyhood Barca fan, Cesc Fabregas, return to Catalunya. The quarter final is sure to have some added spice amid rumours that the Arsenal skipper is Joan Laporte's primary transfer target this summer.
Jose Mourinho, winner of the competition in 2004, and having dumped out his former employers Chelsea, will take his Inter side to CSKA Moscow. The Russian's were widely seen as the weakest of the remaining eight teams, despite disposing of perennial 'dark horses' Sevilla.
The first leg of the quarter finals will take place on the last days of march with the final four playing off on april 20th and 27th for a place in the may showpiece in Madrid.
It will be the first time a Champions League game will be played on a Saturday night, rather than the traditional midweek fixtures. The move by UEFA is designed to increase viewership and heighten worldwide interest.
Quarter-final draw
Lyon v Bordeaux
Bayern Munich v Manchester United
Arsenal v Barcelona
Inter Milan v CSKA Moscow
Semi-final draw
Bayern Munich/Manchester United v Lyon/Bordeaux
Inter Milan/CSKA Moscow v Arsenal/Barcelona
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