Barcelona and Real Madrid have been paired in the draw for the quarterfinals of the Champions League held in Nyon this Monday. The first leg will be played in Madrid on March 22, while the return will be on March 30 in Barcelona. It will be the first time in history that both teams coincide in the maximum continental competition.
Nadine Kessler, head of women’s football at UEFA, and Patrizia Panico, legend of Italian and international football, were the innocent hands of a draw that marks the way to the final to be played at the Juventus Stadium in Turin on March 22, 2022. The balls of the two Spanish teams in contention were the last to come out, certifying an unprecedented pairing to date in the highest continental competition.
“Play a Classic against Real Madrid is an extra motivation. It is a team that we know because of the historical rivalry that exists between clubs. There is a lot left, tranquility, but it will be a great and complicated game, “said Jonatan Giráldez, Barcelona coach.” I think the favoritism is more towards the press. We understand that we have to face each game as if it were the last. Pressing up, creating chances, not being satisfied with the result, playing well, “he added.” It will be a difficult game because it is their first time, because they will be motivated and because the first leg is in their field. We must give our best version to have options to qualify “, sentenced.
The Barcelona reached the quarter-finals after signing a group stage with full victories by winning both games against English Arsenal, German Hoffenheim and Danish HB Koge. The Real MadridFor his part, he was second in a group led by the French PSG, to whom they fell both in France and Spain, later winning direct duels against the Ukrainian Kharkiv and the Icelandic Brediablik.
Three ‘Classics’ in 17 days
The calendar has been capricious when it comes to facing the two Spanish teams, since Barcelona and Real Madrid will also face off on the weekend of March 12/13 in a match corresponding to Day 14 of the Primera Iberdrola to be held in Barcelona.
To date, three of those baptized as new Classics. Barcelona won last year by 0-4 in Valdebebas Y 4-1 at the Johan Cruyff stadium, repeating victory this season by 1-3 at the Alfredo Di Stéfano stadium.
Venues until the grand finale
The winner of this tie will be measured against the winner of the tie that faces the Arsenal-Wolsburg, playing the first leg in Spain on April 23/24 and the return home on April 30 or May 1.
The rest of the qualifying rounds have resulted in a duel a Juventus-Olympipque Lyonnais and a Bayern Munich-PSG , whose winners will cross being the first leg in Italy or France and the return in Germany or France.
