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Heavyweight clash Madrid set for another showdown against Man UtdPosted: Friday March 21, 2003 11:13 AMNYON, Switzerland (Reuters) -- Holders Real Madrid will relish their Champions League quarterfinal clash with European rivals Manchester United just as much as both clubs' fans around the world, said former striker Emilio Butragueno. (Draw) Speaking after the nine-times winners had been drawn against the 1968 and 1999 victors in the outstanding tie of a dazzling last eight, Butragueno said it was a match for football fans across the world as well as supporters of the two clubs. "It will be a great game for the clubs, their players, their fans and everyone who loves football around Europe and the world. It will keep everyone talking and excited for weeks -- but all eight teams in this draw can still win the cup." Friday's draw kept the three Italian sides apart, did the same for all three Spanish clubs and welcomed Ajax Amsterdam back to the quarterfinals with a tie against AC Milan, who they beat when they last won the European Cup in 1995. The chance of a Milan derby at this stage vanished when Inter were drawn to play Valencia and Ajax were selected to meet AC Milan. In a fourth stunning tie, Juventus face Barcelona for the first time in European competition since 1991. The two-legged quarterfinals will be played on April 8/9 and April 22/23 and if United beat Real and get through the semifinal they would be the "home" team in the final, to be played at their Old Trafford stadium on May 28. Real's French midfielder Zinedine Zidane, who scored a stunning goal to win the final against Bayer Leverkusen last May, said he was satisfied with the draw. "I'm glad not to be playing another Spanish team, so this is a good draw from my point of view," he said. "All games are difficult from now on. You have to play them and win them. If we want to carry on in the competition we have to beat Manchester United. This is a very strong United team." Past glories The Real-United tie reverberated with past glories. Butragueno, one of the greatest Madrid players never to have played in a European Cup-winning side, hailed the prospect as "a great game that will keep everyone excited for weeks." "Everyone will want to have a ticket and to see this game," he said. "Manchester United is a great club with a great European tradition and our matches of the past are so famous. "It is the kind of game that the players love. It gives them a chance to prove themselves. This is the stage for Madrid to show why they are the holders of the trophy." He denied a suggestion that it was, effectively, the final of the competition. "No, that is not true," he said. "That is disrespectful to the other six clubs, all of which are very strong and can win this competition." Butragueno's comments summed up the mood of excitement at UEFA's headquarters on the shores of Lake Leman after the completion of the draw for the strongest-ever line up of clubs in the last eight of the Champions League. Between them, the eight clubs in the draw have won the European Cup 25 times and collected 47 European trophies in all. Real and United last met in the quarterfinals in April 2000 when the teams drew 0-0 in Madrid before Real won 3-2 at Old Trafford to eliminate United, who were then European champions. For United, the draw offers a chance to avenge that defeat. But Butragueno warned that Real are stronger now, especially with the signing of Brazilian World Cup-winning striker Ronaldo. "I think he is a very important player and he is a big worry for the defenders everywhere because he scores goals," he said. In 2000, Real beat Valencia 3-0 in an all-Spanish final in Paris and lifted the trophy for the eighth time. Last season, Real beat Leverkusen in Glasgow to claim their ninth success. Plum draw Butragueno recalled Real's meeting with United in 2000 when they failed to win the home leg, but won a classic second leg. "It is not always the way you think," he said. "It is just what happens on the night." United spokesman Ken Ramsden said: "We sat in the hotel last night and talked about who we might get and now we have the plum draw. We are delighted because our history and theirs' go back so far together. We have a great relationship with them off the pitch and have done for many years." It is the fourth time United and Real have met in Europe's premier club competition and each time the winner of the tie has gone on to lift the trophy -- Real Madrid in 1956-57, United in 1967-68 and Real again in 1999-2000. Ajax won the European Cup for the fourth time when they beat Milan in the 1995 final in Vienna, while Inter manager Hector Cuper will relish the chance of a match against Valencia, who he took to the final in 2000 and 2001 where they lost to Real and then Bayern Munich. "We also played them and lost in a final in 1969 in Madrid, so it is one win each," said Ajax managing director Arie Van Eyden. "But the most important thing is for Ajax to be back at this level, at the top level again. "We have a young team and we are making progress, but it is very difficult for a club like us from a small country to keep our players." Bayern were the only major giants of the European club scene missing from a draw in which seven of the eight clubs -- the exceptions being Valencia -- have won the European Cup. The winners of the Real-United match will meet the winners of Barcelona-Juventus in the semifinals so there could still be derby meetings between Real and Barcelona and Inter and Milan. The winners of Inter-Valencia face either Ajax or Milan in the other semifinal. The semis take place on May 6/7 and May 13/14. English bookmakers William Hill made Real Madrid the 7-2 favorites to win the competition with Manchester United, AC Milan and Valencia joint 5-1 second-favorites. Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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