BOOMPLAY AND AUDIOMACK PROMO, CHAT US UP NOW!
1 MILLION YOUTUBE VIEWS FOR HALF THE PRICE – STRATEGIC MARKETING: iNFO – Whatsapp
Leicester City have been drawn against Spanish side Atletico Madrid in their maiden Champions League quarter-final.
The Premier League champions progressed to the last eight by beating Spanish title-chasers Sevilla 3-2 on aggregate.
Leicester will play the first leg against last year’s beaten finalists away from home on 12 April, with the return leg on 18 April.
Holders Real Madrid face Bayern Munich, while Barcelona take on Juventus, and Borussia Dortmund play Monaco.
“Facing a team who have reached the final in two of the past three seasons is a massive challenge but it’s just the kind of tie you expect in the quarter-finals of the Champions League,” said Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare.
“Atletico Madrid are a very good team with some fantastic individuals with experience in the competition, but we’ll be ready to give everything to progress.
“It will be a brilliant occasion for our supporters and for everyone at the club, but before the players can begin to think about these games, we have Premier League matches to come that are of huge significance to our season.
“They will be our sole focus.”
Atletico are the only side left in the quarter-finals who Leicester have previously played, but the Foxes have not beaten the Spaniards in their four previous meetings.
Diego Simeone’s side were beaten by neighbours Real Madrid on penalties in last season’s Champions League final.
The 2014 Spanish champions are fourth in La Liga this season, five points adrift of third-placed Sevilla.
Full draw:
Atletico Madrid (Spain) v Leicester City (Eng)
Borussia Dortmund (Germany) v Monaco (France)
Bayern Munich (Germany) v Real Madrid (Spain)
Juventus (Italy) v Barcelona (Spain)
Leicester’s previous meetings with Atletico
European Cup Winners’ Cup first round
25 Oct, 1961 Leicester 1-1 Atletico First leg
15 Nov, 1961 Atletico 2-0 Leicester
Second leg
Uefa Cup first round
16 Sep, 1997 Atletico 2-1 Leicester First leg
30 Sep, 1997 Leicester 0-2 Atletico
Second leg
Revenge? Yes please.
Ian Stringer, BBC Radio Leicester:
Winnable? That was my first reaction. That and revenge following the clubs’ meeting in the 1997-98 Uefa Cup.
Referee Remi Harrel sent off Garry Parker in the second leg at Filbert Street with the game in the balance. It eventually finished 4-1 to Atletico on aggregate.
I was in the crowd that night and felt sick afterwards.
It’s a winnable tie. Atletico are fourth in La Liga and won’t like the Foxes’ style of play. They’ll have seen how they dispatched Sevilla and won’t be looking forward to Jamie Vardy running at them. Wishful thinking, maybe, but it’s a good draw.
The dream continues. Revenge, 20 years on? Yes, please.
The team everyone wanted to avoid?
Leicester, 5000-1 shots to win the Premier League last season, are considered the rank outsiders to win the Champions League by most bookmakers.
But after the Foxes beat Europa League winners Sevilla on Tuesday, two of European football’s biggest names said they were hoping to avoid them in the last eight.
After sacking title-winning manager Claudio Ranieri last month, Leicester have won all three games under Shakespeare.
“I don’t think there will be a single coach who is hoping they face Leicester,” said Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane on Thursday. “They keep achieving what they are told they can’t achieve.”
Juventus and Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon said: “They are a dangerous and passionate team who can cause trouble for opponents who take the initiative.”
History-chasing Ancelotti plots Madrid downfall
Holders Real Madrid travel to German champions Bayern Munich, who are managed by former Real boss Carlo Ancelotti.
The Italian, 57, led Madrid to ‘La Decima’ – the 10th time they were crowned European champions – by beating rivals Atletico 4-1 after extra time in the 2014 final.
Ancelotti is aiming to be the first coach to lead three different clubs to the title, after also coaching AC Milan to two Champions League victories.
Spanish champions Barcelona will meet Italian counterparts Juventus in a rematch of the 2015 final, when Barca won 3-1 to be crowned European champions for a fifth time.
Juve, who are aiming for a sixth straight Serie A title, are competing in the quarter-finals for the first time since that defeat.
French leaders Monaco will go to German side Borussia Dortmund after beating Manchester City on away goals after a thrilling 6-6 aggregate draw.
Youtube Monetization: 1k SUBSCRIBERS, 4k Watch Hours – CLICK HERE!!!
CLICK HERE TO BUY NIGERIAN IG/TIKTOK FOLLOWERS
