For FC Bayern Munich, there will be a reunion with their former coach Pep Guardiola in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. His team Manchester City was drawn against the German champions on Friday in the draw in Nyon at the headquarters of the European Football Union UEFA as opponents. Bayern are the last remaining Bundesliga club in the premier class. Borussia Dortmund, Eintracht Frankfurt and RB Leipzig had failed in the second round.
Man City are currently second in the English Premier League behind Arsenal. In the round of sixteen, Guardiola's protégés had prevailed against Leipzig thanks to a five-goal gala by star striker Erling Haaland. "This is the pairing that is the best in this quarter-final. I like to play against the good guys. Our boys are always focused," said Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic, describing City as the strongest opponent. "This is another small final for us," said Salihamidzic.
Salihamidzic expressed great respect, but no fear of the English football champions, who defeated Leipzig 7-0 in the second leg of the round of <> this week. The former Dortmunder Haaland scored five goals alone. "He's a good striker, one of the best in the world," Salihamidzic commented. The Bayern defence will be challenged again, similar to the knockout round win against Paris Saint-Germain, when world champion Lionel Messi and World Cup top scorer Kylian Mbappé remained goalless in both games.
"We rise to the challenge"
Bayern boss Oliver Kahn confidently commented on the showdown with the hot title candidate Manchester City. "Manchester City are an absolute top team, but we are FC Bayern Munich. We must and we will be ready for this great opponent," Kahn said on Friday in a reaction distributed by the German football champions.
"Our fans and football fans around the world can look forward to this duel," commented Kahn. "It will be a reunion with Pep Guardiola, with Erling Haaland, with good acquaintances from the Bundesliga. If you want to win the Champions League, you have to beat the best. That's the challenge – and we're happy to take on it."
Already in the group stage, the team of coach Julian Nagelsmann had won all six games and is a top favorite to win the title. "I don't know of any team that shouts 'Juhu' when it meets FC Bayern," Bayern captain Thomas Müller had recently said confidently. In the previous season, however, Bayern had surprisingly failed in the quarter-finals against FC Villarreal.
"I like to play against the good guys. Our guys are always focused," Salihamidzic remarked. "We'll see Pep Guardiola again. We're looking forward to the games." Bayern will first play in Manchester on 11 or 12 April. The decisive second leg will take place a week later in the Munich Arena. If they reach the semi-finals, Bayern would meet the winner of the duel between defending champions Real Madrid and Chelsea FC. In the other quarter-finals, Benfica Lisbon and Inter Milan as well as AC Milan and SSC Napoli will meet. The final will take place on June 10 in Istanbul.
Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen will meet Union Berlin conquerors Union Saint-Gilloise from Belgium in the quarter-finals of the Europa League. Should the factory club reach the semi-finals, the winner of the duel between Feyenoord Rotterdam and AS Roma would be the opponent. Leverkusen is the only German club in the round of the last eight of the Europa League. The quarter-final first leg will take place on 13 April, the second leg on 20 April. The semi-finals are scheduled for 11 May and 18 May. The final will take place on 31 May in Budapest.