Semi-final lineup complete
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
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The San Siro stages the first semi-final as FC Internazionale Milano face holders FC Barcelona on Tuesday 20 April before FC Bayern München host Olympique Lyonnais the next day.
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The San Siro will stage the first UEFA Champions League semi-final with FC Internazionale Milano taking on holders FC Barcelona on Tuesday 20 April.
Both teams progressed to the last four on Tuesday when Inter won 1-0 at PFC CSKA Moskva to complete a 2-0 aggregate triumph and book a first semi-final since 2002/03. Barcelona beat Arsenal FC 4-1 on the night – Lionel Messi scoring all four – and 6-3 over two legs. Their semi-final concludes at the Camp Nou on Wednesday 28 April.
In between those dates, FC Bayern München and Olympique Lyonnais will meet on 21 and 27 April, the German side having home advantage for the first leg. Bayern came from 3-0 down at Manchester United FC, scoring twice to force a 4-4 aggregate draw and advance on away goals. Lyon are first-time semi-finalists despite also losing their quarter-final second leg – they fell 1-0 at FC Girondins de Bordeaux but prevailed 3-2 over the two games.
It is the first occasion since 2003/04 that four different nations are represented at this stage of the competition, and the first since 2002/03 that no English club is involved. Lyon are the first French side to get this far since AS Monaco FC's run to the final in 2003/04, and you have to go even further back to find a German team in the last four – Bayer 04 Leverkusen in 2001/02. Bayern are appearing for the first time since their European conquest of 2001.
The final will be played at Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu stadium, the first in its new Saturday slot, on 22 May – part of a week-long festival which also encompasses the UEFA Women's Champions League final in Getafe two days earlier.
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Winner semi-final 1 v Winner semi-final 2