Bayern draw Real Madrid, Atlético land Chelsea
Friday, April 11, 2014
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FC Bayern München's bid to become the first back-to-back winner faces the sizeable hurdle of Real Madrid CF while Club Atlético de Madrid play Chelsea FC in the other semi-final.
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Semi-final draw
Real Madrid CF (ESP) v FC Bayern München (GER, holders): 23 & 29 April
Club Atlético de Madrid (ESP) v Chelsea FC (ENG): 22 & 30 April
Final (Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica, Lisbon; 24 May, 20.45CET)
Madrid/Bayern v Atlético/Chelsea
FC Bayern München must overcome the significant hurdle of Real Madrid CF if they are to continue their European title defence in the Lisbon final – and potentially become the first club to win the UEFA Champions League two seasons in a row. Today's semi-final draw at UEFA headquarters in Nyon also produced an intriguing contest between Club Atlético de Madrid, in the last four for the first time in 40 years, and Chelsea FC.
Ominously for Real Madrid, chasing a tenth continental crown, five-time champions Bayern have beaten them in four of the five previous European Cup semi-finals contested by the pair – the latest in 2012 when they prevailed in a Santiago Bernabéu penalty shoot-out.
The German side still, of course, have the possibility of avenging their defeat by Chelsea in that season's final, though Atlético – as with their neighbours in the Spanish capital – will doubtless have their say. The Rojiblancos are the only one of the quartet never to have lifted the European Champion Clubs' Cup, having lost the 1974 final to Bayern after a replay. However, the most recent of Atlético's three encounters with Chelsea was a 4-1 victory in the 2012 UEFA Super Cup.
Today's open draw in Nyon was conducted by UEFA Champions League final ambassador Luís Figo and UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino, who looked forward to "more of the same" after some "sensational" quarter-final action. "The last four clubs in the UEFA Champions League possess an amazing history in the competition, with three previous winners totalling no fewer than 15 European crowns between them, and one club – Atlético Madrid – who have not featured at this stage since 1974," Mr Infantino said.
Real Madrid CF
European Cup semi-final record: W12 L12
Last semi-final appearance: 2012/13 (3-4 on aggregate v Borussia Dortmund)
This season: W8 D1 L1 F32 A9
Top scorer: Cristiano Ronaldo 14
Head-to-head v Bayern: W7 D2 L11 F26 A33
FC Bayern München
European Cup semi-final record: W10 L5
Last semi-final appearance: 2012/13 (7-0 on aggregate v FC Barcelona)
This season: W7 D2 L1 F24 A8
Top scorer: Thomas Müller 5
Head-to-head v Real Madrid: W11 D2 L7 F33 A26
Club Atlético de Madrid
European Cup semi-final record: W1 L2
Last semi-final appearance: 1973/74 (2-0 on aggregate v Celtic FC)
This season: W8 D2 L0 F22 A5
Top scorer: Diego Costa 7
Head-to-head v Chelsea: W1 D1 L1 F6 A7
Chelsea FC
European Cup semi-final record: W2 L4
Last semi-final appearance: 2011/12 (3-2 on aggregate v FC Barcelona)
This season: W7 D0 L3 F18 A7
Top scorer: Demba Ba, Samuel Eto'o, Fernando Torres 3
Head-to-head v Atlético W1 D1 L1 F7 A6