Madrid v Juventus: reaction and what to expect

Draw reaction
Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid coach
Juventus are a club with a legendary history who are returning to the semi-finals after 12 years. They are having a very good season and have practically won the Italian championship. That means they can focus more on the Champions League.

We are confident that we can follow our dream, which is to reach another final after last year. We need Madrid to be at their best to win, we need the same side that played against Atlético with the same enthusiasm and desire.

The fans helped us a lot last year in the semi-final against Bayern, [creating] a fantastic atmosphere. They also helped in the quarter-final [this term], the atmosphere was amazing at the Santiago Bernabéu and they had the same enthusiasm as us. Everything went well and I hope things continue that way in the semi-finals.

Andrea Bazagli, Juventus defender
We are talking about a Champions League semi-final so every side would have been difficult opponents. We won't start as favourites but I think we'll play without fear. We faced them last season [in the group stage] and produced two good performances. Now there is much more at stake, so we must prepare as well as we can.

They have the [FIFA] Ballon d'Or winner [Cristiano Ronaldo], and several other extraordinary players who can always make the difference. Their squad is phenomenal, but we know that and we will prepare in the best possible way.

Emilio Butragueño, Real Madrid director
Last year in theory we had the hardest draw, yet it turned out to be a straightforward tie against Bayern. We will play a great opponent, who defend well and are prepared tactically to give their all. We play the return leg at home, which could be an advantage for us, and of course we will try and get ahead in the away game.

We will do all we can to please our fans. We go into a fascinating semi-final – with two very experienced sides and top-quality players.

Pavel Nedvěd, Juventus director
We are thrilled to be in a semi-final after 12 years. I played against Madrid last time [Juve's 4-3 aggregate semi-final win in 2002/03]. It will be very exciting tie. We deserve to be in the semis and it will be great – for us and all the fans – to go up against the holders, one of the best teams in the world.

We're not the favourites, and it would be crazy to think so, but we want to give it a good go and we have the players to do that. I'm convinced we'll put in two great performances, then we'll see if that's enough to keep our campaign going.

Reporters' view
• Joe Walker, Madrid: Madrid faced Juventus in last season's group stage, downing the Old Lady at the Bernabéu while securing a 2-2 draw in Turin. The last time the sides met at the last four stage, however, it was the Italian outfit who prevailed in 2003 and Iker Casillas, the only surviving Madrid player from that tie, will be determined to gain revenge.

• Paolo Menicucci, Juventus: Juventus played two good games against Madrid in last season's group phase but had no answers to Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored three goals in two matches as Madrid won 2-1 at home and drew 2-2 away. The tie will be special for Ancelotti, who coached the Bianconeri between 1999 and 2001, and for Juventus forward Álvaro Morata whom they signed from Madrid.

Facts and figures
• The first of the teams' 16 European meetings came in 1962, when an Alfredo Di Stéfano goal gave Madrid a 1-0 victory in Turin in the European Champion Clubs' Cup quarter-finals. Juve prevailed by the same scoreline at the Santiago Bernabéu, however, to take the tie to a replay, Madrid triumphing 3-1 at the Parc des Princes, Paris.

• The last four fixtures between the sides have all been in the group stage, in 2008/09 and last term. While Juventus won home (2-1) and away (2-0) in the former campaign, last season Madrid edged it 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu through Cristiano Ronaldo's double before a 2-2 draw in northern Italy.

• That stalemate was the clubs' first draw, in their 16th encounter. Their overall record could scarcely be closer, with eight Madrid wins to seven Juve victories although the Bianconeri have scored more goals, 18 to their opponents' 16.

• Juventus suffered a first-leg away defeat but recovered to overcome Madrid in the 1995/96 quarter-finals, 2002/03 semi-finals and 2004/05 round of 16. In that last-four tie, Juve went down 2-1 in Spain but Pavel Nedvěd inspired their 3-1 home success – although the Czech playmaker picked up a booking that ruled him out of the final defeat by AC Milan.

• Madrid, however, held sway at the Amsterdam ArenA in the 1998 final, Predrag Mijatović getting the only goal in the 66th minute to give the Merengues their seventh European title.

• Madrid boss Ancelotti, twice a European Cup winner with Milan as a player before coaching victories in 2003 (against Juve) and 2007, led Juventus between 1999 and 2001.

• Madrid reserve-team coach Zinédine Zidane played for Juve between 1996 and 2001, appearing in the 1997 and 1998 UEFA Champions League final defeats.