Standard set high for more drama

UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino mirrored the excitement and anticipation of millions of football fans as the UEFA Champions League moves towards an exciting climax.

Speaking at the quarter-final and semi-final draw ceremony in Nyon on Friday, Mr Infantino also thanked fans and players for adhering to the values of Respect in Europe's blue-riband club competition despite the amount at stake.

"The last round matches have given us some memorable moments of top-quality European football," he said. "Forty-seven goals were scored during this round, which is an average of 2.9 goals per match. Six UEFA member associations are still represented in the competition – this is the first time since the 1998/99 season.

"The excitement, the passion and the drama that those matches generated was lived and breathed by thousands of fans at the stadiums," Mr Infantino added, "with a record-breaking stadium attendance of 96% during this last round of 16."

The UEFA general secretary said that millions throughout the world had enjoyed the action on television. "Their choice of which game to watch was made easier this time around, as the games of the round of 16 were spread over four match dates and not two – giving the fans more opportunity to watch these great teams and players in action.

"At this point, I would also like to thank the fans and the clubs for upholding the true spirit of respect and fair play, both on and off the pitch, a spirit that we all hold so dear. That makes our game and this competition so great.

"We now move to the quarter and semi-final stages of this great European club competition and the road to the final is truly under way," Mr Infantino concluded. The final at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium in Madrid on 22 May will be the first played on a Saturday – "which will allow more youth and more families to attend," the UEFA general secretary explained. "A special ticket allocation has been reserved for them."