Manchester City facing major test in Champions League draw; Real Madrid the big winners

Manchester City Manager, Manuel Pelegrini

Manchester City have been drawn against French champions Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals, with the Ligue 1 heavyweights facing English opponents once again after defeating Chelsea in the round of 16.

Elsewhere, Wolfsburg meet Real Madrid, in a draw that ought to please the Bernabeu heavyweights, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid go head to head in an all-Spanish clash and Benfica face the ominous prospect of a meeting with Bayern Munich.

10-time winners Real Madrid had a fairly straightforward route to the quarter-finals, defeating Roma 2-0 in the first leg before finishing the job with a comfortable 2-0 triumph at home in the second leg.

Barcelona were similarly untroubled by Arsenal, winning 2-0 in London before outclassing the Gunners 3-1 in the second leg—with Mohamed Elneny’s 50th-minute strike little more than false hope for Arsene Wenger’s side.

For the third Spanish side still standing in the competition, Atletico Madrid, it was a trickier ride, as the Rojiblancos played out two 0-0 draws (plus a goalless extra time) against PSV Eindhoven, before beating the Dutch champions 8-7 on penalties.

Manchester City are the only English club left standing in the competition, and have reached the quarter-finals for the first time after seeing off Dynamo Kiev in the round of 16.

Paris Saint-Germain returned to the last eight after their third meeting in three seasons with English champions Chelsea. As they did last season, PSG saw off the Blues, winning 4-2 on aggregate following triumphs home and away.

German champions Bayern Munich may count themselves lucky to still be in the hat, having come back from the dead—and 4-2 down against Juventus—to win 4-2 in extra time on the night, and 6-4 on aggregate following Thomas Muller’s last-minute equaliser and a superb rally in extra time.

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Their compatriots Wolfsburg may ostensibly be the weakest team in the round, but few will be taking the Bundesliga heavyweights lightly—particularly after they topped their group and then saw off Gent in the last 16.

Portuguese giants Benfica complete the quarter-final line-up, although few will give the Primeira League heavyweights much chance of advancing past Bayern.

Source: Caughtoffside.com

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