Reds’ tough test against German giants
JURGEN Klopp’s Liverpool take on Bayern Munich in a duel of fivetime champions and one of three intriguing English-German ties in the last 16 of the Champions League drawn yesterday.
The unbeaten Premier League leaders coached by German Klopp have had the upper hand in both previous continental duels, the 2001 European Super Cup and the 1981 Champions Cup semi-finals.
Manchester City forward Leroy Sane faces his former club in the form of Schalke and Tottenham play unbeaten Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund for the third time in as many years.
There is also a German element in the tie involving the fourth English side as Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United face a first-ever meeting with Neymar’s French champions Paris Saint-Germain and their German coach Thomas Tuchel.
Three-time reigning champions Real Madrid play ex-champions Ajax, Cristiano Ronaldo returns to Madrid as Juventus face Atletico Madrid in a duel of teams who were losing finalists twice each in the past five years, Olympique Lyon meet mighty Barcelona and Roma play Porto.
Bayern have had an up and down season so far but have shown improvement lately and hope to be in fine form once they face Klopp’s Reds in February and March.
“They’re the team of the hour, they’re the league leaders in England,” Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic said.
“They play good football, they’re very physical and they’re full of energy. You need two good days. They’re a top side, it’s a tough one but these are the challenges that you look forward to as a player and that you have to overcome in your career.”
Dortmund face Spurs once again with the tie balanced as the Germans won both 2015/16 Europa League last 16 games and Spurs the two group games in last season’s Champions League.
Spurs should have their new stadium ready by the time the first legs are played February 12/13/19/20, the return legs March 5/6/12/13.
The final is June 1 in Atletico’s home stadium, and Ronaldo will be hoping that his return to Madrid to face Diego Simeone’s team will not be his last match of the campaign in the Wanda Metropolitano.
“We picked the best team among the second seeds. We were not lucky with the draw but we have a very strong team and we will try to qualify anyway. Cristiano is a Champions League man but we don’t count only on him,” Juve director Pavel Nedved said.