Manchester City v Real Madrid in mouth-watering semi-final clash as Bayern Munich play Atletico


MANCHESTER CITY will face Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final.

The first leg takes place in Manchester on April 26, with the return leg to be played at the Bernabeu on May 4.

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Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid host Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich.

City dodged a mouth-watering clash against their incoming manager’s team.

But the draw means that Guardiola’s last act as Bayern boss could be snatching the trophy away from his new club in the final.

City have never made it past the last-16 in the competition.

Kevin De Bruyne was Manchester City's hero over two legs against Paris Saint-Germain
Kevin De Bruyne was the hero for Manchester City against Paris Saint-Germain

But a dominant display against Dynamo Kiev in the first-leg, and a stalemate at the Etihad in the second set up a quarter-final tie against Paris Saint-Germain.

And the Premier League’s last remaining competitors produced two outstanding performances to triumph 3-2 on aggregate against PSG —Chelsea’s eliminators.

Kevin De Bruyne was the hero over the two legs, scoring in both to help lead City on their greatest ever European run.

Manuel Pellegrini returns to Real Madrid as he attempts to overcome his old club
Manuel Pellegrini returns to Real Madrid as he attempts to overcome his old club

But the Belgium star and his team-mates face the daunting task of silencing Cristiano Ronaldo — the Champions League’s highest ever goalscorer.

Ronaldo has been in scintillating form in Europe this term with 16 goals, including a stunning hat-trick against Wolfsburg on Tuesday.

The former Manchester United man was so good he was hailed “the best player in the world” by Los Blanco boss Zinedine Zidane, as the forward closes in on a new Champions League record.

Cristiano Ronaldo could break the record he set for most goals in a Champions League campaign
Cristiano Ronaldo could break the record he set for most goals in a CL campaign

Ronaldo only needs one more goal to equal the record he set during Real’s La Decima triumph in 2013-14.

And there were goals galore in their last meetings in the 2012-13 season, with the La Liga giants winning 3-2 before drawing 1-1 in the group stage.

Munich overcame Portuguese champions Benfica 3-2 on aggregate to set up their tie with Atletico.

Pep Guardiola could potentially come up against his new club in the final
Pep Guardiola could potentially come up against his new club in the final in May

Arturo Vidal and Thomas Muller both netted at the Stadium of Light to see the Bavarians into the semi-final for the fifth successive year.

Atletico produced a stunning display against holders Barcelona on Wednesday to make their way into the last four.

Atletico Madrid stunned Barcelona with a 2-0 win at the Vicente Calderon
Atletico Madrid stunned Barcelona with a 2-0 victory at the Vicente Calderon

But if history is anything to go by, they should be worried considering the result the last time two clubs met — Bayern ran out 4-0 winners in the 1974 European Cup final.

The final is being held at the San Siro on May 28.


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