Champions League draw: The possible semi-finals and why every permutation would be brilliant
We could have an El Clasico or the first meeting between Luis Suarez and Giorgio Chiellini since that bite at the World Cup
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Your support makes all the difference.Today sees the draw for the Champions League semi-finals, with Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Juventus remaining in the competition.
The last four teams boast 21 European Cups between them ensuring a glamorous look to the competition as it nears the final in Berlin.
Ahead of the draw in Nyon, we take a look at the possible ties it could throw up and find that every permutation would be a treat for football fans.
Real Madrid vs Barcelona
Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo. Barcelona vs Real Madrid. El Clasico in the Champions League. It simply doesn't get any better than this fixture, with the two best players in the world colliding in their perpetual battle to be recognised as the greatest. They've already met twice this season - with Barcelona winning the most recent contest and Real Madrid winning the other.
Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich
Real Madrid are the reigning champions and bidding to become the first club to retain the title in the Champions League era. They will find fewer sterner tests than Bayern Munich, managed by their old adversary Pep Guardiola. Until last season, the former Barcelona manager had lost just twice in 15 attempts against 'Los Blancos'. However, Real Madrid stunned the German champions at this stage of the competition last season when after winning the first-leg at the Bernabeu 1-0, they went to the Allianz Arena and won 4-0. It was a stunning result, and one that will give Real Madrid confidence if they are drawn together and Bayern Munich all the motivation they need to push on to Berlin.
Real Madrid vs Juventus
Real Madrid also met Juventus during last season's tournament, playing them twice at the group stage. Both ties were entertaining affairs, with the game in Turin ending 2-2 and Real Madrid winning 2-1 at the Bernabeu thanks to a Cristiano Ronaldo double.
Barcelona vs Bayern Munich
When these sides last met in the Champions League it produced arguably one of the most shocking results in recent memory; Bayern Munich triumphed 7-0 on aggregate at the semi-final stage two seasons ago. It was a result that was meant to spell the end of Barcelona's era of dominance - a claim that this season Andres Iniesta and Co may prove was premature. Since that defeat for Barcelona, Pep Guardiola has come back to work from his sabbatical, meaning he would be up against his former side for the first time since leaving in 2012.
Barcelona vs Juventus
This would see the first meeting between Luis Suarez and Giorgio Chiellini since that incident at the World Cup. For those living on another planet last summer, Uruguay striker Suarez bit the shoulder of the Italian during their group stage game in Brazil. Since then, Suarez has apologised to the Juventus defender and in return the Italian said "It's all forgotten". However, no-one else will forget should these two sides come face-to-face.
Bayern Munich vs Juventus
If we have an El Clasico in the other half of the draw then we will see a meeting between the champions of Germany and Italy in the other. Despite dominating Serie A in recent years, Juventus are something of an unknown on the European stage with this being their first semi-final since 2003. They showed in their quarter-final victory over Monaco that they represent Italy in style as well as origins, with Massimiliano Allegri not being afraid to close up in order to get ahead. Coming up against Guardiola's free-flowing Bayern side will see a contrast in styles and the potential for an intriguing tactical battle.
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