Live: Champions League draw

We are at the quarter-final stage and no rules, seedings or shared nationality can corrupt the draw. You get what you're given and you make the best of it. Just like the good old days of the European Cup. Well, except for the fact that four English teams are in the hat (or Uefa envelopes).

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United will be looking to avoid each other with Fenerbahce and Schalke their favoured opponents. Barcelona may be underachieving in La Liga, but they are formidable at home in the competition, losing only once in 18 matches. Roma return to the last eight for the first time since reaching the final of the European Cup in 1984, but with Francesco Totti not getting any younger they are far from a scary proposition.

Of course, the draw doesn't start at noon. No, first we have to listen to the dreariest, most obvious opening statement from a Uefa spokesman followed by short videos of each of the remaining teams. What's that? Away goals count double. The ball is round. Thought so.

So, the draw then. No, instead we get an travel agent-style video showing the city of Moscow which will host the final.

Rinat Dasaev, the former Russia goalkeeper, starts the draw. One by one they come out of the hat...

Arsenal v Liverpool
AS Roma v Manchester United
Schalke 04 v Barcelona
Fenerbahce v Chelsea

Uefa also draw the semi-final matches...

Arsenal or Liverpool v Fenerbahce or Chelsea
Schalke 04 or Barcelona v AS Roma or Manchester United

So, in short, we have a draw not lacking in drama.

Arsenal will play Liverpool three times in succession, with a Premier League match sandwiched in between the two legs of the Champions League. The matches, in order, will be at Highbury, Highbury again and then Anfield.

Roma and United will renew their fiery acquaintance in a repeat of last year's quarter-final, which United won 8-3 on aggregate after thrashing the Italians 7-1 in the second leg at Old Trafford. The first leg was marred by crowd trouble.

Chelsea will be more than happy to draw Fenerbahce, the Turkish team managed by Zico, with the second leg at Stamford Bridge.

They may be less happy to know that they are on course to meet Liverpool, twice their nemesis in the Champions League semi-finals in the past three years, in the last four once more...

So not many talking points then...

Comments

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[Panayiotis]

Fenerbahce is from Turkey, not from Greece.

[ayhan]

I M NOT very sure that Chelsea is very happy to draw FENERBAHCE...thay have been upsetting some very good teams this year and Chelsea could be the next team,..BY THE WAY FENERBAHCE is a turkish team not greek!

[Lorenzo]

"Roma return to the last eight for the first time since reaching the final of the European Cup in 1984"
Well, last year Rome disputed quarter finals, do you remember? (few lines below it seems you do).

"but with Francesco Totti not getting any younger they are far from a scary proposition":
Oh, for sure, last year he is the best goleador in Europe with 26 goals in Serie A and this year, a part from 15 goals in season, fundamental as always.

"The first leg was marred by crowd trouble":
No, the first leg is remembered as an easy success of AS ROMA. Don't try to confuse the facts, hooligans were born in England, not in Italy.

It won't be a lazy walk for you, don't lower your guard, Capitoline wolves are hungry.

[alper yikici]

Fenerbahce is not a Greek team, fools. Turks are coming!

[James B]

Does the author actually know anything about football? Fenerbahce are Turkish, not Greek, and Arsenal are playing at Highbury are they? The last home game I watched they were playing at The Emirates... I know there is pressure to get content online asap, but this is basic stuff guys...

[enis albek]

you will find pretty soon that it is greek or turkish. dumphead!!!

[JayD]

It seems not only will this draw be 'lacking in drama' but it's also gone through a Life on Mars style accident with the Arsenal v Liverpool draw being thrown into the 1970's with Arsenal turning up at Highbury for the first time in a few years. Hopefully we can expect some short shorts to go along with that.

[enis albek]

fenerbahce is not a greek team.. you geek!!!