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Quarter-final draw: Bayern face PSG, Real meet Liverpool

Nyon, Switzerland, Mar 19 (efe-epa).- Reigning champions Bayern Munich will face Paris Saint-Germain in the quarterfinals of the Champions League in a repeat of last season’s final.

The Bavarians, the clear favorites to retain their title, have won every match in the competition this season, except for the 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid.

They won the group stages comfortably, and beat Lazio 6-2 on aggregate in the round of 16.

And in Polish striker and reigning world player of the year Robert Lewandowski, Bayern have arguably the most in-form strikers in the world.

Paris Saint-Germain will be out for revenge for their limp defeat in the final last year. They are currently without star forward Neymar, who has been sidelined with a left thigh injury for over a month, although he should be back in time to visit the Bavarians on April 6.

The other standout tie of the quarterfinals will see Real Madrid face Liverpool in a clash of European titans. Between them, the two clubs have won the competition 16 times, with both lifting the trophy in the past three seasons.

It will be a rematch of the 2018 final in Kiev, where the Frenchman Karim Benzema and the Welshman Gareth Bale overcame the English side (3-1).

Sergio Ramos and Mohamed Salah, two other protagonists of that night, will meet again for the first time since the defender’s robust challenge on the Liverpool forward saw Salah leave the game in the first half.

Neither team is in the best form, with both dealing with significant injuries and less than stellar showings in their domestic leagues, particularly Liverpool, who are languishing outside the top four after storming to the title last season.

Zinedine Zidane’s side, who finished top of their group and did an efficient job against Atalanta in the round of 16, will play at home in the first leg – the venue is still unknown due to pandemic restrictions – before visiting Jurgen Klopp’s side in the return leg.

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