Bayern Munich were celebrating mildly on Friday despite being drawn against Spanish giants Barcelona - one of the title favourites - in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
The German champions had been hoping to play the first leg away from home, and that wish was granted in Nyon Friday where Manchester United drew FC Porto, Liverpool drew Chelsea and Arsenal were handed a tie with Villarreal.
The first leg of Bayern’s showdown with the Catalan giants and 2006 Champions League winners takes place at the Nou Camp stadium on Wednesday 8 April with the return in Germany on Tuesday 14 April.
“This is fantastic news for our football club,” enthused Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness.
“As we’ve been saying all along, if we’re to be drawn against one of the giants, we want the first leg away from home, and that’s what we’ve got. Barcelona at the Allianz Arena in the return is a dream come true for our fans.”
Klinsmann added: “Coming face-to-face with the best team in Europe at the moment is a terrific challenge for us all.
“It’s something truly out of the ordinary. Barcelona will be exceptionally tough, but anything’s possible. We believe in ourselves, and there’s no need to be overawed.”
Bayern last triumphed in the competition in 2001. Should they reach the semis the Bavarian giants would face either Liverpool or Chelsea in the last four, with the first leg at the Allianz Arena on 28/29 April, and the return in England on 5/6 May.
“It’s a shame we don’t have the same sequence [with the return at home] for the semi-finals,” Hoeness commented.
The quarter-final tie will be an emotional affair for Mark van Bommel, a Champions League winner with Barcelona in 2006.
