Champions League draw live

18 March 2011 11:32
11.28: Thanks for following and sending your emails this morning, make sure you check back for Sportsmail's live coverage of those games, you will be bonkers to miss them. Enjoy the weekend.[LNB]11.25: But if Spurs are going to reach Wembley they are going to have to do it the hard way. Their prize for beating Real Madrid would be an even harder task in facing Barcelona. I don't think anyone can begrudge them if they go on to win it from here and I wonder if we will ever see Lineker in London again?[LNB]The crucial dates by the way:[LNB]Quarter-final first legs: April 5/6Quarter-final second legs: April 12/13[LNB]Semi-final first legs: 26/27Semi-final second legs: May 3/4[LNB]Wembley final: May 28.[LNB]Jot it down.[LNB]11.22: A rematch for the of the 2008 final between Chelsea and Manchester United is the outstanding tie of the round. The Blues' John Terry looks like he will get a chance to at least bury some ghosts after missing a match winning penalty that night in Russia.[LNB] Top dogs: Manchester United beat Chelsea in the 2008 final the last time the clubs met in the competition[LNB]11.20: Wait a bonus for you, we have to determine who is the home team in the final at Wembley...crunch time. (Sarcasm).[LNB]After announcing Tottenham, Gary quickly says semi-final two, v semi-final one.[LNB]11.19: SF1: Inter Milan/Schalke v Chelsea v Manchester United[LNB]SF2: Real Madrid/Tottenham v Barcelona v Shakhtar Donetsk[LNB]11.18: Two ties really catch the eye and they both involve the English sides, but here comes the semi-final draw...[LNB]11.15: Real Madrid v Tottenham[LNB]Chelsea v Manchester United[LNB]Barcelona v Shakhtar Donetsk[LNB]Inter Milan v Schalke[LNB]11.14: Here we go...[LNB]11.12: Gianni sticks the boot into London straight away, asking Gary why he thinks a London side has never won the Champions League.[LNB]He has a point though, Gary replies jokingly saying he won't be allowed back in London if he draws Barca with Tottenham.[LNB]11.09: After some highlights, this year's Champions League final ambassador, Gary Lineker (Wembley final, English goal scoring legend, get it?) is welcomed on to the stage to help do the draw (after some more highlights of his playing days.)[LNB]He used to play for Barcelona and Spurs of course but he wouldn't draw them together...would he?[LNB]11.04: Some pre-match waffle which we have already covered from UEFA, so some more predictions from you guys:[LNB]Barcelona - Donetsk - Ukrainians have shown in the past seasons that they know how to play against Barca, and this year they are stronger than ever, they could be a tough opponent.[LNB]Real - Chelsea - mourinho against his former clubInter - Tottenham - it would be interesting to see Spurs against Inter in the knock-out phase, could they do as well as in groups.Schalke - United - Germany vs. EnglandThis would make two recent finals possible. Chelsea - United or Barca - United.[LNB]Scott Dangerfield[LNB]11.02: As you may have noticed this week, all European games have held a minute's silence for the tragedies in Japan and Gianni opens by saying 'Japan we are with you'.[LNB]11.00: Will that Champions League music ever get boring? We go live to Nyon for the draw with UEFA's general secretary Gianni Infantino.[LNB] King of the world: Every side will be looking to avoid Lionel Messi (middle) and Barcelona[LNB]10.55: If Madrid draw Barcelona, there will be four 'Clasicos' in the space of 15 days. I think that would be proof that too much of a good thing can be bad for you. Hopefully that won't come out the hat.[LNB]10.52: Worth noting the rehearsal done this morning:[LNB]Man Utd v SpursChelsea v ShakhtarInter v BarcaReal Madrid v Schalke[LNB]Likely to happen again?[LNB]10.48: My draw prediction would be[LNB]Man Utd vs Inter MilanChelsea vs TottenhamShaktar vs Real MadridBarcelona vs Schalke 04[LNB]Winner for the United game meets the winner for the Chelsea game whilst the winner for the Madrid game meets the Barca winner..that means we might have a Man Utd vs Chelsea semi and an El Classico in the other seminow that will be a Champions League year to remember.[LNB]Liberty Mubhau[LNB]10.45: I didn't think much of Shakhtar Donetsk when they were hammered by Arsenal in the group stage but they have really come to life in this competition since.[LNB]In fact apart from that poor night at the Emirates they have won every game and they are the first Ukrainian side in the quarter-final since the great Dynamo Kiev team of 1999.[LNB]I'm starting to wonder if they may even be better than the class of Andriy Shevchenko, Sergei Rebrov and Oleg Luzhny. Unless they reach the sem-finals I will stick with Kiev. Rebrov and Shevchenko formed a formidable partnership.[LNB]10.40: Much has been said about Barcelona but I think if it wasn't for their unbelievable dominance, teams would be very fearful of playing Real Madrid.[LNB]They may be second in La Liga but if you took their season points into the Premier League they would be 10 points clear with a game in hand.[LNB]Cristiano Ronaldo, Mesut Ozil and even a previously misfiring Karim Benzema are having the time of their life in Europe and that's before you add the Jose Mourinho factor.[LNB] Triple threat: Benzema, Ronaldo and Ozil have had a major impact in Europe[LNB]10.35: There has been one setback already for Spurs, I'm still trying to think what Joe Jordon has received his one game ban from UEFA for. It looks to me like being the victim of a headbutt is a punishable offence by Europe's governing body. They are a strange organisation are they not?[LNB]10.30: So can Tottenham continue their magnificent journey? I don't think even many Spurs fans expected their club to get this far.[LNB]They have never been in the Champions League remember but have appeared in the quarter-final once in its previous format.[LNB]That was back in 1962 though against Dukla Prague. No I don't really no much about them either.[LNB]10.25: Any ideas for your dream draw? Fire me an email at dan.ripley@dailymail.co.uk and give your reasons why![LNB]For what it's worth I would go with:[LNB]Tottenham v Real MadridSchalke v Shakhtar Donetsk[LNB]Inter v ChelseaBarcelona v Manchester United[LNB]With the semi-final being done today as well remember, that leaves a potential all London final and keeps the prospect of Barcelona and Real Madrid at Wembley too.[LNB]I admit there is one dud game in comparison to the rest, but you have three cracking ties there.[LNB]10.20: If there is one team leading a charmed life in this season's competition it's current holders Inter Milan.[LNB]Involved in arguably the tie of the round in the last 16, they left it very late to snatch a goal that took them through at the expense of Bayern Munich, who must be sick of the sight of the Italians after losing last season's final to them.[LNB]The Germans had only themselves to blame as they missed plenty of golden opportunities to put the tie to bed after a series of defensive errors from Inter.[LNB]I can see a goal or three in games involving Leonardo's side.[LNB] Back from the dead: Goran Pandev (left) completed the comeback that fired Inter into the quarter-finals[LNB]10.15: You probably have a fair idea of who is who by now, but just in case you're a little uncertain about some of the teams, Sportsmail has presented a guide on all eight teams in the draw.[LNB]Obviously everyone wants to avoid Barcelona but as far as weak links go there appears to be none, but you would expect nothing more when you get to the last eight of Europe's No 1 competition.[LNB]10.10: Bit of house keeping to do before we get to the draw. Gone are the seedings from being group winners, and gone is the protective barrier to protect teams playing sides from their own country. Anyone can draw anyone once proceedings get underway at 11pm.[LNB]Barcelona v Real Madrid, Tottenham v Chelsea? It can happen...[LNB]10.00: Good morning all, the waiting is over as Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea discover their last-eight and potential semi-final opponents in the Champions League.[LNB]Sir Alex Ferguson's United side remain on course for a historic treble - a feat they last managed in 1999 when the beat Bayern Munich in the Champions league final at the Nou Camp - after eliminating French outfit Marseille. [LNB]Chelsea, through after beating Copehagen in the last-16, are on course to reach their first final since they lost to United in Moscow three years ago. [LNB]And Tottenham, playing for the first time in Europe's premier club competition, look to continue their incredible journey after dumping out Italian giants AC Milan in the last round.[LNB]Favourites Barcelona, holders Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Schalke and Shakhtar all await the English trio in the draw - but two could be paired off against each other on the road to the final at Wembley.[LNB] Road to Wembley: Rooney, Messi, Bale and Terry will all be bidding to reach the Final in May[LNB]  Cech in it to win it after Chelsea reach Champions League quarter-finalsBarcelona? We're the best team in the world, warns United hero HernandezLet's finish the year with one! Gomes thrives on great expectations at Spurs All the latest Manchester United news, features and opinionAll the latest Chelsea news, features and opinionAll the latest Tottenham news, features and opinion [LNB]  Explore more:People: Alex Ferguson, Cristiano Ronaldo, Mesut Ozil, Karim Benzema, Andriy Shevchenko, Gary Lineker, John Terry Places: Moscow, Barcelona, London, Prague, Madrid, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom, Russia, Europe

Source: Daily_Mail