Today's draw for the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals produced, as expected, some intriguing stories.
Barcelona and Arsenal -- arguably two of Europe's top "footballing" sides -- were thrown together for the marquee matchup of the round, which kicks off during the week of March 30. The second legs are set for the following week.
The Catalan giants last met the Gunners in the 2008 final, with Barca edging Arsenal for the crown. The winners of this tie will face either José Mourinho's Inter or surprise outfit CSKA Moscow.
It's worth remembering, too, that should Barcelona go and win it all, they'll have the satisfaction of parading the trophy through the home of their fierce rivals, Real Madrid. The final will be played at Madrid's Bernabéu Stadium on May 22.
"If you go to the bookmakers and try to place a few pounds, you will see that we are not favorites against Barcelona," Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger told reporters. "Of course they are a good side, but so are we."
With Manchester United meeting Bayern Munich in an opposite bracket, there's a real chance of either an all-English final or a rematch of last year's championship game, in which Barcelona defeated the Red Devils 2-0. The United-Bayern fixture is intriguing in itself, too. Who could forget United's incredible stoppage-time comeback against Bayern in the 1999 final that earned the Red Devils the treble?
"The history of playing Bayern in past European ties tells you it's going to be a very difficult tie for us," Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson told reporters. "It'll be a fantastic atmosphere in both games."
Finally, those pundits who have been opining about France's Ligue 1 and its ascension toward the top tier of European leagues will feel vindicated by the Lyon vs. Bordeaux matchup. The fixture may not excite the UEFA brass, but it guarantees a French team will make a semifinal appearance for the first time since Monaco were runners-up in 2004.
The quarterfinals in full (first team listed hosts first leg):
Lyon vs. Bordeaux -- May 30, April 6
Bayern Munich vs. Manchester United -- May 30, April 6
Arsenal vs. Barcelona -- May 31, April 7
Internazionale vs. CSKA Moscow -- May 31, April 7
Semifinals (series begin April 27):
Bayern Munich or Manchester United vs. Lyon or Bordeaux
Internazionale or CSKA Moscow vs. Arsenal or Barcelona
