Champions League
The draw plays out: Wembley revival between Bayern and BVB is possible
BVB will face Atlético Madrid in the quarter-finals. photo
© Jean-Christophe Bott/KEYSTONE/dpa
“Cool thing”: The further Champions League route to London inspires German final dreams. Bayern’s Müller is initially looking forward to the “Gunners” around Havertz. A “little monster” is waiting for Dortmund.
These Champions League tickets inspired a German football dream in the year of the home European Championship. FC Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund can hope for a big Wembley revival after the draw for the rest of the premier class until the final. Because a meeting between the two top German clubs is only possible on June 1st in the London football cult site – and not before.
BVB boss Hans-Joachim Watzke immediately thought of this when he arranged the tickets in front of the Sky microphone at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon. “That would be a cool thing, again against Bayern at Wembley – as revenge,” said the Dortmund managing director, remembering Munich’s historic 2-1 triumph thanks to Arjen Robben’s late winning goal eleven years ago.
A second German Wembley final shortly before the start of the European Championship in Munich – that would be it. And that could also inspire the national team of national coach Julian Nagelsmann, who are currently on the ground in terms of sport, at the following home tournament.
Bayern meets the English league leaders
The road to Wembley is of course still long and difficult, perhaps even more so for Bayern than for BVB. The Munich team will face Premier League leaders FC Arsenal in the quarter-finals. After all, being first in England isn’t possible. “We certainly have the most difficult road ahead of us that you can imagine,” said Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel.
BVB will also face Atlético Madrid away first. If they progress, outgoing coach Tuchel and Munich would face the winner of the giant duel between record winners Real Madrid and defending champions Manchester City in the semi-finals. Bayern failed against City under former coach Pep Guardiola a year ago in the round of the last eight after losing 3-0 and 1-1.
“The path is now clear,” said Tuchel, who had jokingly wished for “two byes” to London. There is no point in causing fear. “From now on everything is possible,” said Tuchel before he reached the draw. Harry Kane and Eric Dier, who met London rivals Arsenal several times with Tottenham, will be particularly motivated.
Away without fans
Dortmund would face the winner of the pairing Paris Saint-Germain against FC Barcelona in the semi-finals. PSG with top star Kylian Mbappé was already Dortmund’s group opponents this season.
In the quarter-finals, Bayern and BVB can also rely on being able to play the decisive second leg in their own stadium and therefore with great fan support, as they did in the round of 16 successes against Lazio Rome and PSV Eindhoven. The first legs will be played on April 9th and 10th, the second legs a week later. Incidentally, Bayern have to play in London without their fans after a UEFA penalty.
For Tuchel, the Champions League on his Munich farewell tour is the last realistic chance for the title given the national sadness after an early cup exit and ten points behind Bundesliga dominator Bayer Leverkusen.
Müller: “Kai Havertz, I’m waiting for you”
Thomas Müller is already looking forward to the test of strength with Arsenal. “Kai Havertz, my friend, I’m waiting for you. A nice draw. Two very good teams, two very good stadiums, two very good cities. It’s going to be hard, but I’m always positive. See you, Gunners,” said the 34th Years-old attackers in a video quickly recorded before training. The last time the two clubs met was in the round of 16 in 2017 – and Bayern won twice 5-1.
But first, Müller and Co., together with young father Manuel Neuer, continue everyday league life with bottom-placed Darmstadt 98 on Saturday (3:30 p.m./Sky). “We have to deliver,” demanded Tuchel. In the 8-0 first leg win with three sendings off, national goalkeeper Neuer celebrated his comeback at the end of October after seriously breaking his leg at the end of 2022. “We have everything to lose, Darmstadt nothing,” said Tuchel about the initial situation.
BVB has to fight for a qualifying place
Dortmund coach Edin Terzic is particularly banking on the home advantage in game two against “the strong opponent” Atlético with the very impulsive coach Diego Simeone. Atlético is “a little monster in the knockout games that has to be defeated,” said Terzic. The aim is to get a good result in Madrid and then experience “a similarly magical night” at home to the second leg win against Eindhoven this week.
“Great draw for us. You don’t want to go to Madrid in the second leg,” commented Watzke. “It’s really cool to be part of it,” said national striker Niclas Füllkrug, full of anticipation that BVB will once again be among the Champions League elite after several years.
That should also be the case next season: And that’s why Borussia, fourth in the Bundesliga, has to concentrate on working on qualifying for the premier class again until the Atlético test of strength. By the way: Before a possible Wembley revival, Bayern and Dortmund will meet in Munich on March 30th – in the Bundesliga.