Bayern draw Benfica, Wolfsburg to face Real Madrid
March 18, 2016
Wolfsburg were the first side out of the hat in Thursday’s draw, performed by former Italy international Gianluca Zambrotta. The tie with Real is the German club’s first quarterfinal in Europe’s top club competition and the first leg will be at the Volkswagen Arena in Wolfsburg.
Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich will also be at home in the first leg, when they host a Benfica side who top the Portuguese table and dispatched Zenit St Petersburg in the last 16.
Bayern were the third team drawn and with Barcelona, Paris St. Germain and Manchester City still in the hat at the time, the Bavarians were likely glad that they wound up with Benfica.
But Bayern defender David Alaba, who signed a contract extension on Friday, said his side won't be complacent.
"We're looking forward to it, but it won't be an easy match," the 23-year-old Austrian said. "Benfica deserve to be in the quarterfinal."
Wolfsburg's sporting director, Klaus Allofs, was pleased to draw the Spanish giants.
"Real Madrid is one of the biggest names in world football. This will be two absolute highlights for our fans," he said.
The thoughts of Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking meanwhile have already turned to the tactical battle with his opposite number, Zinedine Zidane.
"We have the opportunity to show our ability on the biggest stage and we want to grasp that with everything we've got," he said. "I will have to think about whether we want to go into the the games with an attack-minded approach or more defensively.
PSG and Manchester City will meet in a battle of two of Europe’s biggest spenders while the final tie of the round is an all-Spanish clash between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. PSG and Barcelona will both be at home first. All of the first-leg fixtures are to be played on April 5 and 6.