Football
ESPN staff 6y

Real Madrid drawn against Bayern Munich in Champions League semi; Liverpool to face Roma

Real Madrid will face Bayern Munich in the Champions League semifinals, while Liverpool were drawn against Roma on Friday.

Madrid, the two-time defending Champions League winners, advanced to the semifinals of Europe's top club competition for an eighth straight year on Wednesday after Cristiano Ronaldo scored a penalty against Juventus in the 97th minute.

They are attempting to extend their record with a 13th European title and become the first club to be crowned continental champions in three consecutive seasons since Bayern accomplished the feat from 1974-1976.

Bayern, back in the semifinals for the seventh time in nine seasons, are looking to reach the final for the first time since they won it in 2013. Having already secured the Bundesliga title last weekend, Bayern reached the semis with a 2-1 aggregate victory over Sevilla.

The German giants will meet Real in the semifinal of a European Cup for the seventh time. Bayern won on penalties in the 2012 semis, after also eliminating Los Blancos at this stage in 1976, 1987 and 2001. Madrid ousted Bayern in 2000 and 2014.

A Champions League final for Bayern would be a fitting end to the career of coach Jupp Heynckes, whose last game after his first retirement was the 2013 final. He returned to Bayern last October, but will again step aside this summer, as they club announced on Friday they had hired Niko Kovac to take over next season.

Heynckes also coached Madrid to the title in 1998 -- another trophy-winning farewell before he was fired.

The first leg will be in Madrid on April 25 before concluding in Bavaria on May 1.

Liverpool reached the semifinals for the first time in 10 years with a 5-1 aggregate victory over runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City -- including a 3-0 win at home in the first leg.

The Reds men are the only unbeaten team in the competition despite playing the most games, 12, after coming through the playoff round in August.

Roma are in the semifinals for the first time since 1984, when they lost to Liverpool in the final on penalties. They moved on this year by knocking out Barcelona, who held a 4-1 advantage after the first leg before Roma won 3-0 at home to advance on away goals.

Roma have lost their last six two-legged ties against English clubs, but Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp rejected suggestions that his side got the lightest possible matchup, saying: "If anybody think this is the easiest draw then I cannot help this person; they obviously didn't see both games against Barcelona." 

The tie will be a meeting of Liverpool's Mohamed Salah against his former club, as Roma sold the forward for €42 million in June. The Egyptian has scored 39 goals in all competitions and on Friday was named Premier League Player of the Month this season for a record third time.

The first leg will be played in Rome on April 24 and then shift to Anfield on May 2. The final is scheduled for May 26 at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine.

In the Europa League, Arsenal were drawn against Atletico Madrid, while Marseille will face Salzburg.

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