Champions League draw: City face Bayern, Chelsea take on Real Madrid – live

Key events

Jez Collins has spotted a glaring error on my part:

“Hate to be a pedant Tom but surely the first time Chelsea played Real Madrid would have been the first game of that UEFA European Cup Winners Cup Final and not the replay?”

You’re spot on, of course. That first game ended 1-1 with Osgood scoring before Ignacio Zoco bagged a 90th minute equaliser at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus.

And some more:

Some correspondence from the Twitterverse:

Bayern Munich and Manchester City don’t do draws, which is good for the neutrals as they cast an eye to what is surely the tie of the quarterfinals. Three wins apiece with the standout fixture coming in 2013 when a Bayern led by Pep Guardiola was beaten at home 3-2 after leading 2-0.

Hey Charles Antaki. Thanks for dropping by.

“The last time a Premier League club changed manager was just before Arsenal were due to meet them, rubbing their hands at the prospect; then they met Dyche-ball and the new manager belts [bounce?]. Here we go again, with the only comfort being that Dyche isn’t likely to pop up again, Neil Warnock is happily set at Huddersfield and Sam Allardyce is probably enjoying retirement somewhere. But there’s an outside chance of Jürgen Klopp deciding to try for a new challenge, I suppose.”

That’s the typical cynical Arsenal spirit!

Chelsea and Real Madrid have met seven times (according the research I’ve done). Their first clash was back in 1971 when John Dempsey and Peter Osgood scored in a UEFA European Cup Winners Cup Final replay to lift the title. Hey, it’s something to cling to, right?

Krishna Moorthy has been in touch again with an interesting point: “The person who must be enjoying this draw the most right now must be Arteta”

I’m guessing because a few of his rivals in the league must now focus on tricky ties? Because City face Bayern Munich? Thing is, City can rotate enough players and probably still breeze past most teams in England. They’re capable of fighting on multiple fronts. But hey, that’s just my opinion.

So, who do you think should replace Vieira as Palace manager?

There are some potential candidates already being touted. Here’s a bit on a handful of them from PA:

Roy Hodgson

Former England boss Roy Hodgson spent four seasons in charge of Palace before retiring at the end of the 2020-21 season. Vieira’s predecessor did not stay away from football for long, and in January 2022 took the reins at Watford.

Hodgson once again insisted he was finished with the Premier League following that spell, but the 75-year-old might be coaxed into the idea of serving as a temporary solution to see the Eagles through the relegation battle before a more permanent appointment is made this summer.

Jesse Marsch

Jesse Marsch has been out of a job since he was let go by Leeds early last month. Like Vieira, has experience managing in both the Premier League and MLS, and also guided RB Salzburg to an Austrian Bundesliga title in 2020.

That international background could appeal to compatriot and American co-owner John Textor, whose multi-club Eagle Football Holdings also includes stakes in Lyon, Botafogo and Molenbeek.

Lucien Favre

Swissman Lucien Favre’s second spell at Nice came to an abrupt end in January after less than seven months.

Still, his two years at the helm of Borussia Dortmund, an outfit known for nurturing young talents like Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham, could also appeal to decision makers at Palace, a club increasingly relying on youthful talent like 21-year-old Michael Olise, 24-year-old Eberechi Eze and 19-year-old goalkeeper Joe Whitworth.

Favre was the first coach in BVB history to go unbeaten in his first 15 league games in charge – he would have just 11 to turn things around at Palace.

Ralph Hasenhuttl

Former Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl is among the favourites on a number of bookmakers’ lists to replace Vieira.

Though the Austrian was sacked by following an abysmal start to Southampton’s campaign this term, he is no stranger to a relegation battle, having guided Saints out of danger following his December 2018 appointment before he ensured their survival in every subsequent season.

He also has a background in nurturing young talent, something that could become even more important if 30-year-old talisman Wilfried Zaha signs elsewhere this summer.

Paddy McCarthy

Someone will at the very least need to sit in the manager’s chair when Palace travel to Vieira’s former club Arsenal on Sunday, and as it stands that man looks set to be under-21s manager Paddy McCarthy.

The former Eagles captain has guided the under-21s to fourth place in Premier League 2 Division 1, and would be a welcome familiar face – potentially even to see out the season while the club, unlikely to want to make a rash decision, determine their next steps.

We’ve got some emails on the Champions League tie. Please do send ‘em in.

“Everything is set for Cancelo to dump Man City out. Atleast Wilson will be happy there would be a new narrative behind Pep’s latest exit from Big Cup.” says Yash Gupta. So many narrative threads.

“So, we get a Guardiola Derby and an Ancelotti Derby, eh?” adds Krishna Moorthy.

“Chelsea have no chance against Madrid. Pep cannot win Champions [League]”, muses Jeff Sax

Not sure Jeff. Maybe that gigantic Viking up front gives them something they’ve lacked in recent years. Could be their time.

The Patrick Vieira news is still dominating the discourse this morning. Clinton Morrison, the former Eagle, says it was a “mistake” sacking the manager and says “you’ll see Patrick Viera back in football”.

Must say I agree. Not sure which manager will walk in and make an immediate impact. Some major problems at Palace.

Thanks Tom. Hi everyone. That’s a tasty quarterfinal draw. City, Real and Bayern all on the same side. And yes, Chelsea are there too. But with the three leading teams on one half it’s surely a golden opportunity for a less fancied outfit to reach the final. Napoli anyone?

And on those bombshells, I’ll hand you over to Daniel Gallan who’ll talk you through the afternoon’s developments.

Champions League draw in full

So, what do we make of that? Both Chelsea and Manchester City face heavyweight opposition in Real Madrid and Bayern (a reunion for Pep there). There appears to be a path open for Napoli’s wonderfully entertaining side – Milan look beatable in the all-Serie A clash and they’ll face Inter or Benfica in the semis.

Here it is again:

And, for fixture-order nerds, they now draw out who will be named first in the final. And it’s Real Madrid/Chelsea/Man City/Bayern v Milan/Napoli/Inter/Benfica

Real Madrid or Chelsea v Man City or Bayern Munich

And now for the semis …

QF 4 Milan or Napoli v QF 2 Inter or Benfica

Because Inter and Milan have both been drawn at home, Inter will play their first leg away, rather than at home as drawn

Milan v Napoli

Manchester City v Bayern Munich

Internazionale v Benfica

Real Madrid v Chelsea. Again. There’s a start

Anyway, after the usual platitudes from Uefa suits, we’re ready for the draw, being conducted by the Turkey legend Hamit Altintop and the former Netherlands star Patrick Kluivert. It’s a completely open draw, with no seedings.

Jim Ratcliffe has entered the building at Old Trafford for takeover talks

Sir Jim Ratcliffe outside the Manchester United megastore. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

The Champions League draw is imminent:

Leeds need points too at the bottom of the Premier League, and Javi Gracia has been talking ahead of their game at Wolves tomorrow. This courtesy of PA Media:

Leeds head coach Javi Gracia has admitted he will “suffer a lot” during the club’s Premier League relegation battle …

The 52-year-old Spaniard said: “I feel the stress inside and it’s the best way, the best thing I can do.

“The best way I can try and help my players is to try to give them confidence and give them the calm they need to play the best way.

“I won’t help them if I’m stressed or shouting a lot. I think it’s not my way.

“For sure, inside I suffer a lot, but I try to give my players what they need.

“In this moment, they need confidence and support because they are showing me every day their quality and commitment.”

Leeds dug deep in last week’s 2-2 home draw against Brighton, twice hitting back to salvage a valuable point, and play at relegation rivals Wolves on Saturday.

Gracia, who has collected four points from his first three league games in charge, currently lives in a hotel and is fully immersed in the survival battle.

“I don’t relax,” he said. “I live stressed! I don’t have time out of football.

“I live in the training ground, 12 hours here and the rest is for having dinner, to rest at the hotel. There’s no time for other things.

“I watch the games, the Premier League for example, both (Wednesday night’s) games and at night, I sleep. I speak with my family on the phone, that’s all.”

Leeds will be without USA midfielder Tyler Adams (hamstring) at Molineux, but skipper Liam Cooper is in contention after knee and muscle injuries.

Some Palace fan reaction to Vieira’s dismissal: “Gutted season ticket holder here,” huffs Pengedragon by email. “I’m not quite sure what the board expected given the lack of investment in the last two windows and the way the fixtures have fallen

“Think we’ve played one team below us in the table since the World Cup, we won that game.

“Some good draws against some good sides and I’m sure some wins after the international break when we suddenly play everyone below us again was on the cards

“Really not so sure now, think we may have just increased our chances of relegation. The next appointment is obviously crucial and if it’s one of those recently sacked from a club below us it looks an even worse decision.”

Next Palace manager odds

Oddschecker is throwing up these prices about the successor to Patrick Vieira at Selhurst

Ralph Hasenhüttl 5-1

Rafa Benitez 6-1

Carlos Coberan 9-1

Nuno Espírito Santo 10-1

Marcelo Biesla 10-1

Bielsa would be tasty, but a big risk imposing his style at such a delicate stage of the season

The first international break since the World Cup is upon us after this weekend’s fixtures and Gareth Southgate named his squad for the Euro qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine yesterday. Talking points included the selections of the under-a-cloud Ivan Toney and Kyle Walker and the omissions of Ben White and Trent Alexander-Arnold, though the latter’s patchy form makes that less of a surprise. Southgate also had some words of warning about the under-representation of English players in the Premier League:

Some Spurs chat now, courtesy of PA Media, and Antonio Conte’s been talking about the club’s desire to keep Harry Kane, as the transfer background noise gets louder. “For sure, the club wants to involve Harry Kane for the rest of his career in my opinion,” Conte said.

“Because when you have this type of player, a world-class striker like him, for sure you want him to stay here for the rest of his career.

“But then you know football, you know football. Sometimes it’s unpredictable but I think it’s not in my task to make a decision. This is a decision for the club and for Harry.”

Pep Guardiola speaks, and he has more praise for Burnley and their manager, Vincent Kompany: “I’m not really surprised at all at them being so close to being a Premier League team already – having seen more carefully what they do. They will be a tough opponent. All managers need time [to impose their style] but his success with the team comes from knowing what you believe is best to win games and they apply it. The way they play is exceptional.”

The Manchester City manager reiterates his belief that Kompany is a future boss at his club. “After seeing his team I’m more than convinced he’s going to come back [here], it’s going to happen. He was an incredible fgure here, one of the biggest legends I’ve had. He always said what he believed was best for the team – he’s an exceptional captain, a top human being.”

Guardiola adds that his players have had a couple of days off since their mauling of RB Leipzig but, after the Champions League draw, they will sit down and make plans for Burnley: “They deserves us to pay attention to them.” Though he was keeping his cards close to his chest about team news for tomorrow evening.

Preamble

Morning everyone. And we’ve got a proper weekend coming up, with the FA Cup back in its rightful weekend slot (albeit with three of the ties shunted to Sunday) and some pivotal league action, as well as the European draws later this morning. That starts tonight with Nottingham Forest hosting Newcastle still in need of points for survival, while the visitors must fancy their chances of overhauling a stuttering Spurs in fourth place. Antonio Conte’s side are at bottom club Southampton tomorrow.

But the big Premier League story this morning is Crystal Palace parting company with Patrick Vieira ‘with regret’. Palace looked to be progressing nicely last season, and early on in this one, but they’ve hit one of those horribly impotent runs of late. Thoughts, Palace fans?

There’s a pleasing blend of big and small in the FA Cup quarter-finals, with the admirably run Grimsby Town the first fourth-tier side to reach the last eight since John Beck’s Cambridge hoofed and muscled their way to the last eight in 1990. They and thousands of inflatable haddocks make their way to Brighton on Sunday. You’d make Manchester City favourites to win the whole thing, mind, though opponents Burnley are unstoppable in the Championship and Vincent Kompany could spring a shock when he takes his team back to his former stomping ground tomorrow.

We’ve got the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League draws coming up from 11am GMT and we’ll have all the team news and comment from today’s media conferences, which include Pep Guardiola shortly, Erik ten Hag around midday and Graham Potter at 1.30. And feel free to drop us a line or comment BTL.