It’s Beckham v Messi in Champions League
There will be no shortage of glamour in the Champions League as Barcelona are drawn against PSG in quarter-finals.
Paris Saint-Germain’s new-found status among Europe’s elite will face its first real test against Barcelona in the Champions League quarterfinals.
Barcelona avoided leading rivals Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in Friday’s draw but could be given a stern challenge from PSG, which has again become a force in Europe after heavy spending from its wealthy Qatari owners in the last two years.
The three Spanish qualifiers for the last eight were kept apart, with nine-time champion Real Madrid taking on Galatasaray and Malaga facing Borussia Dortmund.
The other quarterfinal is between Bayern Munich and Juventus, both repeat winners of the continent’s top club competition.
The first legs will take place on April 2-3, with the return matches the following week.
PSG-Barcelona should be the highlight, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic set to return to the Camp Nou in the second leg to play the team that sold him in 2011 after his big-money move to Spain turned sour. The Sweden striker will miss the first leg because of suspension.
There will be no shortage of glamor thanks to PSG midfielder David Beckham and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, who became the second-highest scorer in Champions League history with 57 goals after his double in the 4-0 second-leg win over AC Milan in the last-16.
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho must find a way to stifle the threat of Didier Drogba, his former striker from their time together at Chelsea, when Galatasaray plays in the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time since 2001.
Champions League Quarter-finals:
Malaga v Borussia Dortmund
Real Madrid v Galatasaray
Paris St Germain v Barcelona
Bayern Munich v Juventus
First legs – April 2 or 3, second legs – April 9 or 10.