BARCELONA and Real Madrid were kept apart when the Champions League semi-final draw was made today.
The two titanic ties are Barca v Bayern Munich and Real Madrid against Borussia Dortmund – after they met in the group stage.
The games will be played on April 23 and 24, with the return legs on April 30 and May 1.
In the Europa League, Chelsea will travel to Switzerland for the first leg of their last-four tie against Basel on April 25.
The other match sees Turkish side Fenerbahce face Portuguese opponents Benfica. The return legs in the Europa League will take place on May 2.
I'll add some prices as soon as I have them.
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
Barcelona outright 28/13 @ Bwin
Real Madrid 11/5 @ Bet365
Bayern 7/2 @ Ladbrokes
Dortmund 13/2 @ Stan James
Name The Finalists
Barcdlona – Real Madrid 13/10 @ William Hill
Real Madrid – Bayern 23/10 @ Paddy Power
Barcelona – Dortmund 4/1 @ Betvictor
Bayern – Dortmund 6/1 @ Bet365
Chelsea 13/10 @ Bwin
Benfica 2/1 @ Youwin
Fenerbahce 33/5 @ Betfair
Basel 8/1 @ 888sport
Name The Finalists
Chelsea – Benfica 6/5 @ Betvictor
Chelsea – Fenerbahce 9/4 @ Betvictor
Benfica – Basel 4/1 @ Betvictor
Fenerbahce – Basel 6/1 @ Betvictor
If Chelsea are to progress to the final, they must overcome Tottenham’s conquerors Basel, while Fenerbahce meet Benfica…
Chelsea may have avoided a date with fellow Champions League drop-outs Benfica but landing a second successive European trophy will not be easy after they drew Swiss champions Basel.
This talented Basel side have already accounted for Tottenham in the quarter-finals, albeit by the lottery of penalties in the end, so the current champions of Europe are sure to be tested over two legs.
It’s far from gloomy for Rafa Benitez’s Blues though, as the balls delivered the preferable scenario of a return leg in London after the trip to Switzerland.
Basel were only outsiders for glory by a shade from Fenerbahce before the draw but have understandably lengthened from 7.8 out to 9.4.
Their English opponents have also opened as slender favourites to win the first leg in Basel at 2.3, with the Swiss club available at 2.62 to excavate an advantage.
Chelsea’s chances of adding the Europa League to their maiden Champions League triumph have shortened slightly from 2.52 pre-draw to 2.36, attributable mainly to avoiding Benfica.
The architects of Newcastle’s quarter-final downfall are still the only team to have nullified Barcelona on their own patch this season, so provide formidable opposition.
Benfica also dumped Rafa’s Champions League-winning Liverpool side out of Europe’s top competition in 2005/06, so the Spaniard will have been wary of the Portuguese threat.
The price of Benfica’s final-four opponents Fenerbahce, led by the likes of ex-Liverpool duo Dirk Kuyt and Raul Meireles, to land a first European trophy has stayed motionless at 7.6.
The Turkish side have been really impressive during this campaign, overcoming Lazio in the last round to engineer this date with Benfica.
The Portuguese leaders remain clear second favourites though, not far behind Chelsea at 2.92, moving out by a mere morsel from 2.9.
On their own turf for first leg, Fenerbahce can be backed at 2.36, whereas Benfica are 2.44 to take a lead back to Lisbon.
Milesey
Spain’s giants avoided another semi-final showdown as Barcelona face Bayern Munich, while Real Madrid are reunited with Group D foes Borussia Dortmund…
So the grand Clasico final is still very much on between Real Madrid and Barcelona, though Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will have other ideas.
Barcelona have never lost a European Cup/Champions League knockout tie against German opposition in seven previous attempts, but their quarter-final triumph over Bayern back in 2008/09 was against a far less vintage side than the current crop of Bavarians.
This star-studded Bayern Munich side have made two of the last three finals and, having dealt with Juventus in clinical fashion, will not fear the Spaniards.
When you combine this with Barca’s unconvincing ousting of Paris St-Germain, it’s not hard to to see why their price for Wembley glory has lengthened from 2.94 to 3.5 since the draw.
Likewise, Jupp Heynckes’ side have seen their double date with the pre-tournament favourites extend their price for that elusive fifth crown to 4.1, out from 3.75.
However, with such a formidable record at the Allianz Arena, it’s Bayern who are 2.5 favourites to arrive at the Camp Nou with an advantage, with Tito Vilanova’s side rated at 3.0.
Barca have only won two of their last seven away games in Europe – and none of their last four in the knockout rounds – so will have their work cut out to beat a Bayern side who’ve won 18 of their last 20 home games in the competition.
The other tie sees Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid travel to their earlier Group D opponents Borussia Dortmund, with Los Blancos being backed in from 3.65 to 3.2 to win the competition after drawing the tournament outsiders.
Meanwhile, a third meeting with Real Madrid this season has taken Jurgen Klopp’s team in slightly from 7.8 to 7.6 to lift the trophy.
This promises to be a fascinating tie, not least because of the combined eccentricity factor in both dugouts, but also because of those previous group clashes.
It is the German underdogs who undoubtedly have the psychological edge after seeing off Madrid 2-1 in Germany and almost embarrassing them in the Bernabeu before Mesut Ozil’s late equaliser rescued the blushes.
Again, the first tie will be played on German soil and, despite Real’s loss at the Westfalenstadion, Mourinho’s side are narrow 2.38 favourites to beat Dortmund, while Klopp’s side are rated at 2.85.
Milesey
Real Madrid v Bayern Munich final for me Bayern have league sown up and have cup semi and CL semi left to play they love to give Jupp Heynckes a good send off by winning the treble although jose may stop that,