Sports

Madrid derby on the cards again

AFP

Holders Real Madrid face Atletico Madrid in the Champions league semi-finals as the rivals do battle once more and French surprise-package Monaco take on Juventus, following the draw on Friday.

The all-Madrid showdown is a rerun of the 2014 and 2016 finals in Europe's top club competition, with a Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired Real victorious on both occasions in cagey affairs that they failed to settle after 90 minutes each time.

Real — aiming to become the first team to retain the Champions league — will host Atletico at the Santiago Bernabeu on May 2 and a free-scoring Monaco side brimming with some of Europe's hottest talent are home to Juventus on May 3, with the second legs the following week.

Real Madrid director and former striker Emilio Butragueno said: "We know each other very well, this is the fourth time we meet Atletico in the Champions league but it will not be a final this time.

"Every detail will count and we will have to be very careful, they defend very well and have high-quality players who know how to take advantage of mistakes," he told BeINSports.

Atletico, who boast one of football's most deadly strikers in Antoine Griezmann, will move next season from the Vicente Calderon, their home for 50 years, to a new stadium.

Clemente Villaverde, a former Atletico player and now a director, said the Real clash would be a fitting farewell.

"Our fans and players have experienced two final defeats and know what it means and takes to get there — a lot of work," he told UEFA.Com.

"Hopefully we can give the Vicente Calderon the goodbye it deserves."

Going into the draw at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland all four teams were making the usual noises: there is nothing to choose between any of them, they said publicly.

Juve's yearIJ

Real Madrid, for whom Ronaldo hit a hat-trick as they saw off Bayern Munich in the quarters, are favourites with British bookmakers.

But Juventus were hugely impressive in beating Barcelona 3-0 in the first leg and then holding the Spanish champions to a 0-0 draw at the Camp Nou on Wednesday in a defensive masterclass.

The Final is in Cardiff on June 3.

Spanish test for united; Ajax face lyon

Manchester United will play Celta Vigo and lyon will take on Ajax in the semifinals of the Europa league.

The draw was made on Friday, with United and lyon getting home matches in the second legs.

The first legs take place on May 4, with the return legs on May 11.

United is seeking to win Europe's second-tier competition for the first time, which would earn the English team direct entry into next season's Champions league.

Celta Vigo has advanced to a semifinal of a top European club competition for the first time and is bidding to become the eighth Spanish winner of the Europa league or UEFA Cup in the last 12 years.

Ajax is back in a European semifinal for the first time since the Champions league in 1997.

lyon has been this far in Europe only twice: 2010 in the Champions league, and 1964 in the now-defunct European Cup Winners' Cup.