Manchester City and Liverpool are the two remaining Premier League clubs in the Champions League and Europa League. If they want to make it to the finals, both will have to beat Spanish opposition.
The Citizens are facing La Liga giants Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals, on April 26 and May 4. It will be the club’s third and fourth European meeting.
The official result of the #UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/Pvz577XZRc
— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) 15 april 2016
City and Real faced each other during the 2012/2013 group stages. The Citizens suffered a 3-2 defeat in Madrid with goals from Edin Dzeko and Aleksandar Kolarov, while the encounter at the Emirates ended in a 1-1 draw. Sergio Aguero scored a penalty 17 minutes before time.
2 – English sides have won the Champions League in the last two seasons preceding a European Championships (2008 and 2012). Fate. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) 15 april 2016
Liverpool are up against Villarreal on April 28 and May 5. It will be the first time both teams will meet on the European stage. The Reds eliminated Borussia Dortmund due to a 4-3 comeback win at Anfield. Meanwhile, the Yellow Submarine beat Sparta Praha 6-3 on aggregate.
The official result of the #UELdraw… pic.twitter.com/GeDWNNW07R
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) 15 april 2016
Villarreal are winless in their last ten European matches against English oppositions, losing on four occasions and drawing six times. However, the Reds were eliminated by a Spanish club, Atletico Madrid, in the 2009/2010 Europa League semi-finals on away goals. Villarreal’s most important players are Roberto Soldado and Cedric Bakambu.
