Wembley Clasico on the cards as Barca face Bayern before Pep’s arrival… with Dortmund standing in the way of Mourinho history

By John Drayton

PUBLISHED: 11:33, 12 April 2013 | UPDATED: 13:26, 12 April 2013

There is the chance of a Clasico in the Wembley final of the Champions League as Real Madrid and Barcelona were kept apart in this morning’s semi-final draw.

Jose Mourinho’s Real were drawn against Borussia Dortmund whereas Barcelona are set to take on Bayern Munich, meaning if both teams dispatch their German opponents they will meet in the final at Wembley on May 25.

Dortmund are the only unbeaten team remaining in the competition, and will be pitted against Real for the second time in this season’s tournament. The Bundesliga holders won a tough group which included Real, Manchester City and Ajax.

Runaway Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich are in sensational form in the competition, having beaten Juventus in the quarter-finals.

Dortmund scraped their way into the semi-finals, after two stoppage-time goals against Malaga at the Westfalenstadion.

Pep Guardiola’s loyalties will be split when Barca take on Bayern with both sides hoping to win their fifth European Cup.

He led the Catalan giants to two Champions League trophies during his remarkably successful tenure in Barcelona.

But he will be hoping for future glories with last season’s beaten finalists Bayern Munich, who he will take charge of next campaign when Jupp Heynckes leaves his post.

 

Like Guardiola, Mourinho has a taste for success in the Champions League and could become the first ever manager to win the competition with three different clubs.

 

Having won the tournament with Porto and Inter Milan, he is looking to guide Real to the trophy for the first time since 2002.

Former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy drew the teams in Nyon, and was glad of the outcome.

On the Dortmund and Real Madrid tie, the Dutchman told Sky Sports : ‘I think over two games [with] the quality of Real Madrid they should beat Borussia Dortmund. But this is football and anything can happen… you can never trust these things.’

When asked to compare his former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, he added: ‘Messi, you can’t knock him but at this moment in time Cristiano has just got the edge.’

Meanwhile, Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is relishing a test against a side he holds in such high regard.

‘Barcelona are the benchmark for me in Europe. They have won the Champions League more than any other team in the recent years,’ Rummenigge told UEFA.com.

‘They are the best team in Europe at the moment, with fantastic attacking potential.

‘We played them in 2009 and received a real thumping. I remember that game well and I don’t really like to think about it, because it was quite painful to watch. However, it’s a wonderful opportunity to show that we have improved a lot since then.’

Rummenigge also denied that playing the opening match at home is a disadvantage.

‘I think we will see two very good games, played at the highest possible level,’ he said.

‘Furthermore, I think playing at home first is a slight advantage, contrary to the popular belief that it’s a disadvantage.

 

‘We saw that against Juventus, where people said that it might be a disadvantage. But we produced a great performance at home and that set the stage for the return leg and our progression into the semi-finals.

‘I’m really excited that we will get to play the best team in Europe. I still feel Barcelona are the big favourites to win the Champions League.’

Dortmund general manager Hans-Joachim Watzke was pleased to have drawn a Spanish opponent and avoid an all-Bundesliga tie with Bayern.

Dortmund have already played Real twice in this season’s competition, winning the first Group D meeting on home soil 2-1 before drawing 2-2 at the Bernabeu.

‘We are happy with this draw – not because we think it’s an easy one, but because the Champions League is an international competition and we wanted an international game rather than a national tie against Bayern,’ Watzke said.

‘I don’t think Madrid will be afraid because of what happened in the group stage.

‘They will respect us, just like we will respect them.’

Former Real striker and club ambassador Emilio Butragueno insisted Dortmund will not be taken lightly even though they have been absent from the final stages of the tournament for a decade and a half.

‘It’s a pleasure and honour for us to be here,’ Butragueno said.

‘We have a lot of respect for Borussia Dortmund.

‘We played them twice (in the group stage) but didn’t manage to beat them.

‘This time we hope it will different as we want to be in the final, that’s what we are all dreaming of.’

Bayern will play Barcelona on 23 April and May 1, while Dortmund and Real will face each other on April 24 and 30.