Draw for the quarterfinals of Champions: the illness, old acquaintances and accounts receivable

Three English, two Spanish, one Italian, one German and one Ukrainian. It is not a joke nor a floor Erasmus, but the distribution of the nationalities of the eight best teams in Europe: Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham, Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Inter Milan, Schalke 04 and Shakhtar Donetsk. Tomorrow Friday will be held in Nyon draw for the quarterfinals of this season's UEFA Champions League, so before it occurs, analyze the hype and the illness that has raised about possible clashes between old acquaintances.

For starters there is the possibility that both English and Spanish can cross between them, which has its pros and cons. Playing in Europe against a team from your domestic league is always strange is like finding a neighbor in another country, you never know if you behave like in the neighborhood or act differently. However, in national terms, is a yin-yang: one will be safe, but also ensures that the country would have guaranteed a spot in the semifinals. In the case of Spain, a match comes Barça and Madrid would be the only thing we needed to make us all crazy. If meringues and Catalans will see the faces in the quarterfinals of Champions, would face four games in just fourteen days of the month April: Monday and Tuesday June 13 (or a Wednesday, the draw) in the quarterfinals of Champions League Saturday 16 and Wednesday 20 in Cup final

In the same vein, we must not forget that England could have a ManU-Chelsea, where Blues and Red Devils face again after the 2008 final, which Manchester won on penalties. The Tottehham, just remove the Milan, is the first time participating in Europe's top competition, so that all crosses would be unprecedented. Something similar will happen to Shakhtar, who after winning the crown last year at the Europa League, Lucescu those have continued to grow this year had never come to be among the top eight.

The morbazo between old acquaintances that we anticipate in the title of this post, we have in relations with ManU and Barca Madrid, Schalke, Inter and Chelsea. The last two times they crossed the paths of United and Real Madrid in the Champions League was precisely quarter-final in 2000 and 2003. In separate occasions, gave Old Trafford into applause at his rival, in 2000 with one goal from Raul after jugadón Redondo , and three years later with the Ronaldo hat-trick. For Barca, facing the Red Devils would be a possibility that the British avenged the final they lost against Guardiola's team in 2009.

As the Schalke 07 Sorry, Schalke 04, the appeal would be to see Raul back to the Bernabeu and the Nou Camp. What may hold very different stories! The raulistas could drink nectar with the gods or burn in hell, depending on whether they fulfill one of the two morbid hypothesis that Raúl eliminate Barca or Madrid. Finally, we have the potential targets and clashes with Chelsea and Inter Blaugrana, marked respectively by the last of Mourinho and two cases of unpaid bills.

In the case of Chelsea, for The Special One is back to repeat the situation of last year's, when, leading the Inter who would end up proclaiming champion, met with his former Chelsea in the second round, eliminating them with victory in London included. In relation to Barca, the blues they would have the opportunity to avenge the painful elimination in the semifinals two years ago, when Iniesta sent them home with a great goal in extremis . (Will Platini black humor, or cockiness, to pull strings to Ovrebo be assigned to officiate the match?)

To end the speculation we have to Inter Milan. In the case of Madrid, the party would also be marked by the fact that Mourinho will take on his last team. Faced with the perennial question that daen each phase, namely with what teams do not want to bump?, Luso coach expressed his romantic side to declare that the only people who do not want to face is, indeed, his two ex. And Barca's side, the Blaugrana are presented the possibility of recouping the festering wound that left him last year's elimination in the semifinals.

So, summing up, the hype for tomorrow is very likely to yield a few challenges with many attractions. How do you see? What you put more crossings?

Photo | Rob (Wembley Stadium, venue for the final of the UEFA Champions League 2010-11)