By Milcah Tanimu

The UEFA Champions League quarter-final draw has set the stage for thrilling matchups, with Arsenal pitted against FC Bayern Munich, while defending champions Real Madrid will lock horns with Manchester City.

In another exciting fixture, Paris Saint-Germain will face Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid will challenge Borussia Dortmund in the remaining ties.

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City will kick off the action with a trip to the Spanish capital for the first leg on April 6 or 7, followed by the return leg in Manchester a week later. City, who clinched their first Champions League title last season, overcame Real Madrid in the semi-finals on their road to glory.

Real Madrid, however, emerged victorious in previous encounters, including a semi-final clash in 2019 and a last-16 matchup in 2020.

Meanwhile, Arsenal secured their place in the quarter-finals after a hard-fought victory over Porto and now face a formidable challenge against German champions Bayern Munich. The Gunners will host the first leg at the Emirates Stadium, with former Tottenham star Harry Kane set to return to London, having scored 36 goals for Bayern this season.

The prospect of an all-English semi-final looms large, with the winners of the Arsenal-Bayern clash facing either Real Madrid or Manchester City in the next round.

The clash between PSG and Barcelona promises to reignite an intense rivalry, with PSG aiming for their maiden Champions League title before Kylian Mbappe’s departure in June.

The quarter-final first-leg matches will take place on April 9 and 10, with the return legs scheduled for April 16 and 17.

The draw, conducted by former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel, marks the last of its kind in the current Champions League format, with a new format involving 36 teams set to debut next season.