Real Madrid, Bayern set for ECL showdown

Real Madrid secured their passage to the last eight after a courageous Napoli side took the lead in both games before succumbing to the Spanish giants 3-1 in both legs.

Leicester landed last year’s beaten finalists Atletico Madrid, a draw which prompted British bookmakers to slash the odds making Atletico third favourites to lift the trophy in the June 3 final at Cardiff behind Barcelona and Bayern.

They will be joined by a host of Europe’s footballing heavyweights including holders Real Madrid.

It will be a huge seven or eight days for Leicester.

The next day, Atletico will welcome the Premier League’s sole representative Leicester while Real face Bayern in Madrid.

The La Liga champions beat Juve 3-1 in the final played at the Berlin Olympic stadium.

Although many will see Leicester as the weaker of the eight teams that remain in the competition, Zidane made it perfectly clear that he doesn’t fancy playing them.

Ex-Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso will also go up against his former club in his final season before retiring from the game. And anticipate some bruising duels, like the gnarled Atletico defender Diego Godin against Jamie Vardy. Not exactly the stuff of dreams for Vardy and the Foxes’ attack to say the least.

Monaco has become a feared team, and the highest scoring team in any top European league this season, after starting among the lowest-ranked clubs in the group-stage draw in August.

Can Wes Morgan and Robert Huth really hold up one of the most creative and hard strikers to mark?

Bayern are on a Champions League record run of 17 consecutive home wins, but have a score to settle with Real.

None of the possible opponents for Leicester City, the novices at this level of European competition, were ever going to appear gentle.

As for the rest of this draw?

Advancing in the Champions League had been Sevilla’s main goal this season after winning three straight titles in the Europa League.