Brazilian former soccer player Julio Cesar, center, ambassador for the UEFA Champions League, jokes with UEFA deputy secretary general Giorgio Marchetti, left, and Pedro Pinto, right, Managing Director of Communications of UEFA, during the drawing of the soccer matches for the UEFA Champions League 2018-19 quarter-finals at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday. Barcelona will meet Manchester United in the Champions League last eight in a repeat of the 2009 and 2011 finals which were both won by the Catalans, with the help of goals from Lionel Messi. Manchester City face Tottenham Hotspur in an all-Premier League clash, their first European meeting, while Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus meet Ajax Amsterdam, who are back in the last eight after a 16-year absence. Five-times European champions Liverpool, the fourth English representatives and beaten finalists last year, will face Porto in a repeat of last year’s last-16 tie which they won 5-0 on aggregate. The semi-final pairings were also made with Tottenham or City to face Ajax or Juventus and Manchester United or Barcelona to meet either Liverpool or Porto. The draw had an unusual feel with neither Bayern Munich nor Real Madrid in the hat, the first time both European giants have failed to reach the last eight since 2005-06. Five-times winners Barcelona, who are in the last eight for the 12th successive season, will be away in the first leg after UEFA switched the order to avoid United’s home match clashing with Manchester City, who host Spurs in their second leg. Tottenham and City will meet three times in 10 days in April with a Premier League fixture following hot on the heels of their second leg. “We have already proved last season against Real Madrid and Dortmund, this season against Inter or Barca away, that we are ready to compete,” Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris said. “Then you need a little luck and team spirit.” Ajax, once a major European power who struggle to compete financially with clubs from bigger leagues, ousted Real Madrid in the last 16 and their tie against Juventus will be a repeat of the 1996 final, which the Serie A club won on penalties. They also met in the final of the old European Cup in 1973 with the Dutch side winning 1-0. “I’m neither happy nor sad. Ajax eliminated Madrid so they are no joke,” Juventus director Pavel Nedved said. “I liked them a lot against Madrid so we will have to be very careful. We will have to face Ajax with great commitment. I expect two great games.” Juventus are unbeaten in their last 10 games against Ajax, winning five of the last six. Porto, who won the competition in 2004 under Jose Mourinho, are confident they can spring an upset after last year’s mauling. “We have to keep dreaming and believe we can go further,” said midfielder Jesus Corona. “What can I say?” said Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp, whose side knocked out Bayern in the round of 16. “It’s Porto, we’ve played there already and we know how good we had to be last year. We saw the character and quality Porto have.” Chelsea were the last English team to win the Champion League in 2012. The two-legged quarter-finals take place on April 9-10 and 16-17. Published in Daily Times, March 16th 2019.