The Champions League draw threw up the possibility of a Manchester Derby in the final in Madrid this season but United were forced to switch their quarter final tie.
Manchester United will have to play the first leg of their Champions League Quarter Final at home after being initially drawn against Barcelona away.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Red Devils had to switch the venues because Manchester City were also drawn away to Tottenham after Greater Manchester Police and Manchester Council warned that they would be unwilling allow both clubs to play at home in the same week for safety and logistical reasons.
As United finished lower than their rivals in the league they were the club who was forced to switch fixtures around.
The games against Barcelona represent the toughest challenge yet for United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Legendary forward Lionel Messi scored for Barcelona against United in the finals of 2009 and 2011.
In head to head UEFA competition, Barca have 4 wins, United 3, with 4 draws.
Quadruple chasing Manchester City will face Tottenham for the first time in a UEFA competition.
City have gone from potentially 4 Manchester derbies in 19 days to 3 games against Spurs in 11 days as their April fixture list becomes fully packed.
City’s home Premier League encounter with Spurs falls on the 20th of April, 3 days after the second leg of their Champions League quarter final with the London club.
Liverpool, the fourth English club to reach this stage of the Champions League, drew Porto and could meet United in the semi final and possibly have a showdown in Madrid with Manchester City.
The other tie pits the talented youthful challengers of Ajax with the battle hardened campaigners of Juventus who also have former Red Devil Cristiano Ronaldo amongst their ranks.
The winners of this tie could face Manchester City in a two legged semi final with the possibly for City to go to Madrid where they could have an extremely tough final opponent – local rivals Manchester United, title rivals Liverpool, City boss Pep Guardiola’s former team Barcelona, or Porto.
With both Manchester clubs kept apart, the prospect of a Manchester derby in the final of the Champions League is still alive.
But they could yet face off in the FA Cup final – both clubs are playing in the quarter finals of that competition this coming weekend.
FULL CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTER FINAL AND SEMI FINAL DRAW 2018/2019
Semi Final 1
Tottenham / Manchester City vs Ajax /Juventus
Semi Final 2
Barcelona / Manchester United vs Liverpool / Porto
Quarter finals will take place on April 9/10 and April 16/17 while the semi-finals will take place on April 3/May 1 and May 7/8.
The winner of semi final 1 will be designated the home team for the final in the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid on Saturday, June 1.