Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will make a highly-anticipated return to the Camp Nou next month after Paris Saint Germain were drawn against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final today.
Ibrahimovic made a big-money move to Barcelona in the summer of 2009, but after a bright start to his Catalan career, he quickly fell out of favour with then manager Pep Guardiola. He made his exit in 2011 – after spending a season on-loan at AC Milan – and fired a parting shot at Guardiola with his now infamous ‘Ferrari’ quip.
However, Ibrahimovic will come face-to-face with his old teammates, some of which he was less than complimentary about, when PSG travel to Barcelona for the second leg on April 10.
The 31-year-old is suspended for the first leg at Parc de Princes on April 2 but is sure to take his place in Carlo Ancelotti’s starting line-up when they travel to Spain.
Elsewhere, Real Madrid, who progressed at the expense of Manchester United in controversial circumstances, will face Turkish champions Galatasaray after they eliminated German club Schalke in a thrilling encounter at the Gelsenkirchen.Bayern Munich will take on Italian champions Juventus after the Bundesliga leaders scraped through against Arsenal; losing 2-0 at the Allinaz-Arena but securing their progression on away goals.
Completing the quarter-final draw is Malaga and Bundelisga holders Borussia Dortmund, with the first leg to be staged in Spain.
Unlike in previous seasons, UEFA did not also make the draw for the semi-final pairings at the same time - that will now take place next month.