Juventus will face holders Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals after being pitched against the Spanish giants in Friday's draw at UEFA's Nyon headquarters. The Italian champions ground out a 0-0 draw in Monaco on Wednesday to reach the Champions League last four for the first time in 12 years, prevailing 1-0 on aggregate after winning the first leg of the quarterfinal.
The Turin side are the first Italian team to reach the semis since Inter Milan's successful Champions League campaign in 2010.
The twice European champions will face the winner of the other semi between Bayern Munich and Barcelona if they see off Real. Juve will host the first leg of the semi on May 5, with the return in the Spanish capital on May 13.
"We are very happy to be in a semi-final after 12 years. I played against Madrid last time," said Juve Director Pavel Nedved, referring to Juve's 4-3 aggregate semi-final win in 2002-03 before defeat to AC Milan on penalties in the final. "It will be a very exciting semi-final. "This Juve team is competitive. We know that Real have monster players. But this semi-final should be tackled without fear". In the continent's secondary competition Napoli will face Ukraine side Dnipro in the Europa League semi-finals, while Fiorentina were pitched against Spanish holders Sevilla. Napoli, who knocked out German side Wolfsburg 6-3 on aggregate, will play the first leg at home on May 7, with the return in Ukraine on May 14. Fiorentina, who beat Dynamo Kiev 3-1 on aggregate, will face Sevilla in Spain on May 7 and have the return at home a week later. The fact that the two Serie A teams were not drawn against each other means that an all-Italian final is a possibility.
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