Real Madrid to face Manchester United (Champions League)

Real Madrid will play Manchester United in the Champions League round of 16. The Whites will play the first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on 13th February, while the second leg will be away on 5th March. On 15th March the quarter-final draw will be held and on 12th April 2013 the draw for the semi-finals will be made. The final will be played on Saturday 25th May at Wembley, where it took place in 2011, as part of the 150th anniversary of the English Football Association.

Last 16 Round Draw. Champions League 2012-2013

Although they have had to come from behind nine times during this season's Premier League, the English team, who have not drawn any matches in the domestic league, are the leaders with a six point advantage over Manchester City. Van Persie and Kagawa were this summer’s reinforcements to a team that has great attacking potential. Rooney, Valencia, Young, Nani, Anderson, Wellbeck, Giggs and the effective Chicharito Hernández are some of the weapons at Ferguson’s disposal. In the Champions League, despite being defeated in their last two matches, they finished first in their group ahead of Galatasaray, Cluj and Braga.

The fate has wanted it and the future of Real Madrid and Manchester United in this year's Champions League will be decided in this round. It is one of the most attractive playoffs that the draw has gave according to the history of both teams. Real Madrid and Man. United have faced four times in the final rounds of the European competition. Of these, three were won by the white set and one for the English side. Real Madrid has achieved until this moment three wins, three draws and two defeats in eight matches against the 'Red Devils'.

The first match between the two teams took place in the season 1956/57. That year the two teams met in the semifinals and was Real Madrid which got through to the final by winning 3-1 at the Bernabeu and drawing 2-2 in England. The second time was also in the semifinals, of the season 1967/68. The 'Red Devils' got the revenge and eliminated its rival after winning 1-0 in the first leg and 3-3 draw in Madrid.

We had to wait until the 1999/2000 season to return to see a Real Madrid vs Manchester United. This time they played in the quarterfinal round and Fernando Redondo was one of the names. In the first match, a draw (0-0). All was decided at Old Trafford ... and Real Madrid ended winning by 2-3 with Fernando Redondo as the star. The Argentine drew up a play for the story with a gorgeous dribble finished with a killer pass to Raul.

Ronaldo Nazario. Magic night at Old Trafford

Three seasons later the 'lottery' gave us away another Real Madrid vs Manchester United in the quarterfinals that is still remembered by many fans. Ronaldo was the main protagonist of the tie by scoring a hat-trick at Old Trafford. It happened on the second leg and the Brazilian striker left the field cheered by the English fans.

In 2013 we will live a new duel. Real Madrid and Manchester United are beginning to be intimate enemies. Manchester United arrive at this stage of the Champions League as leader of the Premier League and the team is live in all competitions. Meanwhile, Real Madrid is in a delicate situation in the Spanish league, being third in the standings behind Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.