Spain and Germany lead the way in Europe

After suffering to a greater of lesser degree, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund all qualified and will be in Friday's semi-finals draw, set to take place at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland. Spain and Germany are then the dominant forces in European football.

With these four sides in the draw, there is every chance of a Spain-Germany encounter and slightly less of a chance that the two teams from the same country are drawn together to play for a place in the Wembley final.

With the Premier League's permission, Spanish and German football has dominated Europe in recent seasons and will have the opportunity this year to settle who is top dog with two very exciting semi-finals.

The relationship between Berlin and Madrid is always tense. With the shadow of an economic bail-out hanging over Spain, a country suffering no such problems with its football and with two of its clubs that now have the chance of playing in the upcoming final at Wembley, just as happened during the 1999/2000 season, when Real Madrid beat Valencia at the Stade de France.