• Champions League

Bayern have no fear of United

Bayern Munich defender Dante claims the Champions League holders have "no need to fear" Manchester United in the quarter finals of Europe's elite club competition.

The Brazilian, like his team-mates and the club's sporting director Matthias Sammer, was clearly pleased with their club's draw on Friday.

Dante, who identified Robin van Persie as a threat, said: "We have no need to fear United. We're ready for them."

A history of rivalry

Sheringham celebrates in 1999 © Getty Images

• Manchester United and Bayern Munich have met nine times in the Champions League, with clashes between the clubs producing some memorable encounters.
• Head to head: P9, Man Utd 2, B Munich 3, drawn 4.
• 1999 final, Man Utd 2 B Munich 1: Sheringham and Solskjaer were the heroes as United scored two in injury time to snatch the Champions League title from under Bayern's noses.
• 2001 quarter-final 2nd leg, B Munich 2 Man Utd 1: Bayern netted twice before Ryan Giggs scored a second-half consolation as the Germans went through with a 3-1 aggregate score.
• 2010 quarter-final 2nd leg, Man Utd 3 B Munich 2: A spectacular late strike from Arjen Robben ruins United's bid to reach a third successive final. The tie finished 4-4 on aggregate, with Munich going through on away goals.

Sammer claimed the quarter final challenge is "doable" and "attractive" for the German side, and pointed out that David Moyes's side are struggling for consistency.

"It's an extremely attractive draw against opponents who are struggling for consistency," Sammer said .

"But they showed they're capable of great things in the round-of-16 second leg [against Olympiakos].

"The appropriate response is to remain modest about opponents who are still perfectly capable of football at the highest level on a good day, so we can't allow them to have two good days. I regard the draw as doable but dangerous."

The draw is a repeat of the 2010 quarter-final which ended 4-4 on aggregate, when Bayern went through on the away goals rule.

Struggling United sit seventh in the Premier League and are extremely unlikely to qualify for next season's Champions League through their final finishing position. However, Moyes admitted that the task of overcoming Munich was "a tough draw".

Bayern, by contrast, have been in imperious form this season and lead the Bundesliga by 23 points. Manager Pep Guardiola has also guided his side through a Champions League group that contained Manchester City, CSKA Moscow and Viktoria Plzen, before dismissing Arsenal 3-1 on aggregate to reach the quarter-finals.

They are a team brimming with confidence. Club captain Philip Lahm said: "It's a superb draw. It's a wonderful stadium with a terrific atmosphere and a history of great clashes.

"We can look forward to it. We'll definitely go to Manchester intending to attack. We're the holders and one of the big favourites to win the Champions League.

"But we mustn't be deceived by United's current position in the table. They have outstanding individual players. We'll have to perform well and if we do, we'll have a good chance of making the semi-finals."

United face Bayern at Old Trafford on April 1 with the return leg in Munich eight days later while, elsewhere, Chelsea take on PSG, Barcelona face Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid will tackle Borussia Dortmund.

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