Real's defeat will act as warning to Reds says Fletcher
United avoided favourites Barcelona in yesterday's quarter-final draw and also landed in the other half to Arsenal and Inter Milan.
It means if Bayern Munich can be beaten in the last eight, French opposition will await in the semi-final in either Lyon or Bordeaux.
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Hide AdUnsurprisingly, United's odds to make their third successive final have tumbled dramatically, but Fletcher is not getting carried away.
United's only victory in seven games with Bayern came in that never-to-be-forgotten final in 1999 which completed the Treble and with Bayern impressively disposing of Fiorentina in the last round, Fletcher is adamant United will treat the German side with caution and respect.
"You can be too presumptuous and start looking too far ahead," he said. "People can say various things about the draw but the fact is these teams are in this competition because they have beaten big sides along the way.
"You don't get to the quarter or semi-final of the Champions League by being a poor side.
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Hide Ad"The warning signs are there. If you go into a tie underestimating a team like Lyon for instance (who defeated Real Madrid), you will be out."
Holders Barcelona will face Arsenal in the quarter-finals in a re-run of the 2006 final. Both recorded thumping second-leg wins in the last 16, Pep Guardiola's men beating Stuttgart 4-0 and Arsenal thrashing Porto 5-0.
The Spaniards, who will play the first leg at home, came out on top when the sides met in the final four years ago, coming from behind for a 2-1 success.
The winners will play either Inter or CSKA in the last four.
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Hide Ad"It's a great tie," Barcelona's sporting director Txiki Beguiristain said. "We are two teams who don't shut up shop and play long ball football, and this tie will be nice for the fans."
Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas was on Barca's books as a youngster and has regularly been linked with a return to the Nou Camp, while Gunners legend Thierry Henry played in the 2006 final for the Gunners.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said: "I believe we will not be favourites but for me it will be a 50-50 game. That's how we have to take it. Of course they are a good side – so are we.
"It will be an interesting, exciting game. We have to make sure we have the belief."
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Hide AdLiverpool manager Rafael Benitez is wary of the threat posed by Benfica, their quarter-final opposition in the Europa League following yesterday's draw.
Four years ago the Portuguese side ended the Reds' hopes of becoming the first side to win back-to-back Champions League titles when they lost 3-0 over two legs. Benfica are currently three points clear of Braga at the top of the Portuguese league.
"We know they are a good team and, of course, we have played them before in the Champions League," said the Liverpool manager.
"They are a massive club with a lot of support from their fans and it will be a tough game.
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Hide Ad"They are top of the table and playing really well at the moment. I know a number of their players well – Aimar, Javier Saviola, Javi Garcia – so we know they have a lot of quality."
Fulham's reward for Thursday night's stunning 4-1 defeat of Juventus, winning 5-4 on aggregate, is a quarter-final against German champions Wolfsburg.
Should they get into the last four, Fulham could face another German side in Hamburg, who will meet Standard Liege in the last eight.
European draws
Champions League
Quarter-finals:
Lyon v Bordeaux
Bayern Munich v Man Utd
Arsenal v Barcelona
Inter Milan v CSKA Moscow
1st legs: March 30-31
2nd legs: April 6-7
Semi-finals:
Bayern Munich or Man Utd v Lyon or Bordeaux
Inter Milan or CSKA Moscow v Arsenal or Barcelona
1st legs: April 20-21
2nd legs: Apr 27-28
Europa League
Quarter-finals:
Fulham v Wolfsburg
Hamburg v Standard Liege
Valencia v Atletico Madrid
Benfica v Liverpool
1st legs: April 1
2nd legs: April 8
Semi-finals:
Hamburg or Standard Liege v Fulham or Wolfsburg
Valencia or Atletico Madrid v Benfica or Liverpool
1st legs: April 22
2nd legs: April 29