NYON, Switzerland, April 13, 2018 (News agencies) - Liverpool will take on AS Roma and Bayern Munich will face Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the Champions League following the draw at UEFA's headquarters on Friday.The first legs will be on Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 April, with the returns on May 1 and 2. The detailed schedule will be released later on Friday. For Mohamed Salah, the tie against Roma represents a return to his old club, after he departed for Merseyside during the summer transfer window. He scored 34 goals in his two seasons in Rome. On Friday he became the first ever player to win the Premier League player of month award for the third time in a season. With regards to previous meetings, Liverpool will enter the game with confidence, having lost just one of their five meetings with the Italian side. They have drawn two and won two against Roma in the past, with the most notable game being the European Cup final in 1984, which the Merseyside club won on penalties. Liverpool was drawn to face Roma in a repeat of the 1984 final. The English team won that match in the Italian club's home stadium. The first legs will be played on April 24-25, with the return games on May 1-2. The final is scheduled for May 26 at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine. In the 2000-01 UEFA Cup fourth round, they beat the Italians 2-1 on aggregate – winning 2-0 in Rome before losing 1-0 at Anfield – on the way to lifting the trophy against Alaves in Dortmund. The following year, the teams were in the same Champions League second round group, with Liverpool earning a goalless draw at the Stadio Olimpico and then a 2-0 win at Anfield, notable for being the return of Gerard Houllier after his illness. Most famously, though, Liverpool beat Roma in the Italian capital to lift the European Cup in 1984, prevailing 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. In the other semifinal, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, who have a combined 17 European titles, have never met in the final but this will be their seventh semifinal meeting in the 63-year-old competition. Arsenal faces Atletico in Europa semis Favourites Atletico Madrid will face Arsenal in the Europa League semi-finals with Olympique de Marseille taking on Austrian outsiders Salzburg following Friday's draw at UEFA's headquarters. Atletico are bidding to reach their third European final in four years having been runners-up in the Champions League in 2013-14 and 2015-16. Arsenal are not only hoping to win a first European trophy since 1994, but know their hopes of qualifying for next year's Champions League depend on winning the Europa League in the French city of Lyon next month. The Gunners are currently sixth in the Premier League with little prospect of finishing in the top four and taking one of the Champions League qualification spots. Salzburg, who scored three times in five minutes on Thursday to beat Lazio 6-5 on aggregate and become the first Austrian side to reach a European semi-final since 1996, will fancy their chances of reaching the final. The Austrian league leaders beat Marseille 1-0 at home in this season's group phase and drew 0-0 away in France. Marseille, for whom captain Dimitri Payet was inspirational in their comeback 5-3 aggregate win against RB Leipzig in the quarter-finals, are currently fourth in Ligue 1. Arsenal and Marseille will both be at home in the first legs which take place on April 26 with the return games on May 3. Diego Simeone's Atletico side, second in La Liga, have already faced English opposition this season in Europe, losing 2-1 at home to Chelsea and drawing away as they bowed out of the Champions League at the group stage. They have a strong recent record against English opposition in knockout ties, however, winning their last three and have a formidable attack featuring Diego Costa and Fernando Torres. Atletico also beat Liverpool in the Europa League semi-finals in 2010 before going on to lift the trophy. Salzburg, backed by energy drinks giant Red Bull, have an enviable record in Europe this season, losing only once in 21 matches, that defeat coming away to Lazio 4-2. Marco Rose's side produced a stunning fightback to win the second leg 4-1 on Thursday, having slipped 5-2 behind on aggregate in the 55th minute.Marseille are unbeaten at home in this season's Europa League and will have the backing a fanatical crowd when they host Salzburg in the first leg. A European club record 58,897 turned out to roar them home in the second leg against Leipzig on Thursday. Diego Simeone's side are currently second in LaLiga behind runaway leaders Barcelona.Speaking after Thursday's match in Moscow, when at one point Arsenal had been a goal away from elimination, manager Arsene Wenger admitted he would prefer to avoid Atletico. "Looking at all the results as a whole picture in Europe this week, you would say that teams have become closer and the games are very open and everything is possible in every single game," Wenger said. "Everybody speaks about Atletico Madrid that they look the strongest team on paper, but you must say when you look at the results that Salzburg have done again... "I am from France and Marseille are in there as well and that is always a difficult place to go... maybe it is better that I don't wish for anybody." Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech believes winning the Europa League would be a sign of progression for the Gunners this season, following an otherwise indifferent domestic campaign. The Europa League is Arsenal's only remaining chance of silverware this season and their most realistic route back into the Champions League as the Gunners are 13 points adrift of the Premier League top four. "You need to keep the progression. You keep that not only on the pitch, but by winning things," Cech, who lifted the Europa League with Chelsea in 2013, replied when asked what winning a European trophy does for a team. "Obviously it will be very important for the club to finish the season with a European success and most importantly, if we can book the spot in the Champions League for next season. "We know this is our chance to book our Champions League spot but not only that, you play a European competition for a cup and for a cup the club has never won.This is another opportunity to add a great trophy to the cabinet."
