SOCCER/Champions League: Alex Ferguson is looking forward with relish to the Champions League tie he asked for after his Manchester United side were paired with mighty Real Madrid in Nyon yesterday.

On Tuesday night, as he reflected on the possibilities of the quarter-final draw, Ferguson said he would be quite happy with a two-legged encounter with the holders and nine-times winners.

And that is exactly what he got, in the rehearsal and draw proper at UEFA headquarters on the banks of Lake Geneva. If that was not enough, United also learned if they emerge victorious, they will face Juventus or Barcelona in a mouth-watering semi-final.

The omens are promising. On the three occasions the two giants of European football have met in the competition, the victor has gone on to lift the trophy.

Real must be regarded as the favourites, though, with a side containing Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Raul, Roberto Carlos and Luis Figo and Ferguson gave the impression he would like to be there as a fan even if he did not have the task of trying to beat such a star-studded side.

"It is without a question a fantastic, attractive draw against the most successful European Cup team of all time," he said.

Ferguson has admitted he changed his philosophy towards Europe following a 3-2 home reverse to Real in the same stage of the competition three years ago when Real picked United off to an alarming degree, cruising into a three-goal lead before the home side salvaged their pride with a late rally.

The Bernebeu Stadium is sure to be packed to its 75,000 capacity when the two sides meet in the first leg on Tuesday, April 8th, with Old Trafford staging the re-match on April 23rd.

There is the potential for a Milanese derby in the last four after AC Milan were paired with outsiders Ajax and Inter drew Arsenal's conquerors, Valencia.