We’ll win it for Vilanova, says Abidal

Barcelona defender Eric Abidal says his team-mates are going all out to reach the Champions League final as a way of lending support to coach Tito Vilanova.

The Barcelona boss is back in the dugout after undergoing cancer treatment for a second time, his return coinciding with the Catalan club booking their place in the semi-finals of the Champions League with an away-goals win against Paris St Germain in midweek.

Barca were drawn against Bayern Munich in yesterday’s semi-final draw and Abidal, who has also suffered with cancer and has just returned from a year on the sidelines following a liver transplant, says Vilanova’s recent illness is all the motivation the squad needs.

“The aim is to get into the Champions League final for Tito,” said Abidal. “No two ways about it.”

Abidal was back in action for the first time since undergoing the transplant in last Saturday’s 5-0 demolition of Real Mallorca, but the full-back, who is out of contract at the end of the season, admitted he does not know if he will be at Camp Nou next term.

He said: “I want to end my career at Barca, but I don’t know whether the club wants me out.”

Real Madrid remain on course to meet their La Liga rivals in the Wembley final on May 25 after being drawn against Borussia Dortmund in the other semi-final.

Bayern will play Barcelona on April 23 and May 1, while Dortmund and Real will face each other on April 24 and 30.

Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez insists his European champions will not underestimate Swiss side Basle when the two sides meet in the Europa League semi-final.

Basle, who needed penalties to overcome Tottenham after their quarter-final was tied 4-4 after the two legs, will face a Blues side who secured their path to the final four with a 5-4 aggregate win over Russian side Rubin Kazan.

Benitez, whose side were immediately installed as favourites after avoiding a long trip to Fenerbahce or a tricky tie against Benfica, said: “We saw what they did to Tottenham. We know there’s a great atmosphere in their stadium and they play with intensity. I think it will be interesting.”

Europa League semi-final draw: Fenerbahce v Benfica, Basle v Chelsea.

First legs April 25, second legs May 2.

More than 200,000 seek Bayern tickets

Bayern Munich have received more than 200,000 ticket requests for their Champions League semi-final game in Munich, thousands of which were made before they advanced against Juventus, the club have revealed.

“We have been updating the figure constantly and, at the moment, it stands at 200,000 ticket requests for the semi-final home leg,” said a Bayern Munich official. Bayern’s stadium fits only 69,000 and that includes the 39,500 ticket holders and any fans travelling with their opponents.”