PARIS – Troubled holders Chelsea were drawn against 13-time winners Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Friday, while Manchester City were paired with Atletico Madrid.
Liverpool were drawn to play Benfica as the three remaining English clubs were kept apart and Bayern Munich were paired with Spanish side Villarreal.
Chelsea are hoping to defend their title in Europe despite turmoil at the club, which is up for sale after the British government sanctioned Russian owner Roman Abramovich in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Thomas Tuchel’s team will play Real at home in the first leg on April 6, before the return at the Santiago Bernabeu on April 12.
“We know what is coming but it will be an exciting and tough challenge,” said Tuchel.
It was reported this week that Chelsea may have to play home Champions League ties behind closed doors due to EU sanctions on Abramovich that prevent the club selling tickets.
“It would be a disadvantage,” admitted Tuchel. “In general this kind of game is for the spectators and the game changes so much without them so hopefully we find a solution.”
Chelsea beat Madrid – coached by ex-Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti – in the semi-finals last season before defeating Pep Guardiola’s City in the final in Porto and lifting the Champions League trophy for the second time under Abramovich’s ownership.
With the draw for the semi-finals taking place at the same time, Chelsea and City know they would meet in the last four should they progress, but a Madrid derby is also a possibility.
Having eliminated Manchester United in the last 16, Atletico will return to northwest England on April 5 for a first leg against City, as Guardiola pits wits against Diego Simeone.
Despite suggestions that UEFA would switch the ties to avoid both Real and Atletico being at home in the second leg in the same midweek, City will go to the Wanda Metropolitano for the return leg on April 13, 24 hours after Chelsea play in Madrid.
Favourable draw for Liverpool
Liverpool, the 2019 European champions who are still in contention to win a quadruple this season, will be fancied to get the better of two-time European Cup winners Benfica, with the first leg in Lisbon on April 5.
Benfica are just third in the Portuguese league but they qualified for the last 16 at the expense of Barcelona and then ousted a much-fancied Ajax side.
“I know people will say we are the favourites and stuff like this, but that’s already the first mistake you could make,” said Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, who revealed he was in Lisbon on holiday when offered the Anfield job.
“I was sitting in an outside coffee bar, I got the call and we made the decision actually in Lisbon.”
The winners will face either Bayern or Villarreal in the last four, with the German giants heading to Spain for the first leg against Unai Emery’s side.
Villarreal won last season’s Europa League and reached the Champions League quarter-finals by beating Juventus 3-0 in Turin to go through 4-1 on aggregate. – AFP, March 19, 2022
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