Chelsea’s stops are drawn to face 13-time winners Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals.
The three Premier League and three La Liga teams in the last eight have avoided each other, with Manchester City against Atletico Madrid, Liverpool against Benfica while Villarreal play Bayern Munich.
In the other ties, Manchester City takes on Atletico Madrid, Villarreal takes on Bayern Munich and Benfica takes on Liverpool.
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There is the potential for teams from the same national division to advance to the semi-finals, with the winners in the Chelsea / Real Madrid tie against Manchester City or Atletico. Meanwhile, Benfica or Liverpool face Villarreal or Bayern.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti will return to the former club Chelsea for the first leg and Thomas Tuchel described the challenge as “difficult”.
As things stand, Chelsea will have no fans on either side after UEFA said it would impose EU sanctions on Russian owner Roman Abramovich, who has been freezing his assets since announcing he was selling the club. has.
“The challenge can not be higher,” Tuchel told reporters on Friday. “Playing the second stage at the Bernabeu with spectators is a big challenge. We know what’s coming, but there’s a big excitement surrounding this game.
“It’s nice to avoid the English clubs, it’s always nice to play for European teams.”
Asked about the prospect of not having Chelsea fans on both legs, Tuchel added: “Overall, I think this game will change so much with spectators, so hopefully we find a solution and I’m sure everyone at the club, the Board, will fight. For a chance. “
“Hopefully we make it happen somehow.”
Real Madrid, beaten by Chelsea in last season’s semi-final, are 10 points clear at the top of the LaLiga, while Tuchel’s team is third in the Premier League.
Liverpool will consider a clash with Benfica as the best option from the draw and they could even face Premier League title rivals Manchester City in the final in Paris.
The city, however, must get past Atletico Madrid’s significant challenge – a clash that will be a fascinating contrast in style and a tactical battle between Pep Guardiola and Diego Simeone.
It will be the first meeting between the two clubs.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone said he played at City: “Above all, a great admiration for [Pep] Guardiola, and for the work he has done in recent years at City, which is shown game after game. Then there is the tough competition, they are great connections between all teams. We’ll have time to judge the match, now let’s focus on our match against Rayo Vallecano, that’s all I have in my head.
The games will soon be confirmed, but as both Madrid teams were drawn at home in the second leg of the quarter-finals, a tie is expected to be reversed. As Atletico Madrid have qualified as Spanish champions, their tie remains unchanged, while Real Madrid’s match against Chelsea should be reversed and the second leg held at Stamford Bridge. This also happened in 2019, when Manchester City and United were drawn at home, with United transforming its power.
The quarterfinals will take place on April 5th and 6th, and the second leg on April 12th and 13th.
The first semi-finals are on 26 and 27 April, with the return matches on 3 and 4 May.
Champions League Quarterfinal Draw:
Chelsea vs. Real Madrid
Manchester City vs. Atletico Madrid
Villarreal vs. Bayern Munich
Liverpool vs. Benfica
Champions League semi-final draw:
Manchester City or Atletico Madrid against Chelsea or Real Madrid
Liverpool or Benfica against Villarreal or Bayern Munich
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