By Ayo Fadimu
As the money spinning UEFA Champions league reached quarter final stage, Pep Guardiola’s side, Manchester City will play Athletico Madrid, the team that defeated Cristiano Ronaldo led Manchester United in the round of 16.
Holders Chelsea will face 13-time winners Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Its on record that Chelsea’s coach Thomas Tuchel has not lost any Champions league match against the Madrid giant (W4D2). The highest so far by any Manager against the Les Blanc
Liverpool who won the trophy in 2019 under Jurgen Klopp will tackle Benfica and Bayern Munich take on Villarreal.
In the semi-finals, the winner of the Chelsea v Real Madrid tie will face Atletico Madrid or Manchester City, while Benfica or Liverpool will play either Villarreal or Bayern Munich.
The two-leg quarter-finals take place on 5-6 April and 12-13 April.
The first legs of the semi-finals will be on 26-27 April, and the second legs on 3-4 May.
The Stade de France in Paris will host the final on Saturday, 28 May after it was moved from St Petersburg after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The draw means Chelsea face a reunion with their former manager Carlo Ancelotti, who won the Premier League and FA Cup double during a two-year spell with the Stamford Bridge club between 2009 and 2011.
The Italian is one of only three managers to win the Champions League three times, including with Real in 2014, and returned for a second spell at the Spanish giants last summer after leaving Everton.
Chelsea and Real also met at the semi-final stage last season, with Thomas Tuchel’s side winning 3-1 on aggregate before going on to beat Manchester City in the final.
Atletico Madrid have the chance to complete a Manchester double after being drawn against Pep Guardiola’s City, with Diego Simeone’s side having beaten Manchester United 2-1 on aggregate in the quarter-finals.
Quarter-final draw
Chelsea v Real Madrid
Manchester City v Atletico Madrid
Villarreal v Bayern Munich
Benfica v Liverpool
Semi-final draw
Manchester City or Atletico Madrid v Chelsea or Real Madrid
Benfica or Liverpool v Villarreal or Bayern Munich
