toptop



18 March 2022

CL QF Draw: Chelsea Face Real, Man City Take On Atletico  (Sky Sports)

Champions League playersHolders Chelsea will play Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals, while Manchester City have been drawn against Atletico Madrid.

Liverpool, who beat Italian champions Inter Milan to progress from the last 16, will face Portuguese side Benfica.

The other quarter-final tie sees Spanish side Villarreal, last season's Europa League winners, take on Bayern Munich after shocking Juventus in the last 16.

Manchester City will face Chelsea in the semi-final if both sides are successful in the quarters - which would be a repeat of last season's final in Porto.

Chelsea overcame Real Madrid in last season's semi-final, beating the 13-time winners of this competition 3-1 on aggregate, and will be looking to do the same this time out in the quarters.

"It's a tough one," said Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel. "The challenge couldn't be much higher, playing the second leg in the Bernabeu with spectators. It's a big challenge and a big excitement around this match and this fixture. We know what's coming and it will be an exciting match and a tough challenge."

City take on Atletico, who proved to be too much for Manchester United in the previous round, after easing past Portuguese champions Sporting Lisbon with a 5-0 aggregate score over two legs.

Pep Guardiola has not faced Atletico since becoming City manager, but was frustrated by Diego Simeone's side in the semi-final of this competition in 2016 when in charge of Bayern Munich, as the La Liga champions progressed to the final on away goals despite the Germans dominating possession.

On the Atletico tie, Guardiola said: "They went through an incredibly tough group stage and in the game against United, over 180 minutes, they were better. In the game in Madrid they were fantastic first half.

"They are what they are. You play, you try to impose your game but it's difficult (against them)."

Both of Liverpool and Manchester City's first-leg clashes will take place on Tuesday April 5, with the return legs eight days later. That means the epic Super Sunday title showdown between the two teams will remain on Sunday April 10, kick-off 4.30pm live on Sky Sports.

The semi-finals will then be played on Tuesday April 26 and Wednesday April 27 with the second legs on May 3 and 4.

Real Madrid - Chelsea's opponents

The Champions League holders take on the kings of the competition in the quarter-finals.

Real Madrid have been crowned continental champions on a record 13 occasions, currently sit atop of LaLiga and secured this tie by knocking out star-studded Paris St Germain in stunning fashion.

Having lost 1-0 in France and gone down further to another Kylian Mbappe goal in the second leg, Karim Benzema's hat-trick secured a remarkable comeback and 3-2 aggregate triumph.

Atletico Madrid - Man City's opponents

The three-time competition runners-up return to Manchester for a fascinating clash against Manchester City in the final eight.

Diego Simeone's men won La Liga last season but have long since been out of the title race this time around, although they have picked up form of late and managed to knock out Manchester United in the last 16.

Wily, well-drilled Atleti followed up a 1-1 first-leg draw in Spain by securing a 1-0 win at Old Trafford on Tuesday as the hosts were stifled.

Benfica - Liverpool's opponents

Having surprisingly emerged from a group including Bayern Munich and Barcelona, caretaker boss Nelson Verissimo masterminded a memorable last-16 win against Ajax.

The sides drew 2-2 in the first leg in Lisbon and Benfica dug deep in Amsterdam to eke out a 1-0 triumph through Darwin Nunez's late header.

The Uruguay international is the star of a side enjoying a fine Champions League run during a season when their Primeira Liga hopes are already over.

Champions League quarter-final draw

Chelsea vs Real Madrid

Manchester City vs Atletico Madrid

Villarreal vs Bayern Munich

Benfica vs Liverpool

Champions League semi-final draw

Manchester City or Atletico Madrid vs Chelsea or Real Madrid

Benfica or Liverpool vs Villarreal or Bayern Munich

Liverpool's fixture schedule:

March 20 - Nottingham Forest (a) FA Cup QF

April 2 - Watford (H) Premier League

April 5 - Benfica (a) Champions League QF first leg

April 10 - Man City (a) Premier League, live on Sky Sports

April 13 - Benfica (H) Champions League QF second leg

April 16 - Aston Villa (a) Premier League, live on Sky Sports / *FA Cup semi-finals

April 19 - Man United (H) Premier League, live on Sky Sports

April 24 - Everton (H) Premier League, live on Sky Sports

April 26/27 - Villarreal/Bayern Munich Champions League SF first leg

April 30 - Newcastle (a) Premier League

May 3/4 - Villarreal/Bayern Munich Champions League SF second leg

May 7 - Tottenham (H) Premier League

May 14 - FA Cup final

May 15 - Southampton (a) Premier League

May 22 - Wolves (H) Premier League

May 28 - Champions League final

Manchester City's fixture schedule:

March 20 - Southampton (a) FA Cup QF

April 2 - Burnley (a) Premier League

April 5 - Atletico Madrid (H) Champions League QF first leg

April 10 - Liverpool (H) Premier League, live on Sky Sports

April 13 - Atletico Madrid (a) Champions League QF second leg

April 16 - FA Cup semi-finals

April 17 - Wolves (a) Premier League, live on Sky Sports

April 20 - Brighton (H) Premier League, live on Sky Sports

April 23 - Watford (H) Premier League

April 26/27 - Chelsea/Real Madrid Champions League SF first leg

April 30 - Leeds (a) Premier League, live on Sky Sports

May 3/4 - Chelsea/Real Madrid Champions League SF second leg

May 7 - Newcastle (H) Premier League

May 14 - FA Cup final

May 15 - West Ham (a) Premier League

May 22 - Aston Villa (H) Premier League

May 28 - Champions League final

Chelsea's fixture schedule:

tba Leicester (H) Premier League

March 19 - Middlesbrough (a) FA Cup QF

April 2 - Brentford (H) Premier League

April 6 - Real Madrid (H) Champions League QF first leg

April 9 - Southampton (a) Premier League

April 13 - Real Madrid (a) Champions League QF second leg

April 16 - FA Cup semi-finals

April 17 - Leeds (a) Premier League, live on Sky Sports

April 20 - Arsenal (H) Premier League, live on Sky Sports

April 24 - West Ham (H) Premier League, live on Sky Sports

April 26/27 - Man City/Atletico Champions League SF first leg

May 1 - Everton (a) Premier League, live on Sky Sports

May 3/4 - Man City/Atletico Champions League SF second leg

May 7 - Wolves (H) Premier League

May 14 - FA Cup final

May 15 - Man United (a) Premier League

May 22 - Watford (H) Premier League

May 28 - Champions League final