The eight teams still standing in this season’s Champions League learned their respective routes to the showpiece match of the competition in Friday’s draw for the quarterfinal and semifinal stages.
The quarterfinal round is headlined by a clash between Chelsea, the reigning champions, and Real Madrid, record 13-time winners of the tournament. The matchup will see the Blues face off against former manager Carlo Ancelotti in a rematch of last season’s semifinal tilt.
Quarterfinal matchups
- Match 1: Chelsea vs. Real Madrid
- Match 2: Manchester City vs. Atletico Madrid
- Match 3: Villarreal vs. Bayern Munich
- Match 4: Benfica vs. Liverpool
The clubs listed first will contest the first leg at home. Quarterfinal first legs take place on April 5 and 6 with the return fixtures slated for April 12 and 13.
Chelsea could yet be forced to play their home leg behind closed doors due to EU sanctions that have been imposed on owner Roman Abramovich.
“It would be a disadvantage,” Chelsea bench boss Thomas Tuchel said. “In general this kind of game is for the spectators and the game changes so much without them so hopefully we find a solution.”
Semifinal matchups
UEFA also filled out the Champions League bracket by teeing up the final four. Should they both win – no small feat considering their quarterfinal opposition – last season’s finalists Chelsea and Manchester City will tangle in the semis this time around.
- Winner of quarterfinal 2 vs. winner of quarterfinal 1
- Winner of quarterfinal 4 vs. winner of quarterfinal 3
The first legs of the semifinals will be played on April 26 and 27 while the decisive second legs take place on May 3 and 4.
The Champions League final is scheduled for May 28 at the Stade de France in Paris.