The draw for the quarter-finals of the Champions League gave birth to two posters on Friday March 18 between defending champion Chelsea and Real Madrid, on the one hand, and between Manchester City and Atlético Madrid, on the other. go. The winners of these two shocks will face each other in the semi-final, while the other semi-final will pit the winners of Benfica-Liverpool and Villarreal-Bayern Munich against each other. All quarter-finals are scheduled for April 5 and 6 (go) and April 12 and 13 (return).
The Chelsea-Real Madrid clash will be the pinnacle of the Champions League quarter-finals. The Merengue have an appointment in London with the defending champion on April 5 or 6 for the first leg, before a return match scheduled for April 12 or 13 in Spain. More than a shock, it’s also revenge, after last season’s semi-final, won by Thomas Tuchel’s men, 2-0 at home after a 1-1 draw in the first leg.
Chelsea for the double
Tossed about internally by the sanctions aimed at their Russian owner Roman Abramovich, the Blues are aiming for the double in a particular climate. Restrictions imposed by the British government are likely to complicate their trip to Madrid, as the maximum budget the London team can spend on travel arrangements is now 20,000 pounds, or 24,000 euros…
Antoine Griezmann’s Atlético Madrid, Manchester United and Cristiano Ronaldo scorer in the round of 16, will have a new trip to Manchester on its program, during the first leg against the “Citizens”, still in search of their first coronation after the final lost in 2021.
A final in Paris
Liverpool, winner of the 2019 edition and Bayern Munich, crowned after the “Final 8” of 2020, are relatively spared from this draw: they will face Benfica Lisbon and Villarreal respectively, with the return match at home.
The draw for the semi-finals has also been made: the winner of Manchester City – Atlético will face that of Chelsea – Real Madrid in a dream half and potentially a rematch of the 2021 final, while the other poster could see pit Liverpool against Bayern on April 26-27 and May 3-4.
The final of the event, initially scheduled in Saint Petersburg before being relocated to the Stade de France near Paris in reaction to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, is scheduled for May 28 at the end of the season.
With AFP