The draw of the Champions League quarterfinals this Friday determined two attractive Anglo-Spanish duels, with Chelsea (defender of the title) against Real Madrid and Manchester City against Atlético de Madrid.
The winners of these two qualifiers will then be rivals in the semifinals, as was also decided by the draw held in Nyon (Switzerland), while the other Champions League semi-final will measure the winners of the other two quarter-finalsBenfica-Liverpool and Villarreal-Bayern Munich.
The first leg of the rooms is scheduled for April 5 and 6while the return will take place a week later, on the 12th and 13th of the same month.
The Chelsea-Real Madrid pulse, first in the British capital and then in Spain, is presented as the star tie of the quarterfinals.
It will measure the current champion with the club that has the record for European champion titles, with thirteen.
It will also be a repeat of last season’s semifinal that the Chelsea won, drawing 1-1 in the first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid and then winning 2-0 in the second leg at Stamford Bridge in London.
This time the order of the matches will be reversed, with the English being first locals and then visitors.
Chelsea is going through a very difficult internal moment, hit by sanctions against its Russian owner, Roman Abramovichdue to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Those penalties could complicate his trip to Madrid, as the maximum budget the London team can spend to organize his trip is currently set at 20,000 pounds (24,000 euros, $26,500).
Atlético de Madrid, executioner in the second round of Manchester United Cristiano Ronaldowill have to play in the quarterfinals against the other great Manchester club, City, with the first game in England.
Manchester City, finalists of the tournament last season, continue to search for their first title in the star competition of European club football.
Liverpool and Bayern Munichboth six-time European champions, initially avoided the greatest dangers and will face Benfica and Villarreal, respectively, also playing the second leg of the quarterfinals at their stadiums.
The 2021-2022 Champions League final, initially scheduled for Saint Petersburg (Russia), was transferred to the Stade de France in Paris and will be held on May 28.
Quarter-final schedule (first legs: April 5 and 6; second legs: April 12 and 13):
- Benfica (BY) – Liverpool (ENG)
- Chelsea (ENG) – Real Madrid (ESP)
- Manchester City (ENG)- Atletico Madrid (ESP)
- Villarreal (ESP) – Bayern Munich (GER)
. Semi-final program (first legs: April 26 and 27; second legs: May 3 and 4):
- Manchester City or Atletico Madrid – Chelsea or Real Madrid
- Benfica or Liverpool – Villarreal or Bayern Munich
Final: Saturday May 28 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis (France). (D)
Source: Eluniverso
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