Shropshire Star

Champions League: Chelsea-Real Madrid and Man City-Bayern Munich in last eight

Graham Potters’ Blues face holders and record 14-time winners Real Madrid.

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Chelsea and Manchester City were both handed tough Champions League quarter-final ties but will meet in the last four if they advance.

Graham Potter’s Blues face holders and record 14-time winners Real Madrid, managed by former Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti, with the first leg taking place in Spain.

City manager Pep Guardiola will also be returning to an old side after the reigning Premier League champions were drawn against Bayern Munich in Friday’s quarter-final draw – where on-loan City defender Joao Cancelo could face his parent club.

The Etihad Stadium will host the first tie, with unbeaten City aiming to win their first-ever European Cup and on the back of Erling Haaland’s five goals in their 7-0 thrashing of RB Leipzig.

If they are to do so, they may also have to also overcome Chelsea in the semi-final stage in what would be a repeat of the 2021 final in which Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the game for the London club.

The rest of the draw sees a Serie A derby between champions AC Milan and leaders Napoli, while Benfica face Inter Milan, with the other finalists coming from those four teams.

Meanwhile in the Europa League, Manchester United will return to Spain once again having been drawn against Sevilla in the quarter-finals.

Erik ten Hag’s side faced Real Sociedad in the group stages before beating Barcelona in the play-off round and seeing off Real Betis – also based in Seville – in the last-16.

Sevilla have won the competition a record six times but if United can progress they will face a semi-final against either Juventus or Sporting, who beat Arsenal on penalties to reach this stage.

On the other side of the draw, Feyenoord face Roma in a repeat of last season’s Europa Conference League final while Bayer Leverkusen take on Belgium’s Union Saint-Gilloise.

“Back to Seville and they have a very good record, we have to be aware of it,” Ten Hag said upon hearing the result of the draw.

“It is going to be tough because they are really experienced in the Europa League, they won it so many times. I don’t know the team in detail so I have to focus on that.

“I think all the opponents coming to this stage of Europa League, they are strong and you have to play your best football if you want to come through, and it’s definitely the case if you face Sevilla.”

West Ham will face Gent in the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League.

David Moyes’ side are struggling in the Premier League but have enjoyed a fine European campaign and will be aiming to reach a semi-final for the second year running.

The Hammers were eliminated in the last four of the Europa League last season and will face either Anderlecht or AZ Alkmaar if they can get past Gent.

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