Graham Potter’s Chelsea will play Champions League defending champions Real Madrid in the quarterfinals, while Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City will face a meeting with Bayern Munich. If Chelsea and City both win their remaining matches in the round of eight, they will face each other in the semifinal. In the quarterfinals of the opposing bracket, AC Milan, the defending Serie A champion, will play Napoli, who are currently leading the league, and Inter Milan will play Benfica in an all-Italian derby.
Champions League quarterfinal draws:
- Real Madrid vs Chelsea
- Benfica vs Inter Milan
- Manchester City vs Bayern Munich
- AC Milan vs Napoli
Champions League semifinal draw:
- AC Milan or Napoli vs Benfica or Inter Milan
- Real Madrid or Chelsea vs Manchester City or Bayern Munich
Joao Cancelo’s situation remains interesting with the prospect of his current club and parent clubs clashing
The quarterfinals’ first legs will be played on April 11 and 12, while the second legs will be played on April 18 and 19. Chelsea defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-1 overall in their last-16 match, but they still have a tough challenge ahead of them to go through holders Real. The Blues lost to Real at the same stage of the Champions League last season, losing the first leg 3-1 at Stamford Bridge before giving it their all in the return match at the Santiago Bernabeu. Under Thomas Tuchel’s management, Chelsea led the game 3-0 but lost 5-4 on aggregate after goals from Rodrygo and Karim Benzema, the latter of which came in extra time.
Guardiola’s old team Bayern, with whom he won seven major championships between 2013 and 2016, including three Bundesliga crowns, will be a familiar opponent for Man City manager Guardiola. Joao Cancelo, who has joined Bayern on loan with the option to make a move permanent for about £60 million, is another player who links City and Bayern. He will be able to compete against his original club.
Ultimately, everything depends on the loan agreement and whether Man City has included a clause that forbids Cancelo from playing against them since he went on loan to Bayern Munich in January. If so, Joao Cancelo would have to skip their encounter if their Champions League opponents. The right-back could play in the tie, though, if there is no such clause.
Should Chelsea and City advance to the Champions League final four, there will be six matches between the two teams this season. Earlier this season, the third rounds of the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup pitted both Premier League clubs against one another.
Here’s how fans reacted to the full draws:
Might be the worst champions league season of all time, nobody cares about these teams
— El Dylano ? (@Ddm195) March 17, 2023
It’s always the same draws. Chelsea Madrid 3 years in a row
— Kevin (@KD__14) March 17, 2023
Har baar ka same hai inka
— Cricket Fan 07 (@Manas_pr_sharma) March 17, 2023
Chelsea facing Real madrid for the third consecutive time???? pic.twitter.com/7Dq8vaJZfD
— ima.robot (@RutoDickens) March 17, 2023
It all makes sense now. Cancelo scoring two own goals is in the script pic.twitter.com/aWI4jNnTcI
— Etornam 🙂 (@EToR_NAAM) March 17, 2023
Man city vs Bayern finally life's good. Chelsea should forfeit that match against Madrid already pic.twitter.com/BN5Iks8Nz0
— BABA YAGA? (@victor_obiagor) March 17, 2023
Real Madrid
Inter
Bayern
MilanEuropean football heritage will be back in semifinal ??
— Samuel Ferky Ferisals (akun resmi tanpa centang) (@SamFerkyFers10) March 17, 2023
Okay why isnt osimhen on this cover??
— adriane kiberu ? (@_adriane_k_21) March 17, 2023
