José Mourinho will not be returning to Stamford Bridge any time soon after Chelsea avoided his Real Madrid side and were paired with Benfica in the draw for the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Barcelona, however, remain on the horizon in the semi-finals for the Stamford Bridge club should they beat the Portuguese club and the reigning champions of Europe overcome the challenge posed by AC Milan.
Chelsea will be able to call upon the knowledge of two former Benfica players in their ranks, David Luiz and Ramires, and will know just how tough their opponents will be having held Manchester United to draws in both of their meetings in the group stage. The first leg of will be in Portugal on March 27 with the return at Stamford Bridge the following Wednesday.
“It’s a good one for us but it doesn’t matter who you get at this stage,” Ron Gourlay, the Chelsea chief executive, said. “It was important to get the away game first and hopefully we can build the foundation from there. We’re pleased.
“Ramires and David Luiz will know a lot about Benfica - we also know a lot about them because they topped Manchester United’s group.”
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Should the Barclays Premier League’s sole survivors in Europe get the better of Benfica, they would face Barcelona or Milan at Stamford Bridge on April 18, with the return six days later. The two European heavyweights met in the group stage with a 2-2 draw at the Nou Camp and a 3-2 win for the Spanish giants in Italy.
While Gerard Piqué, the Barcelona defender, described it as a “great tie between two big sides”, Umberto Gandini, the Milan director, said: “It’s a game every player dream to play, both teams will be very motivated and we will see the winner of Benfica-Chelsea in the semi-finals!”
Mourinho will be looking to plot the downfall of the surprise package in this season’s competition, Apoel, who have become the first Cypriot club to reach the last eight of the Champions League. The first leg will be in Cyprus and the nine-times champions of Europe are vowing not to take their opponents lightly.
Emilio Butragueño, the Real Madrid director, said: “We have to be extremely respectful. Apoel have reached the quarter-finals, which means they’re a good team. We have to focus on every detail and be alert.”
Real will start as red-hot favourites and Apoel know that they face a Herculean task if their fairytale is to continue. Fivos Erotocritou, the club’s president, described the tie as “something incredible for us and for Cyprus” while Takis Antoniou, a former player and club official, said: “This is a draw we didn’t want. We will do all we can to get a positive result in Nicosia, we can’t talk about our opponents having weaknesses but we also have ability.”
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Apoel vice-president Andis Polydorou added: “The ball is round and we will give it our best shot on the field as we have done before in this competition.”
Should Real Madrid and Barcelona both progress, they can only meet in the final at Munich’s Allianz Arena on May 19. But Butragueño has stressed that the focus is very much on Apoel. “The final is too far away,” he said. “What we have to do is be focused on the next game and try to reach the semi-final, which will be a difficult tie. If we reach the final we will then have time to think about it.”
Marseilles, managed by Didier Deschamps, the former Chelsea player, will take on Bayern Munich in the other quarter-final for the right to take on the winner of Apoel-Real Madrid. While the French club are disappointed that the first leg of their quarter-final will be at home, they are boosted by the fact that they have already beaten German opposition in Borussia Dortmund.
Meanwhile, in the Europa League the conquerors of Manchester City and Manchester United, Sporting Lisbon and Athletic Bilbao are on course to meet in the semi-finals of the competition. Sporting must overcome Metalist Kharkiv while Bilbao have to see off Schalke for the right to fight it out for a place in the final in Bucharest on May 9.
Atletico Madrid will take on Hannover 96 with the first leg in Spain and the winner facing AZ Alkmaar or Valencia in the other semi-final.
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European draws as they happened
12.10pm Europa League semi-final draw
Atletico Madrid/Hannover v AZ Alkmaar/Valencia
Sporting/Metalist Kharkiv v Schalke/Athletic Bilbao
Semi-final first legs to be played on April 19 with the second legs seven days later.
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12.05pm Europa League quarter-final draw
AZ Alkmaar v Valencia
Schalke v Athletic Bilbao
Sporting Libson v Metalist Kharkiv
Atletico Madrid v Hannover 96
Quarter-final first legs to be played on March 29 with the returns on April 5.
11.50am The latest Champions League betting from William Hill:
Barcelona 5/4
Real Madrid 2/1
Bayern Munich 6/1
Chelsea 8/1
AC Milan 14/1
Benfica 40/1
Marseilles 66/1
Apoel 200/1
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11.40am Emilio Butragueño, the Real Madrid director, said of the nine-times champions of Europe drawing Apoel: “We have to be extremely respectful. Apoel have reached the quarter-finals, which means they’re a good team. We have to focus on every detail and be alert. The final is too far away – what we have to do is be focused on the next game and try to reach the semi-final, which will be a difficult tie. If we reach the final we will then have time to think about it.”
11.35am Gerard Piqué, the Barcelona defender, has tweeted: “Milan v FCBarcelona in the quarter-finals of the Champions League!! A great tie between two big sides!”
11.30am More Ron Gourlay, the Chelsea chief executive, after his club were paired with Benfica. He said: “It’s a good one for us but it doesn’t matter who you get at this stage. It was important to get the away game first and hopefully we can build the foundation from there. We’re pleased. Ramires and David Luiz will know a lot about Benfica. We also know a lot about them because they topped Manchester United’s group.”
11.25am Umberto Gandini, the AC Milan director, said of being paired with Barcelona: “At least it will be easy to organise the away game as we have been there recently and we know the place. We faced them in the group stage and the aggregate score was 5-4 so I think it will be balanced. We drew 2-2 there and played well also at home despite losing 3-2, so we have confidence because I think we have also improved since then. It’s a game every player dream to play, both teams will be very motivated and we will see the winner of Benfica-Chelsea in the semi-finals,” he finished with a smile.
11.22am The Times Rory Smith on Twitter: “Benfica really not to be underestimated. Nicolas Gaitan and Javi Garcia both fine players, and Oscar Cardozo a huge threat. Literally.”
11.10am Ron Gourlay, the Chelsea chief executive, said of being paired with Benfica in the quarter-finals: “It’s a good draw for us. It was important to get the away game first”
11.08am So let us just remind you of this morning’s Champions League draws at Uefa headquarters in Nyon:
Quarter-finals:
Apoel v Real Madrid
Marseilles v Bayern Munich
Benfica v Chelsea
AC Milan V Barcelona
Ties to take place on March 27 and 28 with the return legs the following week.
Semi-finals
Marseilles/Bayern Munich v Apoel/Real Madrid
Benfica/Chelsea v AC Milan/Barcelona
The first legs of the semi-finals are scheduled for April 17 and 18 with the second legs on April 24 and 25
11.06am Marseilles, Bayern Munich, Apoel or Real Madrid will be treated as the home team for the Champions League final in Munich on May 19.
11.05am Chelsea, if they beat Benfica, will face either Barcelona or AC Milan for a place in the final.
11.04am Now in the semi-finals it is either Marseilles or Bayern Munich against Apoel or Real Madrid.
11.03am AC Milan are the next club out - and it is Barcelona
11.02am Benfica are the next team drawn out - and it is Chelsea
11.01am Marseilles are out next - and it is Bayern Munich who will be taking on Didier Deschamps men
11.00am First club out are Apoel - they will face Real Madrid at home in the first leg
10.59am We are finally under way!”
10.58am Gianni Infantino, the Uefa general secretary, reminds us that its is an open draw for the quarter-finals, without any seeded teams or contury restrictions.
10.55am Gianni Infantino, the Uefa general secretary, introduces Paul Breitner, the German legend, to the stage, so it will not be much longer until the balls are finally drawn in Nyon.
10.52am We will also learn today who will be declared as the “home” team for the final at Munich’s Allianz Arena on May 19.
10.50am Eight clubs from seven countries go into the draw: AC Milan, Apoel, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Chelsea, Marseilles and Real Madrid.
10.45am The excitement is building as the draws for the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the Champions League are about to begin in Nyon. Who will Chelsea get? The answer is only a few minutes away.
10.40am In addition to coming up against José Mourinho, Chelsea could face another old boy, in Didier Deschamps, if they are paired with the Frenchman’s side, Marseilles.
10.38am Apoel are the big outsiders in the Champions League draw - they are the first Cypriot side to reach the last eight of the competition.
10.35am Back to the Champions League and it is worth a reminder that this is the first season since Arsenal reached the final in 2006, that there is only one Barclays Premier League club through to the last eight of Europe’s premier club competition. Six years ago, Barcelona beat Arsenal in Paris to lift the cup they won again at Wembley last May when they defeated Manchester United.
10.30am Well, Manchester City and Manchester United might have crashed out of the Europa League, but there are still some top sides left in the competition. Athletic Bilbao, Atletico Madrid, AZ Alkmaar, Hannover 96, Metalist Kharkiv, Schalke, Sporting Lisbon and Valencia go into the draws for the quarter-finals and semi-finals. Quarter-final first legs to be played on March 29 with the returns on April 5 and the semi-final first legs to be played on April 19 with the second legs seven days later.
10.25am For more on the Special One and his legacy at Chelsea, take a look at Oliver Kay’s article in The Times today here
10.20am There has been much talk about José Mourinho returning to Stamford Bidge after Chelsea sacked André Villas-Boas. Well, the Real Madrid manager could be doing so depending on what the Champions League draws throw up - Rory Smith has written about Mourinho’s desire to take on Chelsea for the second time having done so two years ago when he was in charge of Inter Milan.
10.15am In the three Champions League draw rehearsals this morning, Chelsea have drawn Barcelona twice and Real Madrid on the other occasion.
10.12am Chelsea and their seven rivals are bidding to reach the final at Munich’s Allianz Arena on May 19. Barcelona, inspired by the likes of Lionel Messi, are bidding to become the first team to retain the Champions League trophy.
10.10am The first legs of the Champions League quarter-finals are scheduled to take place on March 27 and 28 with the return legs the following week. The first legs of the semi-finals are scheduled for April 17 and 18 with the second legs on April 24 and 25
10.05am Following their stunning comeback against Napoli on Wednesday night, Chelsea are in the Champions League draw along with AC Milan, Apoel, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Marseilles and Real Madrid.
10.00am Good morning and welcome to The Times’ coverage of the draws for the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the Champions League and Europa League. The first draw for Champions League kicks off at 10.45, with the Europa League following at 12pm.