Soccer:Manchester United and Chelsea will face each other in the Champions League quarter-finals after being drawn in a rematch of their 2008 European final. United, who beat the Blues on penalties in Moscow three years ago, will enjoy home advantage in the second leg against the defending English league champions.
Tottenham were handed a glamorous but daunting clash against Real Madrid. However, they will take on the Spanish giants at White Hart Lane in the second match.
Favourites Barcelona, who conquered Arsenal in the last round, were handed one of the two supposedly easier draws and will take on Ukrainians Shakhtar Donetsk while defending champions Inter Milan will face German side Schalke 04.
The semi-finals were also drawn today and the winner of the Chelsea-United clash will meet Inter or Schalke in the last four, with the winning English side at home second. Should Spurs come through against Madrid, they will be at home first against Barca or Shakhtar.
While Chelsea are reigning champions in England, rivals United currently lead them by nine points in the Barclays Premier League and have history on their side in the competition.
The Blues have never won the Champions League, despite owner Roman Abramovich’s best efforts. The closest they came was in Russia in 2008 when United edged them over 120 minutes and penalties, having drawn 1-1 in normal time at the Luzhniki Stadium.
Spurs, winners against AC Milan in the last 16, face a tough task on paper against the record nine-time winners Real Madrid. However, Jose Mourinho’s Spanish aristocrats have not picked up the trophy since 2002 and are regarded as some way short of their rivals Barca on current form.
Champions League quarter-finals draw
Real Madrid v Tottenham
Chelsea v Manchester United
Barcelona v Shakhtar Donetsk
Inter Milan v Schalke
The first legs will be played on April 5th/6th and the returns on April 12th/13th.
Champions League semi-finals draw
Inter Milan/Schalke v Chelsea/Manchester United
Real Madrid/Tottenham v Barcelona/Shakhtar Donetsk
The first legs will be played on April 26th/27th and the returns on May 3rd/4th.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)