NYON, Switzerland (AP) — Chelsea, reigning Champions League champion, will meet Real Madrid, who has been crowned European champion 13 times, in the quarterfinals of the top continental club competition.
The first match of the draw held on Friday at UEFA headquarters in Switzerland marks the return of Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti to the English team with which he won a league and cup double a year before being fired by then-owner Roman Abramovich.
Abramovich, a Russian billionaire linked to the country's president, Vladimir Putin, ceded control of the club before international sanctions froze his assets following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The three English teams that aspire to conquer the continental center avoided direct confrontations, as did the Spanish teas.
Manchester City will face Atlético Madrid, Liverpool against Portuguese Benfica and Bayern Munich's rival will be Villarreal.
In the semifinals, the winner of the match between City and Atlético will fight Chelsea or Madrid for a ticket to the final, and the same will happen in the other semi, which will face Benfica or Liverpool against Villarreal or Bayern.
Villarreal is the only one still in contention who has never reached the Champions League final.
The first leg of the quarterfinals will be held between 5 and 6 April, and the return will be the following week. The semifinals will be held between 26 April and 4 May, while the final is scheduled for 28 of that month at the Stade de France, just outside Paris.
The French capital replaced the original venue, St. Petersburg, less than a month ago after UEFA stripped the Russian Federation of the right to host the final following the start of Moscow's offensive on Ukraine.