Title holders Chelsea to face Real Madrid in Champions League quarter-finals

Liverpool were drawn to play Benfica as all three remaining English clubs were kept apart and Bayern Munich were paired with Spanish side Villarreal.

Chelsea are hoping to defend their title in Europe despite turmoil at the Stamford Bridge club, who were put up for sale after the British government placed Russian owner Roman Abramovich under sanctions in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Thomas Tuchel's team are due to play Real at home in the first leg on April 5 or 6, before the return at the Santiago Bernabeu a week later.

It was reported this week that Chelsea may have to play their next Champions League home ties behind closed doors due to EU sanctions on Abramovich that prevent them from selling tickets.

Chelsea beat Madrid – now coached by ex-Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti – in the semi-finals last season on the way to defeating Pep Guardiola's City in the final in Porto and lifting the Champions League trophy for the second time under Abramovich's ownership.

With the draw for the semi-finals taking place at the same time, Chelsea and City know they will meet each other in the last four should they both progress through their quarter-final ties against Spanish opponents, but a Madrid derby at that stage is also a possibility.

Having eliminated Manchester United in the last 16, Atletico will return to northwest England for the first leg of their tie against City, which sees Guardiola pit his wits against Diego Simeone.

Liverpool, the 2019 European champions who are still in contention to win a quadruple this season, will be hotly fancied to get the better of two-time European Cup winners Benfica, with the first leg of that tie to be played in Lisbon.

Benfica are currently just third in the Portuguese league