Champions League - Football: Holders Chelsea handed Real test

bet365 News Team Published: Mar 18 2022 17:33

Chelsea's bid to retain their Champions League crown is likely to be significantly tested in the last eight after the Blues were drawn against 13-time European champions Real Madrid.

Friday's draw pitted Real against the Premier League club in the quarter-finals in a mouth-watering two-legged tie that sees Los Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti - who won the Premier League and FA Cup double during a two-year spell at Chelsea between 2009 and 2011 - return to Stamford Bridge for the first leg, before the return clash takes place at the Bernabeu.

Tuchel ready for "big challenge"

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel, who masterminded a semi-final victory over Real in the competition last year, admits it will be a stiff examination of his side's Champions League credentials this time around.

He said: "It is a big challenge and also there's big excitement around this match and fixture. We know what is coming and it will be a tough challenge."

The three remaining Premier League clubs left in the Champions League all avoided each other with Liverpool handed a favourable draw against Portuguese giants Benfica, while Manchester City will take on Man Utd's conquerors, Atletico Madrid, in the last eight.

Liverpool are away for their first leg and City will host Diego Simeone's men at the Etihad first.

The other last-eight tie sees German champions Bayern Munich go up against La Liga side Villarreal with the first leg taking place in Spain.

Blues and Citizens in same half

The pathway for the semi-finals has also been mapped out with the winners of the Chelsea v Real tie going up against either Atleti or City in the last four, while Benfica or Liverpool will play either Villarreal or Bayern.

The Citizens are 15/8 to win the Champions League for the first time, with Liverpool 2/1 and Bayern 3/1 to be crowned kings of Europe.

Chelsea are out at 12/1 in the outright market, while Real are available at 14/1.

The quarter-final first legs take place on the 5th and 6th April and the second legs are scheduled for 12th and 13th April.

Europa League: Hammers face Lyon tie

The Europa League draw has also been made and it features West Ham in their first European quarter-final since 1981.

The Hammers, who are 13/2 to go on and win the trophy, will take on French outfit Lyon, with the first leg at the London Stadium.

Meanwhile, Scottish champions Rangers (16/1) will hope to continue their impressive run in the competition after being drawn against Portuguese side Braga, while Eintracht Frankfurt play Barcelona and RB Leipzig face Atalanta in the other two ties.