TheCable

Chelsea have been handed a herculean task in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) as the Blues were drawn to face Real Madrid.

At the draw held midday on Friday in Nyon, Switzerland, the London-based club was paired with Real Madrid, the current Champions and 14-time winners.

Last season, Chelsea were dumped out of the competition by Real Madrid at the same stage.

The present tie is seen as a herculean task for Chelsea’s floundering side against the rich European pedigree of Real Madrid.

Manchester City and Bayern Munich were also drawn to face each other in the quarter-finals.

Man City, yet to win the UCL, despite spending billions, will be up against a formidable Bayern who eliminated PSG.

Victor Osimhen’s Napoli will face AC Milan in the all-Italian clash of the round, while Inter Milan and Benfica will slug it out for the final semi-final berth.

The first legs of the quarter-finals will take place on April 11 and 12, with the return legs happening on April 18 and 19.

The first and second legs of the semi-finals will thereafter follow on May 9 and 10 and 16 and 17 respectively.

The UCL final will be hosted at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey on June 10.

Champions League quarter-final draw:

• Real Madrid v Chelsea
• Inter Milan v Benfica
• Manchester City v Bayern Munich
• AC Milan v Napoli

Champions League semi-final draw:

• AC Milan or Napoli v Benfica or Inter Milan
• Real Madrid or Chelsea v Manchester City or Bayern Munich