The last two champions got the fortunate draws on Friday, if there were fortunate draws to be had when the UEFA Champions League settled their quarterfinal match-ups. Inter Milan was the next-to-last team drawn out of the eight club pot, and with Schalke's get to be putted, the holders got the club everybody saw as the lesser of seven chores. Barcelona, having drawn quarterfinal neophytes Shakhtar Donetsk, got the other targeted match-up, starting their next round at home against Ukraine's champions.
That meant the English Premier League sides all got tough draws, with two of the country's clubs draw against each other. Last year's top two finishers in league and finalists in the 2007-08 tournament will start their tie at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea drawing league-leading Manchester United. And in the first tie drawn on Friday, Real Madrid will have the first leg at home as they welcome Tottenham Hotspur to their first ever Champions League quarterfinal.
The draw also finalized the bracket for the tournament, a process that put Barcelona and Real Madrid on a course to meeting in the semifinals. Should each club move past the quarters, they will meeting the last week or April and the first week of May, creating four match-ups in a three week span: April 16 (league), April 20 (Copa del Rey final), April 26-27 and May 3-4.
In the other half of the draw, the winner of Chelsea-Manchester United will face either Inter Milan or Schalke.
Quarterfinals start April 5-6, with the return legs held one week later.
First team listed hosts the opening leg.
Real Madrid (Spain) vs. Tottenham Hotspur (England)
Barcelona (Spain) vs. Shaktar Donetsk (Ukraine)
Chelsea (England) vs. Manchester United (England)
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UEFA Champions League Draw: Chelsea, Manchester United To Meet In Quarterfinals; Barcelona, Real Madrid On Collision Course For Semis
Mar 18
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