AC MIlan face Napoli, Inter play Benfica
Holders Real Madrid were handed a re-match against English Premier League side Chelsea while Manchester City were pitted against German champions Bayern Munich as the draws of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals and semi-finals were held by the European governing body on Friday.
The draw also provided a fascinating Italian derby as Serie A runaway leaders Napoli were pitted against AC Milan.
Inter, the other Italian team in the draw will face Portuguese giants Benfica.
No doubt the clash between Manchester City and Bayern Munich is the pick of Friday’s quarter-finals as it pits against each other two of the best-performing sides in this season’s competition.
In fact, City reached the quarter-finals after thrashing German side RB Leipzig 7-0 in the Last 16 second leg in Manchester with Norwegian striker Erling Haaland netting an impressive five goals.
On the other hand, Bayern Munich provided another statement of intent when they knocked out Paris Saint Germain, of Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi, in the Last 16 without conceding a goal.
Real Madrid, after knocking out last season’s finalists Liverpool in the previous round, face another re-match against an English side when they were drawn to face Chelsea.
Last season, these two teams provided a thrilling quarter-final tie with the Spanish side progressing after extra-time in the return leg in Spain.
The Italian teams will have been delighted to have avoided the competition’s big guns.
Inter were certainly the happiest of the three when they were drawn against Benfica, who are emerging as one of the dark horses of this year’s competition after knocking out Juventus in the group phase.
Milan and Napoli are set for a fascinating tie with the team from Naples looking to continue their fairytale season in Europe and will set their sights on a place in the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time.
Friday’s semi-final draw increased the prospect of having an Italian team in this year’s final in Istanbul as the winner of the tie between Inter and Benfica will face either Milan or Napoli in the last four.
On the other hand, the other semi-final is set to be a cracking prospect as the winner of the tie between Chelsea and Real Madrid will face either Manchester City or Bayern Munich.
