Champions League holders Real Madrid will renew their rivalry with Chelsea in the quarterfinals while Guardiola’s Manchester City will square it off against his former team, Bayern Munich.
It is the third time in a row that Real Madrid faces Chelsea in the Champions League knockout stages. Chelsea beat Madrid on their way to winning the Champions League in 2021, and Madrid doing the reverse last season.
In the other quarterfinal fixtures, there will be an all-Italian derby in the quarter-finals as reining Serie A champions AC Milan face current Serie A leaders Napoli. Inter Milan will be hoping to get past the quarterfinals for the first time since 2010/11 when they face surprise package Benfica.
Home Advantage
Real Madrid, Manchester City, AC Milan, and Benfica will all play the first leg of the quarterfinals at home. Inter Milan had its home fixture reversed as it shares a stadium with AC Milan and will now play the first leg away.
The first legs of the quarter-final matches will take place on April 11 and 12, with the return fixtures arranged a week later on April 18 and 19.
Exciting Semifinal Match-Ups
If Manchester City manages to get past Bayern Munich, they will have to get past either Chelsea or Real Madrid again for the third season run. Pep Guardiola got knocked out in the semis by Real Madrid last season, having lost in the final to Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea in 2021. It’s the only trophy that has eluded him since taking over at the Etihad in 2016.
There’s also the potential of a Milan Derby in the semis if both AC Milan and Inter Milan get past their opponents.
The semi-final first legs are scheduled for May 9 and 10, before the return legs on May 16 and 17.
The Champions League final will take place in Istanbul, Turkey, on June 10.
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