Madrid clubs stand in the way of two Premier League teams' Champions League hopes after Chelsea drew Real Madrid and Manchester City landed Atlético in the quarter-final draw.
Liverpool were handed a more straightforward-looking assignment against Benfica, with the first leg in Lisbon, and Villarreal play Bayern Munich in the other tie.
With the semi-final draw also made on Friday, it emerged that the winners of the ties involving the Madrid clubs will face one another for a place in the final, raising the possibility of an all-Premier League or all-Madrid clash.
Chelsea and City play their quarter-final first legs at home. A tie against Real Madrid brings Chelsea, the holders, up against their former manager Carlo Ancelotti, who led his team to victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the previous round.
Atlético will face City having beaten Manchester United in the last 16, a 1-1 draw in Madrid being followed by their 1-0 victory at Old Trafford.
Benfica reached the quarter-finals by knocking out Ajax, a 1-0 win in Amsterdam securing the tie 3-2 on aggregate. Benfica are a distant third in the Portuguese league but are on an eight-game unbeaten run.
The quarter-final first legs are scheduled for 5th-6th April, with the returns a week later.
Champions League quarter-final draw
Chelsea v Real Madrid
Manchester City v Atlético Madrid
Villarreal v Bayern Munich
Benfica v Liverpool
Champions League semi-final draw
Manchester City or Atlético Madrid v Chelsea or Real Madrid
Benfica or Liverpool v Villarreal or Bayern Munich
- Guardian
