Barca draw Milan, Chelsea face Benfica

Posted Saturday, March 17, 2012 by ESPN

Defending champions Barcelona will face Serie A giants AC Milan in the Champions League quarter-finals following Friday's draw in Nyon.

Barca have lifted the trophy three times in the last six seasons, while Milan have been European champions seven times in total.

The two teams met in the 1993/94 final of the same competition, with Milan running out resounding 4-0 winners.

Real Madrid were given an easier task with a last-eight tie against Cypriot side APOEL Nicosia, while Benfica take on the Premier League's only surviving representatives, Chelsea.

Bayern Munich, who hammered Basle 7-1 on aggregate in the last 16, face a difficult test against Marseille, who knocked out Inter Milan in the last round.

The semi-final draw also took place today and kept alive the prospect of Barca and Real meeting in an 'El Clasico' final.

If Real overcome APOEL, they will face either Marseille or Bayern in the last four.

Barca or Milan will take on the winners of the Benfica-Chelsea match-up.

Despite facing the competition's underdogs in the next round, Real club director Emiliano Butragueno is not prepared to underestimate Apoel.

"We have to be extremely respectful," he told Sky Sports.

"Of course on paper there were stronger teams that Apoel, but it is the quarter-finals and they are a very strong team."

Butragueno also refused to address the prospect of a Real-Barca final.

"The final is too far ahead," he said. "We have to be very focused on the next game and try to reach the semi-finals.

"That will be a difficult tie according to the draw. After that, if we are lucky enough to reach the final then we'll think about it."

Quarter-finals
APOEL vs Real Madrid
Marseille vs Bayern Munich
Benfica vs Chelsea
AC Milan vs Barcelona
- First legs to be played on March 27/28
- Second legs to be played on April 3/4

Semi-finals
Marseille/Bayern Munich vs APOEL/Real Madrid
Benfica/Chelsea vs AC Milan/Barcelona
- First legs to be played on April 17/18
- Second legs to be played on April 24/25