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By Amaechi Agbo

2021 winners, Chelsea will face holders Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League while Manchester City will face Bayern Munich according to fixtures released Friday

Chelsea and Manchester City have been handed fiercely tough routes towards the Champions League final in Istanbul following the draw for the last eight.

Graham Potter’s side saw off Borussia Dortmund to reach the last eight, while Madrid – managed by former Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti – beat Liverpool.

Manchester City, who are unbeaten in this season’s competition, were drawn against manager Pep Guardiola’s former club Bayern Munich.

If both Chelsea and City progress, they will meet in the semi-final – a repeat of the 2021 final which Chelsea won 1-0.

The rest of the draw sees Benfica face Inter and a Serie A derby between AC Milan and Napoli.

Graham Potter’s Chelsea have improved recently but they will be firm underdogs against holders Real Madrid, who disposed of Liverpool with ease in the last 16, led by former manager Carlo Ancelotti, the only man to win the tournament four times.

Manchester City, seeking their first Champions League crown, will be favourites against Bayern Munich but the Bundesliga champions have such a rich history in the tournament and proved their pedigree by knocking out Paris St Germain. They can never be under-estimated.

Bayern also have fit-again former Liverpool striker Sadio Mane, who was a constant thorn in the side of City and manager Pep Guardiola during a stellar career at Anfield, which included a Champions League win and two losses in the final.

And with the semi-final draw also made, there is now the possibility of an all-English semi-final should Chelsea and City progress – but for now both Potter and Guardiola know they must navigate a way past two giants of the Champions League who will both be filled with belief they can overcome the Premier League duo.

Chelsea began this season’s Champions League journey in Group E with AC Milan, Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb.

The Blues topped the group and were then drawn against Borussia Dortmund in the round of 16.

They fought back from losing the first leg 1-0 to beat Dortmund 2-1 on aggregate.

Their league form has been underwhelming, but could they reclaim the Champions League for the second time in two years?

Manchester City began this season’s Champions League journey in Group G with Borussia Dortmund, Sevilla and Copenhagen.

City topped their group and were then drawn against RB Leipzig in the round of 16.

They drew the first leg 1-1 before demolishing their German opponents 8-1 on aggregate.

Will Erling Haaland make enough of a difference to help Man City win their first Champions League?

UEFA have confirmed if AC Milan and Inter are both drawn at home for the same leg of their quarter-final, the Inter tie will be reversed.

AC Milan have priority as they were last season’s Serie A winners.

The first legs of the quarter-finals will be played Tuesday April 11 and Wednesday April 12.

The second legs will be played Tuesday April 18 and Wednesday April 19.