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Chelsea, Man U to clash in Champions QF

Last updated on: March 18, 2011 19:49 IST

Chelsea have the chance to avenge their shattering penalty shootout defeat to Manchester United in the 2008 final after being drawn to play them in the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Friday.

Favourites Barcelona will face Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine who beat them 3-2 at the Nou Camp in a group stage match two years ago.

Nine-times winners Real Madrid will play Tottenham Hotspur, meaning a return to London for former Chelsea manager and current Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, while holders Inter Milan will meet Schalke 04.

The winners of the Inter/Schalke match will play Chelsea or Manchester United in one semi-final, while Real Madrid will face Barcelona in the other semi if they both win their quarter-final games ruling out the chance of an all-Spanish final.

Fernando TorresThe quarter-final matches will be played on April 5/6 and 12/13 with the semis on April 26/27 and May 3/4 with the final at Wembley Stadium on May 28.

Manchester United's victory over Chelsea in Moscow in the final three years ago was on a night of relentless rain and high drama with the teams battling to a 1-1 draw after extra time.

PENALTY SHOOTOUT

The game then went to penalties, with Chelsea skipper John Terry only needing to convert his to give his side victory but he slipped on the wet surface and missed as his kick hit the outside of the post. United went on to win the shootout 6-5.

Chelsea's former boss Mourinho is bidding to become the first man to win the European Cup with three different clubs following his success with Porto in 2004 and Inter last year.

He guided Real into the last eight for the first time in seven years this week and will welcome the game against Spurs.

The London side, playing in the Champions League for the first time, lost to Real as holders of the UEFA Cup in 1985, their 1-0 defeat being the first time they had lost at home since they began competing in Europe in 1961.

Real director Emilio Butragueno, who played in the Real team who beat Spurs that night, said he was delighted to be going back to White Hart Lane.

"I think it is going to be a fantastic tie, but I am sure it will be difficult for us, Spurs have some great players including Rafael Van der Vaart who used to play for us. I am sure that will inspire him to have a great game."

Barcelona, the overwhelming favourites to lift the European Cup for the second time in three seasons, will be wary about facing Shakhtar who have a good record against them.

They have met six times with the Ukraine side winning twice, including their shock win at the Nou Camp two seasons ago.

Inter and Schalke are also old rivals, having met in the 1997 UEFA Cup final which Schalke won on penalties.

London bookmakers kept Barca as 11/10 favourites, followed by Real Madrid (7/2), Manchester United and Chelsea (7/1), Inter Milan (8/1), Spurs (20/1), Shakhtar Donetsk (33/1) and Schalke (50/1).

The Quarter-final line-up

Real Madrid v Tottenham Hotspur

Chelsea v Manchester United

Barcelona v Shakhtar Donetsk

Inter Milan v Schalke 04

Source: REUTERS
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