In a simulated draw conducted by SunSport, Chelsea have landed a horror Champions League quarter-final clash against Manchester City. The remaining eight teams at Europe’s top table were put into a virtual hat, and the Blues were pulled out to face their Premier League rivals. Chelsea fans will no doubt be fearing the worst if tomorrow’s actual draw in Nyon throws up the same result. The Blues have lost their last five matches against City without scoring a single goal, including three times already this season and twice in 2023. Ironically, the Blues’ most recent win over Pep Guardiola’s side came in the 2021 Champions League final.
Chelsea scraped through from their last-16 tie with Borussia Dortmund last week thanks to a controversial and retaken Kai Havertz penalty at Stamford Bridge to secure a 2-1 aggregate win. But City – and in particular Erling Haaland – looked mightily impressive as they swept RB Leipzig aside. After a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Germany, Haaland turned on the style at the Etihad on Tuesday with five goals in 35 minutes during the 7-0 thrashing. The reigning Premier League champs are desperate to end their European hoodoo and finally get their hands on Ol’ Big Ears in Istanbul this June. After their comprehensive dismantling of Leipzig, they are the favourites to go all the way. However, Bayern Munich will certainly take some stopping.
The Bundesliga giants and 2020 Champions League winners saw off Paris Saint-Germain with relative ease in the round of 16. In SunSport’s simulated draw, they take on runaway Serie A leaders Napoli, who proved too strong for Eintracht Frankfurt. Elsewhere, holders Real Madrid – fresh from their 6-2 victory over Liverpool – will take on Benfica in the last eight. Like Los Blancos, Benfica hit Club Brugge for five to make an easy progression. And that leaves AC Milan and Inter Milan to face off in a mammoth all-Italian quarter-final tie.
The Milan rivals are seemingly ready to compete among Europe’s elite again after a long hiatus, having to watch on as Juventus flew the flag for Italy. Bizarrely, the Milan giants dispatched Tottenham and Porto respectively, with 1-0 wins at the San Siro followed by 0-0 draws against ten men in the away return leg. The quarter-final tie between AC Milan and Inter Milan promises to be an exciting encounter.
In conclusion, Chelsea have landed a tough quarter-final clash against Manchester City in SunSport’s simulated draw. The Blues have lost their last five matches against City without scoring a single goal, including three times already this season and twice in 2023. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are looking strong contenders to progress to the semi-finals, while AC Milan and Inter Milan will face off in an all-Italian quarter-final tie. The Champions League quarter-finals promise to be an exciting affair, with some of Europe’s top teams vying for a place in the semi-finals.