Thomas Tuchel hopeful of fan attendance as Chelsea draw Real Madrid in Champions League quarter-finals

• Chelsea vs Real Madrid, Manchester City vs Atletico Madrid, Villarreal vs Bayern Munich, Benfica vs Liverpool

• Chelsea fans given hope of attending Champions League quarter-final - provided club is not thrown out first

Thomas Tuchel hopes supporters will be allowed to watch Chelsea’s tie with Real Madrid after being drawn against the 13-time European champions in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

With Roman Abramovich under sanctions from the UK Government over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, there is uncertainty over whether Chelsea will be allowed to sell tickets for Uefa games.

Chelsea were drawn against Real and, should they win, will face Manchester City or Atletico Madrid. Pep Guardiola’s team will play against the La Liga champions who defeated Manchester United in the last 16.

Liverpool have been given a favourable draw with Benfica in the quarters, with Bayern Munich or Villarreal awaiting them if they progress to the last four. But it was Chelsea who were handed the glamour tie against their former manager Carlo Ancelotti.

“It’s a tough one. The challenge cannot be much higher than playing the second leg at the Bernabeu with spectators but it is a big excitement around this fixture. We know what it coming,” said Tuchel.

“It is always nice for European nights to play teams at this stage that are not the teams you play so many times in domestic competitions.”

On facing Real without fans at Stamford Bridge, Tuchel added: “It would be a disadvantage. In general this game is for the spectators and the game changes so much with spectators so hopefully we will find solutions and I’m pretty sure everyone at the club will fight for a chance.

“I’m not sure how big the possibility is but any game needs spectators and hopefully we can make it happen.”

The quarter-final first legs are set to be played on Apr 5 and 6, with the second leg the following week.

Meanwhile, Bayern are wary of facing Villarreal, despite looking like a good draw for the Germans. Unai Emery’s team shocked Juventus in the last round to earn their place in the last eight.

"I played at Juventus and know how difficult it is to get a 3-0 victory there,” said Hasan Salihamidžić, Bayern Sporting Director. “We are up against a good team and should not underestimate this challenge. But we are Bayern and we will travel there with a lot of confidence."

Champions League quarter-final draw verdict

By Jason Burt

Chelsea vs Real Madrid

No fans at Stamford Bridge as it stands – but then Chelsea knocked out Real in the semi-finals behind closed doors last season. It is a reunion with Carlo Ancelotti who has Karim Benzema in the form of his life at 34 so the danger is obvious.

But Chelsea, who are unbeaten in their last five meetings with Real, will defensively be too strong and should go through.

Winner: Chelsea

Manchester City vs Atletico Madrid

Atletico remain a side in transition. They rolled back the years defensively against Manchester United but City are a whole different kind of proposition. The Spanish champions can never be dismissed, not with Diego Simeone in charge and with Joao Felix finally justifying his transfer fee (a little).

Although this is City’s first fixture against Atletico, Pep Guardiola has bad memories of previous meetings when at Bayern Munich. But it would be a huge shock if City are eliminated.

Winner: Manchester City

Villarreal vs Bayern Munich

Unai Emery should never be underestimated in a cup competition. Just ask Juventus who were beaten 3-0 at home in the result of the week. So Villarreal were already the dangerous outliers in the last eight. Bayern were less than convincing in the first leg against RB Salzburg but blew them away in the return. They have defensive injuries and it may be tighter than expected but Bayern are undoubtedly the favourites.

Winner: Bayern Munich

Benfica vs Liverpool

A chance for English fans to have a look at the much-coveted Benfica striker Darwin Nunez who will undoubtedly carry a threat and starred against Ajax in the last round, although it would be a major surprise if they eliminate Liverpool especially with the second leg at Anfield. In truth, it is the draw that Jurgen Klopp would have wanted if it had been his choice.

Winner: Liverpool

Champions League quarter-final and semi-final draw: as it happened

12:04 PM

That's all for now

... but we'll have plenty more reaction and analysis on the draw to come, so follow us on Twitter and Facebook to stay tuned.

12:02 PM

A historic first

As we pointed out earlier, this will be the first ever meeting between City and Atletico in European competition.

Here's another ominous stat: Pep Guardiola was eliminated from the Champions League in his last meeting with Atletico, with his Bayern Munich side knocked out on away goals by Diego Simeone's men in 2015-16.

11:58 AM

Interesting stats

Did you know that Liverpool have faced Benfica eight times previously in the European Cup and Champions League, meaning that the Reds have only played more matches against Chelsea in the competition's history?

No, us neither, so thanks to Stats Perform for the update. Here's a slightly more ominous stat for Jurgen Klopp: Liverpool have lost four of their last five meetings with Benfica in European competition, including both legs of the 2005-06 Champions League last 16.

11:38 AM

UEFA statement on Chelsea

Here's the latest from our very own Ben Rumsby on UEFA's response to the ongoing crisis at Chelsea, following the government's decision to freeze Roman Abramovich's UK assets.

In a statement, UEFA have said: "We are in contact with Chelsea to clarify all aspects related to the upcoming match."

11:19 AM

As for the final

... the winners of semi-final one will, technically, be the home side.

11:18 AM

Second semi-final

... will see either Benfica or Liverpool take on either Villarreal or Bayern.

11:17 AM

Semi-finals up next

The winners of quarter-final two will face the winners of quarter-final one, meaning that either Manchester City or Atletico Madrid will play either Chelsea or Real Madrid.

11:14 AM

Benfica are drawn next

And they will be at home to Liverpool.

Benfica vs Liverpool is the fourth and final Champions League quarter-final.

11:13 AM

Villarreal will face...

Bayern Munich.

Villarreal vs Bayern Munich is the third fixture.

11:13 AM

Next out...

... is Villarreal.

11:12 AM

City will face....

Atletico Madrid.

Manchester City vs Atletico Madrid is the second fixture.

11:11 AM

Next is...

Manchester City.

They will also be at home in the first leg.

11:10 AM

Chelsea will play...

Real Madrid.

Chelsea vs Real Madrid is the first fixture.

11:10 AM

The first ball is out...

It is Chelsea!

The reigning champions will play their first leg at home.

11:09 AM

Mikael Silvestre will be today’s disinterested former pro

... and he looks suitably delighted (read: baffled) to be here.

11:01 AM

Here we go

Host Pedro Pinto is looking sharp in his snazzy blue suit and, as predicted, here comes the preamble...

10:56 AM

Just under five minutes to go

... until the draw begins but, again, we'll have a series of montages, strained reminiscences and robotic patter to get through before the plastic balls come into play.

10:54 AM

A reminder of the eight teams in the draw

Liverpool, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Villarreal, Atletico, Bayern, Benfica, Chelsea.

10:44 AM

Extremely self-indulgent preamble expected

There's always a delay between the start of the draw and the outcome as UEFA blows its own trumpet, so hold tight.

10:37 AM

More tastefully printed team names because, why not?

... that's bone.

10:33 AM

A little under half an hour to go

The excitement in Nyon is palpable. Probably.

10:33 AM

Potential first ever European ties

Villarreal have never met Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, while Manchester City are yet to face Atletico or Benfica in European competition.

That means we could have an unprecedented European fixture on our hands once the draw is concluded.

10:29 AM

A reminder of last-16 results

If you need a refresher on how, exactly, our quarter-finalists got to this stage, here are the last-16 results in full:

• Bayern beat Red Bull Salzburg 8-2 on aggregate (first leg 1-1, second leg 7-1)

• Liverpool beat Inter Milan 2-1 on aggregate (first leg 0-2, second leg 1-0)

• Manchester City beat Sporting CP 5-0 on aggregate (first leg 0-5, second leg 0-0)

• Real Madrid beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-2 on aggregate (first leg 1-0, second leg 3-1)

• Atletico Madrid beat Manchester United 2-1 on aggregate (first leg 1-1, second leg 0-1)

• Benfica beat Ajax 3-2 on aggregate (first leg 2-2, second leg 0-1)

• Villarreal beat Juventus 4-1 on aggregate (first leg 1-1, second leg 0-3)

• Chelsea beat Lille 4-1 on aggregate (first leg 2-0, second leg 1-2)

10:20 AM

Any ties you'd particularly like to see?

Feel free to comment below with your reasons, if so.

10:14 AM

Look at that subtle off-white colouring

... the tasteful thickness of it. Oh my God, it even has a watermark.

(For the American Psycho fans in the house.)

10:08 AM

A reminder of timings

Here's when today's draws will be taking place, with the Europa League and Europa Conference League to follow.

09:46 AM

Premier League teams await their fate

With the Champions League round of 16 done and dusted, it's time for the quarter-final and semi-final draws.

That means taking a (digital) trip to the grandiose House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland, where Uefa are headquartered. It also means a bowl full of rattling plastic balls, suited football dignitaries with rictus grins and at least one indifferent former pro to do the honours, making it one of the game's most enduringly surreal rituals.

The eight teams in the quarter-finals are Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Villarreal. There will be no Italian representative at this stage for the second season running and no French representative for the third time in the last five seasons, which is a pretty bad run given that there was at least one in the previous six.

The draw will plot each team's potential route to the final, while there will also be a draw to allocate the 'home' team for the decider at the Stade de France for procedural reasons.

The quarter finals will commence on Tuesday April 5 and Wednesday April 6, with the second legs the following week. The semi-final first legs will be held on April 26 and 27, with the second legs on May 3 and 4, before the grand finale on May 28.

The quarter-final and semi-final draws are open, meaning teams from the same country could feasibly be thrown together. The first team drawn plays the first leg at home, with the second team hosting the second leg.

Manchester City, Liverpool and Bayern Munich are the favourites but, despite their ongoing crisis off the field, it would be remiss to dismiss holders Chelsea. While Real Madrid are not quite as formidable as they were during their golden years under the management of Zinedine Zidane, they will fancy themselves to secure a record 14th European title.

Atletico Madrid, Benfica and Villarreal look like outsiders but, having beaten Manchester United, Ajax and Juventus respectively in the last 16, each of them is capable of springing a nasty surprise on an unwary opponent. Let's get those plastic balls rattling, then, and find out which sides will be slugging it out for a shot at European glory.