Midday draw for Europe's élite

The draws for the quarter-finals and semi-finals of this year's UEFA Champions League take place in Nyon, Switzerland at 12.00CET on Friday.

Spanish absence
Juventus FC's dramatic victory against Real Madrid CF and Chelsea FC's thrilling elimination of FC Barcelona ensured that no team from the Spanish Primera División is represented in the last eight, for the first time since the competition's inaugural edition 12 years ago. The other Italian teams in the draw are Serie A leaders AC Milan and city rivals FC Internazionale Milano following the Nerazzurri's elimination of the holders FC Porto on Tuesday night.

English duo
Liverpool FC join fellow Premiership side Chelsea in the draw hoping to add to the four times they have won the European Cup. Other previous winners in contention are German Bundesliga giants FC Bayern München, also four times the champions of Europe, and Dutch Eredivisie leaders PSV Eindhoven, winners in 1988 - when their current coach Guus Hiddink was in charge. Olympique Lyonnais are also in contention and look in ominously good form.

Anything possible
It is an open draw, so teams from the same country can face each other from now on, raising the prospect of some exciting 'derbies'. The draw for the last four will also take place along with one to decide which semi-final winner will be the 'home' team in the 25 May final at the Atatürk Olympic stadium in Istanbul, Turkey. The dates for the quarter-final first legs are 5/6 April, with the second legs a week later. The semi-finals are scheduled for 26/27 April and 3/4 May.