English teams dominate draw lineup

There will be a pronounced English flavour to the UEFA Champions League quarter-final draw in Nyon at 12.00CET today with Manchester United FC, Chelsea FC, Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC all making it to the last eight.

Open draw
Holders United, 2-0 aggregate winners against FC Internazionale Milano in the first knockout round, join Chelsea and Liverpool in the hat along with an Arsenal side who needed penalties to oust AS Roma after both legs finished 1-0 to the home team. FC Barcelona and east-coast rivals Villarreal CF are also still involved, although fellow Spanish Liga side Club Atlético de Madrid were knocked out by FC Porto on away goals. FC Bayern München, 12-1 aggregate victors against Sporting Clube de Portugal, complete the eight-team lineup. The draw is open and without country protection.

Stadio Olimpico final
The event at UEFA HQ begins at 12.00CET and will be conducted by UEFA General Secretary David Taylor and the ambassador for the Rome final, Bruno Conti. The quarter-final first legs will be played on 7/8 April and the return matches the following week. The four winning teams will know who they will meet in the semi-finals – taking place on 28/29 April and 5/6 May – as those pairings will also be decided during the draw ceremony. The final will be played on Wednesday 27 May at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome at 20.45CET.