Portuguese given boost in Champions League draw

Quarter-final draw keeps Portuguese players apart

The chances of a Portuguese winning the Champions League this season received a boost after clubs with representatives from Portugal largely avoided each other in this afternoon’s draw for the quarter-finals.

Chelsea’s trio of Portuguese – Ricardo Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira and Hilario – will fancy their chances of progress after being drawn against Turkish champions Fenerbahce, with the second leg to be played in London. If the Blues go through, they will play the winners of an all Premiership tie between Arsenal and Liverpool.

Deco and Barcelona were handed the draw all the clubs wanted, with the ex-Porto man given the opportunity to exact revenge for his former club when the La Liga side meet Germans Schalke. The first leg will be played in Germany, before the tie is settled at the Camp Nou.

What will surely be Barca’s opponents in the second semi-final will come from a re-match of last year’s quarter-final between Manchester United and Roma. Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani will face off against Vitorino Antunes’ side, who were famously hammered 7-1 at Old Trafford last season after a 2-1 home victory in Rome.

Full draw:

Quarter-Finals:
Arsenal vs Liverpool
Fenerbahce vs Chelsea
Schalke vs Barcelona
Roma vs Manchester United

Semi-Finals:
Arsenal/Liverpool vs Fenerbahce/Chelsea
Schalke/Barcelona vs Roma/Manchester United