Thursday 20 March 2014

The lineup was completed on Wednesday when Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United FC claimed the last two berths. The latter's round of 16 defeat of Olympiacos FC, recovering after losing 2-0 away with a 3-0 home victory, took them into a first quarter-final since 2011, while last season's runners-up Dortmund progressed despite losing at home to FC Zenit. 
For the second season running, Spain provides three teams in the last eight, with Germany and England each supplying two quarter-finalists and Paris Saint-Germain being France's sole representatives. United and Dortmund's successes also mean that, for the first time in the UEFA Champions League era, all eight group winners have made it into the quarter-finals.
Dortmund and United joined Real Madrid CF and Chelsea FC who won through on Tuesday. Madrid's hopes of a record tenth European Cup remain alive after they ousted FC Schalke 04 while 2012 champions Chelsea overcame Galatasaray AŞ.
Before last term, Paris had not reached the last eight in 18 years but they are now in the draw for the second campaign in a row. Instead it is Club Atlético de Madrid who make a long-awaited return to the quarter-finals, where they last figured in 1996/97. At the other end of the scale holders FC Bayern München, Dortmund, Madrid, Paris and FC Barcelona all contested the 2012/13 last eight.  
The draw will be open, meaning, for example, that Madrid and Barcelona can meet, with the ties to be played on 1/2 and 8/9 April. The semi-final draw follows in Nyon on 11 April, and those games will take place on 22/23 April and 29/30 April. The 2013/14 UEFA Champions League final will be held on Saturday 24 May at Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica, Lisbon.

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