2021-22-champions-league-europa-league-quarter-final-semi-final-draw-live-updates

And that's all the Champions League has got for you. But for those keenly interested in football and bored of watching the super-elite taking on the super-elite in what is nothing more than a show of throwing money about, then switch over.

That's right, move to the next tab, marked "EUROPA LEAGUE KNOCKOUT STAGES DRAW", and witness greatness. Great football, great entertainment and an equally brilliant theme song.

The quarter-finals are set! ✔️

What's your reaction to the draw?#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/Je3NQHabuy

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 18, 2022

Think it’s fair to say that was a kinder draw for Liverpool than Manchester City and Chelsea.

City could potentially have to beat Chelsea and Liverpool to win the UCL. Liverpool would avoid English teams on route to the final but a potential SF with Bayern Munich.

— Emma Sanders (@em_sandy) March 18, 2022

Well, any thoughts?

Benfica vs Liverpool might look like an easy one on paper and it might actually be an easy one for the Reds but Benfica have shown that they can shock sides. Barcelona and Ajax have already learnt that the hard hard way but Jurgen Klopp shouldn't have a hard time.

Thomas Tuchel and Unai Emery most definitely will have a tough time against Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid and Julian Nagelsmann's Bayern Munich. Two tough tough ties but the tie of the round has to be Manchester City vs Atletico Madrid.

About as tasty as a football game can get.

A potential Madrid derby or repeat of last season’s final in the Champions League semi-final and then maybe Bayern Munich v Liverpool, those semi-finals are very very nice #UCLdraw

— Josh Bunting (@Buntingfootball) March 18, 2022

Remember - that was the faulty draw. The actual one will take place in a couple of hours.

— Sachin Nakrani (@SachinNakrani) March 18, 2022

Eden Hazard's Chelsea career by numbers:

◉ 352 games
◉ 110 goals
◉ 81 assists
◉ 6 trophies

And now he’s heading back to Stamford Bridge with Real Madrid. #UCLDraw pic.twitter.com/C0wiiVCiqT

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) March 18, 2022

UEFA Deputy Sec General Giorgio Marchetti starts CL draw by repeating call for peace in Ukraine.

— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) March 18, 2022

After all these years it's Mikaël Silvestre doing favours for Liverpool

— Grace Robertson 🏳️‍⚧️ (@GraceOnFootball) March 18, 2022

It’s possible that we may witness a Man City vs Liverpool #UCL final… pic.twitter.com/lZB0djXjo3

— ODDSbible (@ODDSbible) March 18, 2022

Final:

Semi-final 2: Winners of quarter-final 4 (Benfica vs Liverpool) vs Winners of quarter-final 3 (Villarreal vs Bayern Munich) 

vs

Semi-final 1: Winners of quarter-final 2 (Manchester City vs Atletico Madrid) vs Winners of quarter-final 1 (Chelsea vs Real Madrid)

FINALLY....WINNERS OF SEMI-FINAL 2 VS WINNERS OF SEMI-FINAL 1!!

Semi-final 1: Winners of quarter-final 2 (Manchester City vs Atletico Madrid) vs Winners of quarter-final 1 (Chelsea vs Real Madrid)

Semi-final 2: Winners of quarter-final 4 (Benfica vs Liverpool) vs Winners of quarter-final 3 (Villarreal vs Bayern Munich)

NEXT UP IS....WINNERS OF QUARTER-FINAL 4!!!

And they will face....WINNERS OF QUARTER-FINAL 3!!!

This is semi-final 2.

FIRST UP IS...WINNERS OF QUARTER-FINAL 2!!

AND THEY WILL FACE...WINNERS OF QUARTER-FINAL 1!!

This is semi-final 1.

Sire Giorgio Marchetti now explains how they have to draw everything, which means we go again.

Quarter-final 1: Chelsea vs Real Madrid

Quarter-final 2: Manchester City vs Atletico Madrid

Quarter-final 3: Villarreal vs Bayern Munich

Quarter-final 4: Benfica vs Liverpool

THE FOURTH AND FINAL DRAW IS...BENFICA!!!

AND THEY WILL FACE.....LIVERPOOL!!!

This is quarter-final 4.

THIRD TO BAT IS.....VILLARREAL!!!

AND THEY WILL FACE....BAYERN MUNICH!!

This is quarter-final 3.

SECOND TO THE STAND IS......MANCHESTER CITY!!!

AND THEY WILL FACE.....ATLETICO MADRID!!!

This is quarter-final 2.

FIRST UP IS.........CHELSEA FC!!!

AND THEY WILL FACE..........REAL MADRID!!

This is quarter-final 1.

Sire Marchetti now tells us about the draw, how it will take place and the various rules.

Asking former Inter Milan, Manchester United and Arsenal defender Mikaël Silvestre to conduct the Champions League last-16 draw is curious to say the least.

— Sachin Nakrani (@SachinNakrani) March 18, 2022

Giorgio Marchetti welcomes Mikael Silvestre to the stage to help out with the draw.

The former Manchester United and France defender won four Premier League titles, a Champions League crown and a couple of Confederation Cups with Les Blues.

Pedro Pinto welcomes Giorgio Marchetti to the stage and he will do something?

Nope, instead, the UEFA deputy secretary general has a lot to say and then echos the statement that has been floating around the world; aka peace all over aka no war in Ukraine and in some weird way, a solidarity with Ukraine.

As the compilation rolls on, here are the dates for the quarter-finals and semi-finals:

Quarter-finals

First legs: 5/6 April. Second legs: 12/13 April

Semi-finals

First legs: 26/27 April. Second legs: 3/4 May

Final

Saturday 28 May (Stade de France, Paris)

And we're offf.. 

Not really, Pedro Pinto introduces things, is happy that there are delegations from each club in Nyon and reminds us how exciting the tournament is.

Then.....we get a compilation of all the teams and what they've done so far, because UEFA.

Here are the 8 teams:

Atlético (ESP), Bayern (GER), Benfica (POR), Chelsea (ENG), Liverpool (ENG), Manchester City (ENG), Real Madrid (ESP) and Villarreal (ESP).

Well, the rules have gone out the window.

This draw will essentially determine the tie for the quarter-finals and semi-finals. Plus there will also be a draw will also be held to determine the 'home' team for the final, for kicks.  

This is not like the Round of 16 draw and thus it is open which means that there is no seeding or country protection. Anyone can play anyone and the team drawn first plays its first game at home against the second team drawn.

And, THERE ARE NO AWAY GOALS. Let me repeat that. THE AWAY GOALS RULE IS GONE.

DIE MEISTER. DIE BESTEN. LES GRANDES EQUIPES. THE CHAMPIONSSSS.

Hello one, hello all and welcome to the Champions League quarter-final and semi-finals draw. It should be a cracking contest and not one that is stretched out over a few years or so. But since this is UEFA and nobody loves stand-on ceremony like them, it will be dragged out.

So sit back and enjoy the ride because this only happens like four times a year.