When Chelsea will learn Champions League quarter-final fate as first three possible opponents confirmed

Chelsea are beginning to learn which teams they could face in the Champions League quarter-finals after confirming their place in the last-eight.

Graham Potter’s side progressed on Tuesday night with a 2-1 aggregate win over Borussia Dortmund to keep their European hopes alive this season. Goals from Raheem Sterling and Kai Havertz either side of the half-time interval turned the tie around after a 1-0 defeat in the first leg last month in Germany.

They are hoping to win the competition for a third time after triumphs in 2012 and 2021 over Bayern Munich and Manchester City respectively.

Midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek sees no reason why Chelsea can’t kick on and win the Champions League this season, consequently qualifying for next season’s competition which looks unlikely via the Premier League with Potter’s side currently in 10th place.

‘We’re through to the next round of the Champions League and although we need to transform that into our league form, who is to say we can’t go all the way in Europe?,” Loftus-Cheek said after their win over Dortmund in the English capital.

Chelsea will now await their fate for who they will face in the quarter-finals, with the draw set to take place at 11am (UK) on Friday 17th March 2023 in Nyon, Switzerland. Their route to the final will also be mapped out with the semi-final draw also taking place.

But who could Chelsea face in the last-eight? Three teams have also confirmed their spot in next week’s draw.

Benfica, who Enzo Fernandez joined from in January, knocked out Club Brugge emphatically, while Bayern Munich knocked out PSG despite having Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe at their disposal.

Tottenham Hotspur exited the competition to increase the uncertainty surrounding Antonio Conte’s future at the club. AC Milan held out for a goalless draw in north London to progress with a 1-0 win on aggregate.

The four other ties will take place next week before the quarter-final draw is made, with Chelsea expected to be hoping to avoid the likes of Bayern Munich and then Manchester City and Real Madrid if they clinch progression.

Chelsea’s possible quarter-final opponents

1. Benfica
2. Bayern Munich
3. AC Milan
4. FC Porto or Inter Milan
5. Manchester City or RB Leipzig
6. Napoli or Frankfurt
7. Real Madrid or Liverpool

It will be head coach Graham Potter’s first taste of quarter-final Champions League action. He admitted the Dortmund win was one of is greatest evening’s as a manager.

“To win a game and progress into the last eight of the Champions League, you have to say it’s up there in terms of wins and evenings in my career, for sure,” admitted the 47-year-old.

Potter: added: “Really pleased. The players were tremendous, the supporters were tremendous. You have to be against a team that are doing so well – 10 games on the bounce, winning. But I think over the two games we deserved to go through.

“I think we played a good game in Dortmund but we didn’t score, but today we did. It was a special night.”