From Friday at noon, Real Madrid will discover the path it must follow to reach the 2022-2023 Champions League final and defend the title in 2023. The venue is the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, with proceedings set for June 10.
The final rounds of the continental competition will take place at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, with the last two knockout rounds arranged as follows: the quarter-finals first legs on April 11 and 12, the second legs on April 18 and 19, and the semi-finals scheduled for May 9, 10, and May 16, 17. The current champion hopes to avoid meeting one of the strongest contenders in the next phase.
The draw promises balance and fairness, bringing together eight Champions League survivors, including six European powerhouses and three all-time greats such as Real Madrid, AC Milan, and Bayern Munich. The field also features Inter Milan, Chelsea, and Benfica, alongside Manchester City and Napoli, who have both already advanced to the quarter-finals. The presence of these clubs highlights the prestige and competitive intensity of Europe’s premier club competition.
Real Madrid would certainly prefer to sidestep a clash with City or Bayern in the next round, ranking among the top favorites alongside them. Manchester City is led by a new charge from Erling Haaland, who has been sensational this season, highlighted by five goals in a 7-0 victory over Leipzig in the round of 16. The memory of a semi-final loss to Carlo Ancelotti in a dramatic encounter lingers for some fans and pundits alike.
Bayern Munich remains a major threat. Robert Lewandowski is once again among the top names, continuing a knockout run that has seen them undefeated in recent encounters and part of a group that has overcome tough opposition, including PSG. The anticipated rematch with Real Madrid, not seen since their 2017-2018 semi-final, is poised to reignite one of European football’s most enduring rivalries.
Next on the list of potential opponents are Chelsea, a team not at its best but still dangerous, and Napoli, one of the continent’s breakout sensations and the holder of the Scudetto. If Napoli is drawn against Chelsea, it would be the third straight season facing the English side, a series that has produced memorable clashes. Napoli’s squad includes creators such as Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, Victor Osimhen, and Hirving Lozano, who helped power their campaign into the quarter-finals for the first time in club history.
Napoli stands as a benchmark for Italian football, with multiple representatives expected to contend in this stage of the competition. Inter Milan, a club with a storied UEFA Cup history, is viewed as a strong contender as well, while AC Milan carries the weight of Carlo Ancelotti’s legacy, returning to the knockout rounds with both the former player and coach in a pivotal role and aiming to recapture past glories.
Rounding out the potential lineup is Benfica, a club that has shown depth and resilience by advancing from the group stage behind notable performances against PSG and Juventus. With players such as Gonçalo Ramos and Rafa Silva delivering in key moments, Benfica’s path to the knockout rounds echoes a tradition of surprises and resilience that has long marked European football. The story lines weave together a narrative where history, prestige, and the hunger for glory collide on a stage where giants meet in pursuit of the continent’s top prize.