Champions League: Atletico await Chelsea in semis

Chelsea, the only British club remaining in the Champions League, are drawn from the pot of semi-finalists by Luis Figo. Picture: Getty

Friday’s semi-final draw pitted Jose Mourinho’s men against the Primera Division leaders, who knocked out Barcelona in the quarter-finals.

Real Madrid will face Bayern Munich in the other semi-final, with the first legs taking place on April 22/23 and the return the following week.

The draw sets up an intriguing situation with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois - the 21-year-old goalkeeper on loan with Atletico from Chelsea.

It was reported that Chelsea would allow the Spanish side to play the Belgian in both legs of the semi, provided they paid a fee of around 3million euros for each game.

However, UEFA moved to clarify that it expects the Belgium international to be free to face the Blues in both legs.

A statement from European football’s governing body read: “The integrity of sporting competition is a fundamental principle for UEFA.

“Both the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA disciplinary regulations contain clear provisions which strictly forbid any club to exert, or attempt to exert, any influence whatsoever over the players that another club may (or may not) field in a match.

“It follows that any provision in a private contract between clubs which might function in such a way as to influence who a club fields in a match is null, void and unenforceable so far as UEFA is concerned.

“Furthermore, any attempt to enforce such a provision would be a clear violation of both the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA disciplinary regulations and would therefore be sanctioned accordingly.”

Real’s pairing against Bayern brings together two clubs who have won the competition 14 times between them.

Five-times winners Bayern, quarter-final conquerors of Manchester United, are the defending champions. They beat fellow German side Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.

Real, who booked their place in the last four with a win over Dortmund, have won European club football’s top prize nine times - but not since 2002.