Roberto Di Matteo plays down talk of Barcelona as Chelsea draw Benfica

CHELSEA will have to overcome Benfica if they are to set up a possible Champions League semi-final with Barcelona and a chance to erase one of the most painful moments in the club’s history.

Benfica, who drew home and away with Manchester United earlier this season as they topped their group, will be no pushovers but the enticing prospect of a Barcelona semi-final is hovering in the background.

Chelsea lost out to Barcelona in the semi-finals in 2009 when Andres Iniesta scored in injury time at Stamford Bridge to seize a place in the final for the Catalan side.

Roberto Di Matteo, the club’s caretaker manager, refused to even contemplate such a meeting – pointing out that Barca have their hands full in the quarter-finals against AC Milan.

In the other quarter-finals, Real Madrid were drawn against Cypriot side APOEL while Marseille will take on Bayern Munich. The draw also means there is a good chance of the ultimate El Clasico happening – an all-Spanish final between Real and Barcelona.

Di Matteo said: “When you get down to the last eight teams, every draw is very difficult. I’ve seen Benfica many times - they are a tough opponent.”

In the Europa League, Manchester United’s conquerors Athletic Bilbao will face Schalke. If they win that, they will face either Sporting Lisbon, who beat Manchester City, or Ukrainian side Metalist Kharkiv in the semi-finals.

• Scotland Under-17 international Islam Feruz was Chelsea’s hero last night as their youngsters beat Manchester United 2-1 at Old Trafford in the first leg of the FA Youth cup semi-final. The former Celtic signing drilled home a 25-yard winner in the 67th minute after United had levelled just after the interval. The date for the return leg at Stamford Bridge has yet to be announced.