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Spanish, Germans kept apart in Champions League semis

Spanish, Germans kept apart in Champions League semis

Friday, April 12, 2013, 17:44 GMT+7

* Chelsea-Basel, Benfica-Fenerbahce in Europa League semis

Spanish and German teams were kept apart for the semi-finals of the Champions League, as European football's governing body UEFA made the draw for this year's last four games.

Last year's beaten finalists Bayern Munich, who have already secured the Bundesliga title, take on Spanish league leaders Barcelona.

In the other match, Borussia Dortmund will play Real Madrid.

The first leg matches will be played on April 23 and 24, with the return games on April 30 and May 1.

This year's final will be held at Wembley stadium in London on May 25.

Europa League semis

Friday also saw the draw for the European League semis.

Specifically, English Premiership giants Chelsea and traditional European powerhouse Benfica were drawn against smaller opposition for the semi-finals of the Europa League.

The draw at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, saw the Londoners draw Swiss outfit Basel while the Portuguese will take on Fenerbahce of Turkey.

Chelsea are bidding to become only the fourth team in history to win all three of European football's club competitions.

Having already won the Champions League last year and the Cup Winners' Cup in 1971 and 1998, they now hope to add the Europa League to join the likes of Juventus, Ajax and Bayern Munich in doing the European treble.

Benfica are bidding for their first European trophy since their glory years of the 1960s.

They reached the final of the old UEFA Cup in 1983 but were beaten 2-1 on aggregate by Belgian side Anderlecht.

None of the four semi-finalists has ever won the competition before.

Fenerbahce and Basel will host the first legs on April 25 with the return fixtures due to be played on May 2.

Fixtures:

Fenerbahce (TUR) v Benfica (POR)

Basel (SUI) v Chelsea (ENG)

Matches to be played on April 25 and May 2.

AFP

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