Champions League Draw

The draw ceremony begins at 11.00 GMT (06.00 ET) on Friday, March 16, 2012.

ESPNsoccernet's live coverage of the draw will begin at 10.45 GMT.

There is no country protection in the draw.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTER-FINALISTS
AC Milan
APOEL Nicosia
Barcelona
Bayern Munich
Benfica
Chelsea
Marseille
Real Madrid

The matchdays are:
Quarter-finals: March 27, 28 and April 3, 4.
Semi-finals: April 17, 18 and April 24, 25
Final (Munich): May 19

Euro Exit for United

Wayne Rooney's 27th goal of the season proved to be little consolation for Manchester United as they crashed out of the Europa League with a 2-1 defeat at Athletic Bilbao - 5-3 on aggregate.

Yet again they were inferior to an outstanding Spanish outfit, who scored through Fernando Llorente and Oscar de Marcos either side of the interval.

Now Sir Alex Ferguson will discover what effect a second European exit in a single season has on his team, who look to open up a four-point gap on Manchester City in the Barclays Premier League by winning at Wolves on Sunday.

Having acknowledged how well the Basque outfit had played at Old Trafford seven days ago, Sir Alex Ferguson used the availability of Tom Cleverley to pack his midfield.

The idea was to stem Athletic's source of attacks and get support to lone striker Rooney as quickly as possible.

United did create a very early opening when Park Ji-sung sent Rooney running free.

But the striker opted to cross instead of shoot, no-one was up in support and from that moment, United's hopes took a nosedive.

Markel Susaeta's free-kick was deflected wide after Michael Carrick had fouled Ander Herrera, then Patrice Evra headed Javi Martinez's effort off the line.

The pressure was mounting and United survived a major scare when Llorente found Iker Muniain with a superb pass.

Chelsea Battle Through

Chelsea beat Napoli 5-4 on aggregate to progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. A thrilling game ended 4-1 on the night in a tie that was only decided in extra-time by a thunderous strike from Branislav Ivanovic.

The west Londoners came into the return leg on the back of a 3-1 defeat in Italy and took a first-half lead through Didier Drogba.

Chelsea doubled their advantage two minutes into the second period thanks to a John Terry header, which would have been enough to put the home side through on away goals.

The tie turned back Napoli's way after Gokhan Inler netted eight minutes later, although Frank Lampard struck from the spot to force extra-time in which Ivanovic hit a 105th-minute winner.

With this win Chelsea the only team from England who still competed in the last quarter. Chelsea out as the sole representatives from England to continue the struggle to achieve the dream of becoming a champion for the first time.

Anderson Out for Five Weeks

Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed midfielder Anderson will be out of action for between four and five weeks with a hamstring injury.

Injury-plagued Anderson made his return after two months out in the 3-2 first leg defeat against Bilbao last week, but complained about a tight hamstring and pain in his thigh after the match.

Now the former Porto midfielder faces a long lay-off, with manager Sir Alex Ferguson eager to avoid exacerbating the problem. United were overrun in midfield by Bilbao at Old Trafford and Ferguson had hoped to use Anderson to shore up his side as he seeks a result at the San Mames.

However, there was some good news for the United manager, as goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard returned to full training after damaging ankle ligaments last month.

Valencia Returns to United Squad

Antonio Valencia has returned to Manchester United's squad for Thursday's Europa League encounter with Athletic Bilbao, but Anderson, Nani and Phil Jones have not made the flight to Spain.

It has been reported that Anderson is set to miss the remainder of the campaign with a hamstring injury, although as yet, there has been no official confirmation from the Old Trafford outfit.

Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed Nani had sat out Sunday's Premier League win over West Brom with "bruising" suffered during a training-ground knock, but the United boss pointedly avoided responding to an inquiry about the reason for Anderson's absence.

The return of Valencia is good news, though, with the winger having been in impressive form until he suffered a hamstring injury in Amsterdam four weeks ago.

As United have since assumed top spot in the Premier League, Ferguson is keen to have as many men as possible available for the run-in.

The Red Devils' 20-man travelling squad included teenager Paul Pogba, surely a further sign that the young French midfielder is ready to spurn the offer of a lucrative contract from Juventus.

Paul Scholes was there too, although whether the veteran starts is open to debate given United are 3-2 down after the home leg and face a trip to Wolves on Sunday in the Premier League.

Under the circumstances, there are plenty who think the game in Bilbao is one worth sacrificing, although Ashley Young is not one of them, even if United have never recovered from a home first-leg deficit in a European knockout game.

"It is unusual that we find ourselves in this position but there is a great team spirit here and everyone is full of confidence," the winger said. "Our form in general makes us believe we can score wherever we play.

"Our attacking play has been fantastic of late and we believe we can score the two goals we need."

On the two occasions they have attempted a comeback away from Old Trafford, against Bayern Munich in 2001 and AC Milan four years later, they have lost the away leg as well.

Indeed, it is a measure of the task United are facing that it is five seasons since they overturned a first leg deficit on home soil. That 7-1 annihilation of Roma has gone down in Red Devils folklore and victory on Thursday will achieve similar status.

"Our focus has not changed from the start of the season," Young said. "We want to win every competition we enter and the Europa League is no different. Bilbao were an impressive team last week.

"They were a very attacking team, had a good team shape and at times we found them hard to break down, but I am sure if we are on our game 100% we can go there and get the win we need."

As Ferguson noted last week, winning is one thing, doing it by two goals quite another. That is what United are likely to need though given the high-scoring nature of the first-leg, when Wayne Rooney scored twice, part of his overall 26-goal tally.

Not that Young has done too badly lately, bagging an impressive double in the win at Tottenham, then winning the penalty Rooney converted against West Brom at the weekend.

"It is nice to be contributing," he said. "As a winger you are there to get assists and goals and that is what I have been doing. Fingers crossed it can continue and we can keep winning."

Berbatov Set for Man Utd Exit

Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed Manchester United's record signing Dimitar Berbatov is set to leave Old Trafford in the summer.

Berbatov, who cost £30.75 million from Tottenham in 2008, has found first-team places difficult to come by since being left out of the United squad for last season's Champions League final defeat to Barcelona.

And, on the eve of a last-16 Europa League second leg tie with Athletic Bilbao, Ferguson confirmed the Bulgarian striker is set to leave in the summer.

''His concern is not getting first-team football,'' said Ferguson. ''At 31, he is looking at first-team football. It is difficult for me to guarantee that so it could lead to him looking elsewhere.''

Berbatov's contract is due to expire in the summer, although rather than let the former Tottenham man leave for nothing at the end of the season, they will trigger a one-way clause to extend the deal for a further year.

That would mean United would get a fee for the player, who was linked with former club Bayer Leverkusen during the January transfer window.

However, the Red Devils hierarchy know they would get nothing like the mammoth sum they paid for the striker, whom Ferguson had such high hopes for when he arrived but has never quite managed to fulfil them, despite ending last season as the joint Golden Boot winner.

''We will be taking up the option on his contract but, having had chats with him, I understand he wants to get first-team football,'' added Ferguson. ''It is something we need to consider at the end of the season. For a player of his age and his ability it is disappointing for him that he is not getting first-team football.

''We will look at the end of the season but until then, he remains at United.''

Ferguson confirmed Berbatov is again set to miss out aginst Bilbao as United look to overturn a 3-2 deficit from last week's home encounter, saying: ''He could play tomorrow but I have good options in terms of front players with Javier Hernandez, Danny Welbeck and Wayne Rooney.''

Hazard 'Excited' by Man Utd Link

Lille midfielder Eden Hazard, who looks set for a move to the Premier League this summer, has hinted that Manchester United would be his preferred destination.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was in the stands to watch the 21-year-old at the weekend as Lille went down 2-1 against Lyon, fuelling speculation the Scot could launch a bid in the coming months.

If Ferguson does, he is likely to face stiff competition from Tottenham, whose boss Harry Redknapp has confirmed he is keen on Hazard, and Arsenal, who have been linked with the Belgium international for a while.

But United are emerging as favourites to secure Hazard's signature following comments he made to the French press.

When asked if a move to Old Trafford would interest him, Hazard told La Voix du Nord: "Of course, this a club that excites anyone.

"For now my focus is on Lille but yes, it is a pleasure to be watched by one of the best coaches in the world, if not the best."

Hazard has scored 11 goals in 24 starts this season for Lille, who are third in Ligue 1, 11 points behind leaders PSG.