Chelsea are the only English side still involved in this season’s Champions League which has reached the quarter-finals stage.

There were three other clubs from the English Premier League in the qualifying groups this season but following the early exit of Manchester United and Manchester City, it was then Arsenal’s turn to suffer elimination in the Last 16 after a 4-3 aggregate defeat to Milan.

With City and United finishing third in their group, this duo continued their Euro quest in the Europa League but with scant success after defeats to Sporting Lisbon (agg: 3-3 out on away goals) and Atletico Madrid (agg: 3-4) respectively.

At least, Chelsea’s qualification to the last eight of the Champions League ensured that English football maintained its record of having a club in the quarter-finals since 1996.

1996-97: Manchester United (semi-finals).
1997-98: Newcastle (group phase); Manchester United (quarter-finals).
1998-99: Arsenal (group phase); Manchester United (winners).
1999-00: Arsenal (first group phase); Chelsea, Manchester United (quarter-finals).
2000-01: Arsenal, Manchester United (quarter-finals); Leeds (semi-finals).
2001-02: Arsenal (second group phase); Liverpool (quarter-finals); Manchester United (semi-finals).
2002-03: Liverpool (first group phase); Arsenal, Newcastle (second group phase); Manchester United (quarter-finals).
2003-04: Manchester United (last 16); Arsenal (quarter-finals); Chelsea (semi-finals).
2004-05: Arsenal, Manchester United (last 16); Chelsea (semi-finals); Liverpool (winners).
2005-06: Manchester United (group phase); Chelsea, Liverpool (last 16); Arsenal (losing finalists).
2006-07: Arsenal (last 16); Chelsea, Manchester United (semi-finals); Liverpool (losing finalists).
2007-08: Arsenal (quarter-final); Liverpool (semi-finals), Chelsea (losing finalists), Manchester United (winners).
2008-09: Liverpool (quarter-finals); Arsenal, Chelsea (semi-finals), Man. Utd (losing finalists).
2009-10: Liverpool (group phase), Chelsea (last 16), Arsenal, Manchester United (quarter-finals).
2010-11: Arsenal (last 16), Chelsea, Tottenham (quarter-finals), Manchester United (losing finalists).

Chelsea have boosted their chances of reaching the semi-finals after beating Benfica 1-0 away in the first leg of their quarter-final on Tuesday. It was the first time the two teams had met in Europe.

Before, Chelsea had faced FC Porto on three occasions in European football. The Londoners held the upperhand with two wins and a draw.

So far, Benfica have played 13 times on English shores, including the final of the European Cup at Wembley Stadium where they lost 4-1 to Manchester United after extra time.

Benfica’s other results in England are:
1961-62 (SF European Cup) Tottenham-Benfica 2-1.
1965-66 (QF European Cup) Manchester United-Benfica 3-2.
1972-73 (2nd round, European Cup) Derby-Benfica 3-0.
1983-84 (QF European Cup) Liverpool-Benfica 1-0.
1984-85 (2nd round European Cup) Liverpool-Benfica 3-1.
1991-92 (2nd round European Cup) Arsenal-Benfica 1-3.
2005-06 (Champions League group) Manchester United-Benfica 2-1.
2005-06 (Last 16 Champions League) Liverpool-Benfica 0-2.
2006-07 (Champions League group) Manchester United-Benfica 3-1.
2009-10 (Europa League group) Everton-Benfica 0-2.
2009-10 (QF Europa League) Liverpool-Benfica 4-1.
2011-12 (Champions League group) Manchester United-Benfica 2-2.

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