Barca have lifted the trophy three times in the last six seasons, while Milan have been European champions seven times in total.

The two teams met in the 1993/94 final of the same competition, with Milan running out resounding 4-0 winners.

Real Madrid were given an easier task with a last-eight tie against Cypriot side APOEL Nicosia, while Benfica take on the Premier League's only surviving representatives, Chelsea.

Bayern Munich, who hammered Basle 7-1 on aggregate in the last 16, face a difficult test against Marseille, who knocked out Inter Milan in the last round.

The semi-final draw also took place today and kept alive the prospect of Barca and Real meeting in an 'El Clasico' final.

If Real overcome APOEL, they will face either Marseille or Bayern in the last four.

Barca or Milan will take on the winners of the Benfica-Chelsea match-up.

(Correcting the spell of David Luiz's name)

Chelsea have two former Benfica players in their squad - the Brazilians David Luiz and Ramires. The Portuguese club are currently second in their domestic league, a point behind Porto, and emerged triumphant in the group phase during which they drew home and away with Manchester United.

Benfica also overcame a 3-2 first-leg defeat by Zenit St Petersburg in the first knock-out stage, winning 2-0 at the Estadio da Luz to secure their place in the quarter-finals.

Chelsea's chief executive Ron Gourlay claimed it was a decent draw for the club, especially with the second leg being played at Stamford Bridge.

He told uefa.com: "It's a good one for us but it doesn't matter who you get at this stage. It was important to get the away game first and hopefully we can build the foundation from there. We're pleased.

"Ramires and David Luiz will know a lot about Benfica - we also know a lot about them because they topped Manchester United's group."

Chelsea's old guard came to the club's rescue against Napoli on Wednesday night with John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba all scoring in a 4-1 win and the club's chief executive Ron Gourlay said a blend of experience and youth was vital.

He told the club's website: "We have some big, big players at the football club and that's for the good of the club, we need everybody to raise their game and it was a wonderful team performance on Wednesday night. If we show the same character and effort we can turn things around this season.

"You need experience, you need youth and you need a little bit of luck. Any team that has won it will tell you this, hopefully we get that but let's worry about Benfica, give them the respect they deserve and take it from there.

"Robbie (interim coach Roberto di Matteo) and everyone around him, the players, we all have to play our part.

"He has started well in three games and everybody knows the objectives until the end of the season. Everybody is clear on what we want to achieve and everybody is pulling in the same direction.

"We've got some fantastic players there, we raised our game on Wednesday night but that's the standard of the club. We set that standard and expect it every game until the end of the season and be where we want to be.

"The competition is very important to us, being in the Champions League is very important and we want to make sure we are in the competition next year."

Reacting to today's draw, caretaker manager Roberto Di Matteo said: "When you get down to the last eight teams, any draw is difficult.

"I've seen Benfica many times. They were in Man United's group.

"It's a tough game for us.

"I think the fact that we play the first game away for us is good."

Di Matteo refused to contemplate a potential semi-final against Barcelona.

"Are you writing off AC Milan straight away, as easy as that - the leaders of Serie A?" he said.

"(We will take it) game by game. That's what I've learnt in my playing career and my coaching career."