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Chelsea avoid favourites Stuttgart

Chelsea have avoided favourites Stuttgart and will meet Italian side Vicenza in the semi-finals of the European Cup Winners' …

Sat Mar 21 1998 - 00:00

Chelsea have avoided favourites Stuttgart and will meet Italian side Vicenza in the semi-finals of the European Cup Winners' Cup next month. The draw was made yesterday following last night's quarter-final second legs, in which Chelsea completed a 5-2 aggregate victory against Spanish opponents Real Betis.

Vicenza were in even more dynamic form, beating Dutch side Roda 5-1 on the night, 9-1 on aggregate.

But the Italians are struggling in the bottom half of Serie A, so Gianluca Vialli's men have an excellent chance of reaching their first European final for 27 years.

Stuttgart must play Lokomotiv Moscow. The first semi-final is at Vicenza on April 2nd with the return two weeks later.

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Last season's European Cup finalists Juventus and Borussia Dortmund could meet again for the title after staying out of each other's way in yesterday's draw.

In the UEFA Cup, Italian Serie A title rivals Lazio and Inter Milan also avoided a clash, raising the possibility of an all-Italian final.

European Cup holders Dortmund, who beat Italian champions Juventus 3-1 in last year's final in Munich, were drawn against six-time winners Real Madrid in a match offering an ironic twist.

Juventus were drawn against Monaco. The first leg is on April 1st, the second on April 15th.

Real, who beat Bayer Leverkusen in the quarter-finals, are coached by German Jupp Heynckes whose former club, Bayern Munich, lost to Dortmund in the last round.

Juventus, the favourites, who are bidding for their third successive European Cup final after winning in 1996, face a dangerous-looking fixture in France.

For Monaco, the only club left in the competition never to have won the title - or indeed any European cup - the draw was another tough task after a quarterfinal against previous favourites Manchester United.

Inter, last season's losing UEFA Cup finalists, were pitted against Spartak Moscow, while Lazio drew Atletico Madrid in a match that will bring Atletico's Italian international Christian Vieri home from Spain.

The two-leg matches are March 31st and April 14th.