Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas during a training session, in Nicosia, on Monday. (AFP)

Berne: A touch of romance has returned to the Champions League quarter finals with seven countries, including Cyprus, represented in this week’s first legs with AC Milan-Barcelona topping the bill.

The most intriguing clash sees upstarts APOEL Nicosia against nine-time European champions Real Madrid, in the sort of David-versus-Goliath clash that has become a rarity.

The presence of Benfica, twice winners in the early 1960s, has added a dose of nostalgia to the last eight, although their policy of recruiting South American players rather than developing Portuguese talent has provoked criticism.

Benfica host Chelsea, the Premier League’s lone survivors.

It is the first time so many countries have been represented in the quarter finals since 1996-97, the last year in which the competition was restricted to the champions of domestic leagues.

This year, the smaller teams, such as Viktoria Plzen, BATE Borisov and Dinamo Zagreb, did sink without trace in the group stage, but APOEL have managed to keep going.

Record nine-time winners Real are big favourites to end APOEL’s stunning run in becoming the first Cypriot side to reach the last eight of any European competition.

A goalless draw against city rivals Omonia Nicosia on Friday suggested APOEL are not in the best of form.

Real return to European competition after a poor run in La Liga when two straight draws slashed their lead over second-placed Barcelona to six points.

Real will be without midfielder Xabi Alonso on Tuesday after he picked up a yellow card in the round of 16 second-leg win against CSKA Moscow.

With Lassana Diarra injured, Esteban Granero is likely to slot in alongside Sami Khedira in the holding midfield role. Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to continue his stellar form and score the goals for the Spanish club.

In the other match, Benfica will need all their firepower to inflict damage on an ‘wounded’ Chelsea.

Benfica face Chelsea after being held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at Olhanense which left them in second place in Portugal, one point behind leaders Porto. The hosts will rely on the 32-year-old Pablo Aimar to orchestrate their attacks and create chances for goal machines Oscar Cardozo and Rodrigo.

Meanwhile, Chelsea’s revival under interim coach Roberto Di Matteo has stalled in the last week with a 2-1 defeat at Manchester City on Wednesday and an uninspiring performance when they were second best in Saturday’s goalless draw against Tottenham Hotspur.

Di Matteo’s first four matches ended in wins, but, after a defeat and a draw, some of Chelsea’s old failings look to be returning although former Benfica players David Luiz and Ramires will be desperate to help Chelsea start winning again.

Chelsea’s Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard and John Terry would also like to leave Lisbon happier than in Euro 2004 when they all scored penalties there when England were beaten 6-5 on spot-kicks by Portugal in the quarter-finals.