Europa League Q/F Draw - 16/03/12 @ 12.00GMT

Dolph Starbeam

TEAMS
Metalist
Sporting CP
Schalke 04
Atletico Madrid
Hannover 96
Valencia
AZ
Athletic Bilbao

16 March, Nyon (12.00GMT)
The pairings from the quarter-finals onwards are determined by an open draw in which no teams are seeded and clubs from the same national association can be drawn against each other. The side drawn first play the first leg at home.

The semi-final fixtures are also determined while an additional draw will define whether the winner of semi-final 1 or the winner of semi-final 2 will be considered, for administrative purposes, the home side in the Bucharest final.

The draw will be conducted by UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino and the ambassador for the final, Miodrag Belodedici.

Match dates
Quarter-finals (29 March & 5 April)
Semi-finals (19 April & 26 April)
Final (9 May, National Arena, Bucharest, 19.45GMT)

CSF

Can't see this having a whole lot more of an interest on here. I'll still be watching keenly from an Atletico perspective but the remaining 8 does not make for much of a high-profile final. Think Atletico v Valencia is the best we can hope for now.

Dolph Starbeam

I'd have to disagree, yes there might not be much interest on here, but apart from the obvious 2 in Atletico and Valencia there are still some other very good sides, Bilbao have played brilliant football up to this point and would, imo, be a lot better to watch in the final than Atletico. Metalist have also played some brilliant stuff, very deserving of there spot in the quarters. It might not look like some of the most glamorous sides in world football but I'd expect 4 very interesting ties to come out of this.

CSF

Mark! wrote: »

I'd have to disagree, yes there might not be much interest on here, but apart from the obvious 2 in Atletico and Valencia there are still some other very good sides, Bilbao have played brilliant football up to this point and would, imo, be a lot better to watch in the final than Atletico. Metalist have also played some brilliant stuff, very deserving of there spot in the quarters. It might not look like some of the most glamorous sides in world football but I'd expect 4 very interesting ties to come out of this.

Obviously all teams are there on merit, I wouldn't even dare suggest otherwise, and the teams I'm about to mention aren't there because they don't deserve to be.

But if you still had the likes of Man City, Man United, Porto, Ajax and PSV in there, this could have been every bit as exciting as the Champions League. Just reminds me too much of that 2004 Champions League where you had Porto, Deportivo, Monaco and Chelsea in the semi-finals and the whole thing kind of fizzled out. Jesus 2 of them teams aren't even top flight anymore.

EdenHazard

Metalist be cool for them to win

gimmick

Quarter-final draw:
AZ Alkmaar v Valencia
Schalke 04 v Athletic Bilbao
Sporting v Metalist Kharkiv
Atletico Madrid v Hannover 96

Semi-final draw:
Atletico Madrid or Hannover 96 v AZ Alkmaar or Valencia
Sporting or Metalist Kharkiv v Schalke 04 v Athletic Bilbao

Ganymede Glow

Atlético Madrid v Athletic Bilbao final I reckon.

CSF

Ganymede Glow wrote: »

Atlético Madrid v Athletic Bilbao final I reckon.

Yeah, disappointing that atleti valencia isn't a possibility

Lawrence1895

Ganymede Glow wrote: »

Atlético Madrid v Athletic Bilbao final I reckon.

Both sets of supporters would surely be happy

Anyway, Athletic against Sch****, good one. At least some atmosphere in that bigotdome at the outskirts of Gelsenkirchen

dsmythy

Schalke v Valencia my prediction. How anyone wouldn't consider that a good final is beyond me. Plenty of quality and exciting teams left. Metalist will surprise