Who’s Waiting For Tottenham In The Europa League Quarter-Final?

It was a close call for Tottenham against Inter Milan in the San Siro stadium. Emmanuel Adebayor’s goal in extra time proved vital, taking Tottenham into the quarter-finals of the Europa League on the away goals rule, where seven possible opponents await. The draw will take place today in Neon at 11.40 am, immediately after the draw for the Champions League. There are no seedings at this stage of the tournament – it is an open draw so Tottenham could be facing any of the seven opponents.

[Photo: Logan Holmes]The draw could have Tottenham against Newcastle United or Chelsea as there is no longer any restriction on clubs facing teams from their own Association.

Europa League Roll Call:

• England has 3 teams in the Quarter-finals – Tottenham, Chelsea and Newcastle United.
• Italy  (1)  Lazio
• Switzerland  (1)  Basel
• Russian  (1)  Rubin Kazan
• Turkey  (1)  Fenerbahce
• Portugal  (1)  Benfica

• Only 2 teams who dropped down from the Champions League after the Group stages remain – Chelsea and Benfica.

• Tottenham have played 3 of the teams in European competitions – Benfica in the 1961-62 European Cup semi-finals, Rubin Kazan in last season’s Europa League Group stages and Lazio in this season group stages of the competition.

Newcastle  defeated Anzhi Makhachkala 1 – 0 with a last minute goal at St James’ Park after a scoreless draw in Russia. They have already played 12 games in this season’s competition with wins over Atromitos Athens, Bordeaux, Club Bruges and Metalist Kharkiv. Anzhi Makhachkala had finished second in their Europa League group behind Liverpool.

Chelsea overturned a single goal deficit at Stamford Bridge against Steaua Bucharest, winning 3 -1 on the night, 3 – 2 on aggregate. The holders of the Champions League dropped out of this season’s competiton after finishing third in their group, behind Juventus and Shakhtar Donetsk. In the last round they overcame Sparta Prague 2 – 1, a single goal win in the away leg and drawing 1 – 1 at Stamford Bridge.

Rubin Kazan defeated Levante 2 – 0 after extra time in Russia, after the first leg finished scoreless. They were the winners of Europa League group in which Inter Milan finished second. In the last round Rubin Kazan knocked out the holders, Atletico Madrid after winning 2 – 0 in the first leg in Spain. Atletico won by a single goal in the second leg. Tottenham met Rubin in the group stages last season, both matches finished 1 – 0 to the home team. Rubin topped the group while Spurs who had played weakened teams, failed to progress.

FC Basel were second in their Europa League group behind Genk and took a two goal lead from the home game into the second leg against Zenit St. Petersburg. Although they lost by a single goal in Russia they progress to the quarter-finals. Basel overcame Dnipro in the last round – 3 – 1 on aggregate after a 2 – 0 home win in the 1st leg.

Benfica were in the Champions League group with Barcelona and Celtic and defeated Bordeaux 4 – 2 on aggregate. They won 1 – 0 in the 1st leg in Portugal and 3 – 2 in the 2nd leg in France. Benfica knocked out Bayer Leverkusen in the Round of 32, 3 – 1 on aggregate, winning both matches.

Fenerbahce won their group in the Europa League, finishing above Borussia Mönchengladbach They defeated Plzen, winning the away leg 1 – 0 and drawing 1 – 1 in Turkey. In the previous round, a single goal was sufficient for them to defeat BATE Borisov. They won the home game after a scoreless draw in the 1st leg.

Lazio topped Tottenham’s group in the Europa League and took a two goal lead to their home tie against VfB Stuttgart which they won 3 – 1 for a 5 – 1 aggregate win. Lazio remain the only undefeated team in this season’s Europa League, of the original entrants, Tottenham who shared that record having succumbed in Italy. In the Round of 32 they overcame Borussia Munchengladbach 5 – 3 on aggregate after a 3 – 3 draw in the first leg in Germany.

Who Do You Want?

Tottenham fans don’t really want to be drawn against an English team – it takes away from that very special feeling of a European night at White Hart Lane. Having already played Lazio in the group games, and been to Italy twice already this season, that would be another match to avoid.

My choice would be Benfica which would revive memories of  renew of the 1962 European Cup semi-final clash. Benfica, the holders of the trophy, with Eusebio and a star-studded team won 4 – 3, controversially, over two legs and then went on to defeat Real Madrid in the Final.