The 2014-15 Uefa Europa League quarter-finals will witness a repeat of the meeting between Sevilla and Zenit St. Petersburg at the same stage in 2006.
The quarter-finals and semi-finals draw was conducted by Uefa General Secretary, Gianni Infantino, in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday. Former Liverpool goalkeeper and Uefa Europa League final ambassador, Jerzy Dudek, assisted in plucking the sides out of the hats.
It was an open draw- meaning two teams from the same nation could have been pitted against each other- except Russian and Ukrainian sides which were kept apart because of crisis in Kiev region.
And in that light, Dnipro were initially drawn at home against Club Brugge, but the fixture was reversed as it clashes with Dynamo Kyiv’s home leg against Fiorentina.
Holders Sevilla will be hoping for a similar result, having advanced at the expense of the Russian champions via a 5-2 agg. win on their track to lifting the trophy.
“The defending champions are probably the hardest draw we could get. Sevilla have quality and experience,” Zenit coach Andre Villas-Boas said.
German club VFL Wolfsburg saw off Inter Milan in the round of 16 but are not done with their Italy affair this season as they have been paired with another Serie A club Napoli. It is the first meeting between Napoli and Wolfsburg.
Ukrainian club Dynamo Kiev will face Fiorentina for the first time since the latter Serie A outfit won 1-0 agg. in the third round of the Uefa Cup (now Europa League) 25 years ago. It is their fourth meeting in history.
The last 8 first leg and second leg matches are scheduled for 16 and 23 April. The final of this year’s tournament is billed for the National Stadium, Warsaw, Poland on 27 May.
The winner of this year’s tournament earns automatic qualification for the group stages of the 2015-16 Uefa Champions League.
Europa League quarterfinals
Sevilla vs Zenit
Club Brugge vs Dnipro
Dynamo Kiev vs Fiorentina
Wolfsburg vs Napoli
