An hour after the draw for the quarter-semi-final stages of the Champions League, today (Friday) the same draw was held for the decisive stages in the Europa League. Liverpool, the favorites to win, will compete in a pair of games against Atalanta, while the other two Italian teams, Milan and Roma, will meet for a heated Italian derby. The hottest team in Europe, Bayer Leverkusen, will hope to remain perfect against West Ham and Benfica and Marseille in the battle for the semi-finals in two completely open games.
Liverpool won the easier route, where if they qualify for the semi-finals they will meet Benfica or Marseille, when in the final they can repeat the championship finals from 2005 and 2007 against Milan or face Bayer Leverkusen, and possibly, their next coach – Xavi Alonso.
Europa League quarter-final draw:
Milan – Roma Liverpool – Atalanta Bayer Leverkusen – West Ham Benfica – Marseille
Semi-final draw:
Benfica Marseille – Liverpool Atalanta
Milan Roma – Bayer Leverkusen West Ham
Bayer Leverkusen players celebrate Imagebank GettyImages, INA FASSBENDER/AFP
The quarter-final matches will be held on April 11 and 18, while the semi-final matches will take place on May 2 and 9. The grand final will be held in Dublin on May 22.