UEFA Europa League quarter-final draw

"I hope we don't get Borussia Dortmund," Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp said last night. The German's wish was not granted, with the fourth tie drawn surely the pick of the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals. Holders Sevilla were handed an all-Spanish assignment against Athletic Club, while Braga take on 2009 UEFA Cup winners Shakhtar and Villarreal present the next hurdle for dark horses Sparta.

Quarter-final draw (7 & 14 April)

Borussia Dortmund (GER) v Liverpool (ENG)

• The draw means a return to the club where Klopp spent seven seasons as Dortmund coach, leading the side to two Bundesliga titles, the German Cup and the 2013 UEFA Champions League final. BVB had finished 13th a few weeks before his arrival.
• The teams have met three times. Dortmund and Liverpool drew 0-0 in Germany in the 2001/02 UEFA Champions League first group stage, the English club then winning 2-1 at Anfield. Dortmund got the better of Liverpool in the 1966 European Cup Winners' Cup final, prevailing 2-1 at Hampden Park, Glasgow.
• The first leg is a return to a happy hunting ground for Liverpool – their last UEFA Cup triumph, the remarkable 5-4 victory over Alavés, took place in Dortmund.

• How Klopp worked wonders at Dortmund

Athletic Club (ESP) v Sevilla (ESP, holders)

• These sides have never previously met in Europe, though both have plenty of experience of all-Spanish ties in continental competition; Sevilla have won four out of six two-legged affairs, compared with Athletic's two out of two. In terms of individual European games (including one-off final matches) against domestic rivals, their records read: Sevilla: P16 W6 D3 L7; Athletic: P5 W2 D1 L2.
• Sevilla have won the last two Liga encounters between the clubs 2-0.

Braga (POR) v Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)

• Shakhtar took the honours both away (3-0) and at home (2-0) to Braga in the 2010/11 UEFA Champions League group stage.

Villarreal (ESP) v Sparta Praha (CZE)

• The teams have never before met in UEFA competition.
• Sparta are bidding to reach the last four for the first time. Their only previous quarter-final, in 1983/84, ended in a 2-1 aggregate loss to Hajduk Split.

Did you know?

• There are three former UEFA Europa League/UEFA Cup winners left in the competition: Sevilla (4 titles), Liverpool (3) and Shakhtar Donetsk (1). None of them have lost a decider.
• Athletic Club (1977, 2012), Dortmund (1993, 2002) and Braga (2011) have all been losing finalists in this competition.
• Sevilla are seeking to become the first side to lift the trophy three seasons running.
• Sparta Praha are attempting to become the first Czech club to claim European silverware.
• Spain have provided seven of the last 12 winners of the competition.
• Every previous time that Sevilla and Shakhtar have reached this stage of the UEFA Europa League/UEFA Cup they have gone on to lift the trophy.

Road to Basel
Semi-final draw: 15 April
Semi-finals: 28 April & 5 May
Final: 20.45CET, 18 May; St. Jakob-Park, Basel