German-Spanish ties dominate last-eight draw

Club Atlético de Madrid will look to reclaim the trophy they last lifted in 2010 after being drawn against relative newcomers Hannover 96 in the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals.

The Spanish side feature striker Falcao, who scored a record 17 goals as he won last season's competition with FC Porto, and the Colombian international could be on his way to a second successive decider, with the denouement to take place in Bucharest on 9 May.

None of the teams matched in the quarter-finals have met before, with AZ Alkmaar facing Valencia CF, FC Schalke 04 taking on Athletic Club and Sporting Clube de Portugal paired with FC Metalist Kharkiv in the other ties.

Like in the UEFA Champions League, there is still the chance of an all-Spanish final, with the three Liga contenders kept apart in the last eight, though Atlético could play Valencia – whom they eliminated in the 2010 quarter-finals – in the final four. An all-German decider is also on the cards, with Hannover and Schalke unable to come together until Bucharest.

Match dates
Quarter-finals (29 March & 5 April)
1: AZ Alkmaar (NED) v Valencia CF (ESP)
2: FC Schalke 04 (GER) v Athletic Club (ESP)
3: Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR) v FC Metalist Kharkiv (UKR)
4: Club Atlético de Madrid (ESP) v Hannover 96 (GER)

Semi-finals (19 April & 26 April)
1: Atlético/Hannover v AZ/Valencia
2: Sporting/Metalist v Schalke/Athletic

Final (9 May, National Arena, Bucharest, 20.45CET)
Winner semi-final 1 v Winner semi-final 2