Story so far: FC Rubin Kazan

FC Rubin Kazan

European highlights
• UEFA Europa League quarter-finals: 2012/13

Domestic honours (most recent triumph in brackets)
• League title: 2 (2009)
• Russian Cup: 1 (2012)

2011/12 in Europe: Campaign began in July with victory over FC Dynamo Kyiv but their UEFA Champions League ambitions were ended by Olympique Lyonnais in the play-offs. The UEFA Europa League brought more success as they helped eliminate Tottenham Hotspur FC in the group stage before, for the second successive season, bowing out in the last 32.

The season so far: Rubin arrive in the last eight with an impressive list of scalps to their name. Kurban Berdyev's side finished the autumn unbeaten, a fine 3-0 victory over FC Internazionale Milano helping them top the group. They eclipsed that achievement by stunning Club Atlético de Madrid in the round of 32, winning 2-0 away despite playing half the game with ten men. Another Spanish side, Levante UD, took longer to dispose of, Rubin scoring twice in extra time after 180 goalless minutes.

One to watch: He may be 33, but Gökdeniz Karadeniz has played with the freedom and exuberance of youth all campaign. Ever-present in Rubin's starting XI, he has been at the heart of their attacking endeavours, either cutting in from the flanks or driving from midfield – as Inter discovered during November's 3-0 defeat.