Benítez looking forward to 'fascinating' tie

Two of the UEFA Europa League's in-form sides meet in the quarter-finals after SSC Napoli were paired with VfL Wolfsburg. The Italian club's coach Rafael Benítez certainly needs no introduction, and having seen the German outfit dispatch FC Internazionale Milano last time out he warns that his team are up against potential title favourites.

Facts and figures
• Wolfsburg and Napoli have never before met in a competitive fixture.
• Wolfsburg accounted for Internazionale 5-2 on aggregate in the round of 16. Their only other encounter with Italian opposition in a major UEFA competition came in the 2008/09 UEFA Cup when they twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at AC Milan.
• Napoli are one of three former UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League winners left in the competition. A side led by Diego Maradona triumphed in 1989 after beating German opponents – in the shape of VfB Stuttgart – 5-4 on aggregate in the final.
• Benítez has lifted the UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League twice as a coach, with Valencia CF (2004) and Chelsea FC (2013).
• This season's records: Wolfsburg – W6 D2 L1 F21 A12; Napoli – W7 D2 L1 F19 A4

Draw reaction
Rafael Benítez, Napoli coach
We are up against one of the strongest opponents we could have drawn. They are surely among the favourites to win the trophy and they proved all their strength in the two games against Inter in the last round.

They are second in the Bundesliga and they have also beaten Bayern recently. It will be a fascinating and exciting tie for us. We have confidence in ourselves and we want to progress even if we know that it won't be easy against Wolfsburg.

Dieter Hecking, Wolfsburg coach
I'm looking forward to it. It's a very attractive draw and we're coming up against opponents with similar ambitions to ourselves. Napoli have a great team and in terms of quality they are probably a touch better than Inter.

Diego Benaglio, Wolfsburg goalkeeper
It's a tough draw, against one of the strongest opponents we could face. Napoli have a good team with lots of individual quality. Both matches will be difficult but if you beat Inter you should have realistic chances to progress against Napoli. For that to happen we need to perform to our potential.

Klaus Allofs, Wolfsburg sporting director
I don't know if we are favourites. The challenge is getting tougher for us, and Napoli should be stronger than Inter – they have a great striker in Gonzalo Higuaín and an experienced coach in Rafael Benítez. Furthermore, we must expect a very intense atmosphere in Naples.

However, we have enough quality to get through to the next round. We are among the best eight teams in this competition and if you look at the sides we have eliminated, then we certainly have a chance to win this trophy.