UEFA Europa League quarter-final and semi-final draws
Friday, March 15, 2019
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The final eight learn what stands between them and the UEFA Europa League trophy.
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Quarter-final draw (11 & 18 April)
Napoli (ITA) v Arsenal (ENG)*
Villarreal (ESP) v Valencia (ESP)
Benfica (POR) v Frankfurt (GER)
Slavia Praha (CZE) v Chelsea (ENG)
*fixture reversed – see draw facts below
Semi-final draw (2 & 9 May)
1. Napoli (ITA) / Arsenal (ENG) v Villarreal (ESP) / Valencia (ESP)
2. Benfica (POR) / Frankfurt (GER) v Slavia Praha (CZE) / Chelsea (ENG)
Final draw (29 May, Baku)
Winners of semi-final 2 v Winner of semi-final 1
Quarter-final draw facts
Napoli (ITA) v Arsenal (ENG)
- Arsenal and Chelsea cannot play at home on the same night following a decision made by the relevant local authorities. With both clubs drawn at home in the same week, Arsenal's tie will be reversed in accordance with UEFA Club Competitions Committee principles. The first leg against Napoli will therefore be in north London.
- Napoli coach Carlo Ancelotti was Chelsea manager between 2009 and 2011; his record against Arsenal with the Blues was W3 L1.
- Arsenal and Napoli recorded 2-0 home wins when these sides were drawn together in the 2013/14 UEFA Champions League group stage.
Villarreal (ESP) v Valencia (ESP)
- Just 60km separate these teams on Spain's east coast, and meetings are known as the Derbi de la Comunitat.
- Valencia's Mista scored the only goal of the 2003/04 UEFA Cup semi-final against Villarreal from the penalty spot in the Mestalla second leg.
- That 2004 win was Valencia's last victory in a two-legged contest against another Spanish club; they have lost their last four, most recently on away goals to Athletic Club in the 2015/16 UEFA Europa League round of 16.
Benfica (POR) v Frankfurt (GER)
- These sides have never met.
- Luka Jović is on a two-season loan from Benfica, for whom he made four first-team outings. The forward has scored 21 in all competitions for Frankfurt this term, including the round of 16 winner at Internazionale.
- Benfica's Haris Seferovic was an Eintracht player from 2014 and 2017 before moving to Lisbon; he scored 16 goals in 86 league appearances for the Frankfurt club.
Slavia Praha (CZE) v Chelsea (ENG)
- These sides have never met.
- Slavia's heaviest European defeat came in London – a 7-0 loss at Arsenal in the 2007/08 UEFA Champions League group stage.
- Chelsea are unbeaten in their six matches against Czech opposition (W3 D3).
- Slavia's Miroslav Stoch was at Chelsea between 2006 and 2009, making only five first-team appearances – all as a substitute.
How the draw worked
It was an open draw, so there was no seeding or country protection. Former Netherlands striker Pierre van Hooijdonk, a UEFA Cup winner with Feyenoord in 2002, selected the balls.
The road to Baku
11/04/18: quarter-finals, first leg
18/04/18: quarter-finals, second leg
02/05/18: semi-finals, first leg
09/05/18: semi-finals, second leg
29/05/18: final (Olympic Stadium, Baku)
All kick-offs at 21:00CET though exceptions to this rule can be made by the UEFA administration.