Champions League: Pain in Spain is Primera Liga's gain - McIlroy

Sammy McIlroy has warned Leeds and Arsenal that they could experience Champions League pain in Spain.

Leeds take a three-goal lead to Deportivo La Coruna in the second leg of their quarter-final while the Gunners hold a slender one-goal advantage over Valencia.

But former Manchester United star Mclroy says Spanish football is the strongest in Europe and the two Premiership sides should be on their guard.

Deportivo have made their Riazor home a fortress, with a 14-game unbeaten record taking them to second in Spain's Primera Liga. During that time, they have banged in 34 goals and conceded just nine.

And last season's beaten finalists Valencia are also solid at their Mestalla stadium, although Barcelona and Real Madrid both won there in the league.

McIlroy believes there should be no illusions about the size of the task facing the English clubs as they bid to take their place in the last four of the competition.

He told Ananova.com: "Last season, Spain had three of the four semi-finalists [Real Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona] and that just shows you the standard of football over there.

"Leeds certainly shouldn't take Deportivo too lightly just because they're three goals up from the first leg. They've been fantastic at home and you only have to look how they came back from three goals down [against Paris St Germain in a second phase game] to realise what a proposition they will be.

"Then there's Valencia, and they didn't get to the final last season for nothing. I remember playing at their stadium in an international game with Northern Ireland and I don't imagine it's a place Arsenal are going to relish.

"I think they will probably have a bit too much for Arsenal because they are such an attack-minded side with so many good players."