Villa disappointed with Europa League draw

Valencia striker David Villa felt a Europa League quarter-final against fellow Primera Division side Atletico Madrid was scant reward for their hard-fought last-16 win.

The Spain star scored a hat-trick as Los Che drew 4-4 at Werder Bremen last night to progress on away goals, while Atletico progressed at the expense of Sporting Lisbon.

The two were paired together at today’s draw Nyon, but Villa had been hoping Spain’s representatives would be get apart a little longer.

“We’re disappointed, as I imagine Atletico Madrid will be, that the two Spanish teams have to face each other in this round and that only one Spanish team will be in the semi-finals,” he said.

Valencia will be at home for the first leg on April 1, before a return trip to Madrid seven days later which will be something a revenge mission following their 4-1 defeat at the Vicente Calderon last month.

Valencia coach Unai Emery does not expect a repeat of that game, though.

He said: “It’s going to be a very even tie, which I feel is 50-50, similar to the one that we had against Werder Bremen.

“Atletico are showing they are a good team. We are going to have to work very hard to get through the tie.

“It’s a shame that two Spanish teams are facing each other in the quarter-finals, but it‘s also true that it assures that one representative from our league will be in the semi-finals.”

The winner of that tie will face either Liverpool or Benfica, and Reds boss Rafael Benitez is wary of the threat posed by their Portuguese opponents, who four years ago ended the Reds’ hopes of becoming the first side to win back-to-back Champions League titles when they lost 3-0 over two legs.

Benfica are currently three points clear of Braga at the top of the Portuguese Liga and Benitez will not underestimate their last-eight opponents, who include among their ranks Pablo Aimar, who Benitez managed at Valencia.

“We know they are a good team and, of course, we have played them before in the Champions League,” said the Liverpool manager.

“They are a massive club with a lot of support from their fans and it will be a tough game.

“They are top of the table and playing really well at the moment. I know a number of their players well – Aimar, Javier Saviola, Javi Garcia – so we know they have a lot of quality.”

Benitez has got his preferred order in terms of the away leg being first but he is concerned the Anfield factor may not have as much of an effect on Benfica as it has had on other visiting sides over recent years.

“It’s always important that the second leg is at home in front of our fans,” he added.

Fulham’s reward for last night’s stunning 4-1 defeat of Juventus, winning 5-4 on aggregate, was a quarter-final against German champions Wolfsburg.

“This is a good draw,” said Wolves coach Lorenz-Gunther Kostner. “We will do all we can to reach the next round.

“English football could suit us. But of course we are warned – Fulham have beaten Basle and Juventus already.

“Therefore, we are going to have to put in a top performance.”

Should they get past Fulham, Wolfsburg could face another German side in Hamburg, who will meet Standard Liege in the last eight.