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Europa League Quarter Finals previews Atletico Madrid – Valencia, Benfica – Liverpool, Fulham – VfL Wolfsburg and Hamburger SV- Standard Liege

Europa League Quarter Finals Thursday April 1st, 2010 Kick-off time 21.05 h – The Quarter Finals of this years edition of the Europa League seem to prove the competition is a legitimate addition to the Big Ballroom Dance of the Champions League. Games as Benfica-Liverpool, Atletico Madrid-Valencia and Hamburger SV-Standard Liege all see either former European heavyweights pitched against each other, or teams with an attraction factor high enough to want to turn your TV on.

The big game of the night is no doubt Benfica (two times European Champions and many times losing finalist) versus Rafael Benitez´ Liverpool (four times European Champions, twice winner of the UEFA-Cup). In Spain all eyes will be set on the national confrontation between the current number three of he Liga, Valencia, and Atletico Madrid, having a disappointing season but with formidable players like Forlan, Agüero and Simao in their squad. Valencia edged past what was seen as one of the most dangerous squads in the competition, Werder Bremen in the round of sixteen. After a 1-1 draw in Mestalla, all hell broke loose in Bremen in a game that ultimately ended in 4-4, but saw Valencia take a 3-1 lead, Werder equalizing in the 62nd minute, but Valencia ultimately ´victorious´ on away goals.

HSV-Standard is another attractive line-up between the former European Champions and Cup Winners Cup Champions from Hamburg (1983 and 1977 respectively) and Standard Liege, runners-up in the Cup winners Cup in 1982, losing a final played in and against Barcelona. Both teams are exponents of countries that have been improving their results in Europe the last few years, after a decade of falling ever further behind teams from either Big Money or Dirty Money Countries. Hamburg will be especially keen on reaching the final, as it will be played on their hometurf.

Wolfsburg, the surprise German Champions last season, will have to tackle Fulham, that routed Italian powerhouse Juventus 4-1 at home after losing 3-1 in Turin and falling 1-0 behind in the return game.

In order to reach the coveted final the winner of HSV-Standard will have to knock out the winner of the VfL Wolfsburg – Fulham encounter. Liverpool/Benfica takes on Valencia/Atletico Madrid, making the latter look the slightly stronger bracket.

Here under some of the highlights of this years Europa League and historic matches played by the participants.

Europa League Quarter Finals previews Atletico Madrid – Valencia, Benfica – Liverpool, Fulham – VfL Wolfsburg and Hamburger SV- Standard Liege

Europa League Quarter Finals Thursday April 1st, 2010 Kick-off time 21.05 h – The Quarter Finals of this years edition of the Europa League seem to prove the competition is a legitimate addition to the Big Ballroom Dance of the Champions League. Games as Benfica-Liverpool, Atletico Madrid-Valencia and Hamburger SV-Standard Liege all see either former European heavyweights pitched against each other, or teams with an attraction factor high enough to want to turn your TV on.

The big game of the night is no doubt Benfica (two times European Champions and many times losing finalist) versus Rafael Benitez´ Liverpool (four times European Champions, twice winner of the UEFA-Cup). In Spain all eyes will be set on the national confrontation between the current number three of he Liga, Valencia, and Atletico Madrid, having a disappointing season but with formidable players like Forlan, Agüero and Simao in their squad. Valencia edged past what was seen as one of the most dangerous squads in the competition, Werder Bremen in the round of sixteen. After a 1-1 draw in Mestalla, all hell broke loose in Bremen in a game that ultimately ended in 4-4, but saw Valencia take a 3-1 lead, Werder equalizing in the 62nd minute, but Valencia ultimately ´victorious´ on away goals.

HSV-Standard is another attractive line-up between the former European Champions and Cup Winners Cup Champions from Hamburg (1983 and 1977 respectively) and Standard Liege, runners-up in the Cup winners Cup in 1982, losing a final played in and against Barcelona. Both teams are exponents of countries that have been improving their results in Europe the last few years, after a decade of falling ever further behind teams from either Big Money or Dirty Money Countries. Hamburg will be especially keen on reaching the final, as it will be played on their hometurf.

Wolfsburg, the surprise German Champions last season, will have to tackle Fulham, that routed Italian powerhouse Juventus 4-1 at home after losing 3-1 in Turin and falling 1-0 behind in the return game.

In order to reach the coveted final the winner of HSV-Standard will have to knock out the winner of the VfL Wolfsburg – Fulham encounter. Liverpool/Benfica takes on Valencia/Atletico Madrid, making the latter look the slightly stronger bracket.

Here under some of the highlights of this years Europa League and historic matches played by the participants.

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