Europa League: Chelsea, Spurs, Newcastle avoid all-English ties

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Andre Villas-Boas

Chelsea, Tottenham and Newcastle have been kept apart in the draw for the Europa League quarter-finals.

Chelsea, last year's Champions League winners, will meet Russian side Rubin Kazan, while Tottenham face Swiss club FC Basel after Friday's draw.

Both teams have home advantage in their first legs, while Newcastle travel to Portuguese giants Benfica in their tie.

Fenerbahce also face Lazio, with all last-eight ties taking place on 4 April and 11 April.

Rubin say they want to play their return leg against the Blues in Kazan after they were forced to host last-16 opponents Levante in Moscow because of problems with the pitch in their home stadium.

Uefa will decide where the match against Chelsea will be played following a pitch inspection in Kazan next week.

The trio of Premier League clubs booked their places in the final eight in dramatic style on Thursday.

Newcastle left it late to beat 10-man Anzhi, with Papiss Cisse scoring the only goal of the tie in the 93rd minute to keep them in with a chance for a first major trophy in 44 years.

Chelsea were at risk of going out but beat Steaua 3-1 on the night, with Fernando Torres scoring the third and then missing a penalty. The Spaniard's strike secured a 3-2 aggregate victory.

Earlier, Spurs lost their second leg at the San Siro 4-1 after extra time but Emmanuel Adebayor's away goal was enough to send them through as they won the first leg 3-0.

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  • Comment posted by U14336667, at 12:17 15 Mar 2013

    I hope we don't have extra-thyme in Basel.

  • Comment posted by U14832827, at 12:42 15 Mar 2013

    I love the hypocrisy of some of you "fans." You forever chastised the EL as a second rate competition, yet the first time that English teams actually show a bit of competence in the EL you're all over it like a rash!

    The Europa League has always been a decent competition, with or without English involvement. It doesn't take a good run from an English side to suddenly make it worthwhile.

  • Comment posted by U3733790, at 13:02 15 Mar 2013

    79
    I agree all three teams have nearly got knocked out therefore do not deserve to be in it. To resolve this crisis I propose that no team may progress under any of the below conditions:

    1. They fall behind at any stage in either match
    2. The other team hits the post in the first 20 minutes
    3. They have less than 60% possession over the tie
    4. They fail to win the tie by four clear goals
    1.

  • Comment posted by U8193651, at 12:34 15 Mar 2013

    Pleased we've taken the Europa more seriously this year. Any European run is exciting in my book, and we've done well to (just!) see off some of the stronger outfits.

    Would love to see us play Newcastle in the final in Amsterdam - it would be a magnificent occasion with a really special atmosphere. Spurs v Chelsea is a recipe for disaster off the field so I hope that is avoided IF we go through.

  • Comment posted by U13906518, at 12:10 15 Mar 2013

    Come on the Toon! I'm glad we've got the first game away. If last night was anything to go by, we've nothing to fear by playing the return fixture at St James'. 44 years of hurt might be about to come to an end!

  • Comment posted by chezza100, at 12:34 15 Mar 2013

    Never write off the mighty Toon, especially with the home game 2nd (:

    We'll be there and my Dads mates will have their shirts off lol (urgh!!)

  • Comment posted by U15647901, at 13:25 15 Mar 2013

    Would like to see a Spurs v Newcastle final!!! It would be a good game, with goals, and two of the best set of supporters in the English Premier League, would make an unbelievable atmosphere! Up the Spurs, and come on the Toon Army!!!

  • Comment posted by Ewok63, at 13:11 15 Mar 2013

    To all the Sad Mackems adding comments on this.

    Newcastles trip to the real Stadium of Light will be our 133rd game in Europe, 129 more than you have ever played in.

    Now go back to your play stations and leave the big computers to the grown ups.

  • Comment posted by Welshy707, at 12:26 15 Mar 2013

    #11 "The fact that none of the English teams face Lazio also has to be good news for them."

    I dunno about that, Spurs had the better of Lazio in both of their group games. Would have won both if it wasn't for a plethora of strange disallowed goals.

    Toon probably have the toughest draw but I fancy them against anyone at St. James Park. Hope we have an all English final!

  • Comment posted by George Hobbs, at 12:33 15 Mar 2013

    No one will ever better the magic of Fulham reaching the inaugural Europa League final in 2009-10. Good luck to Newcastle, though. They deserve some success.

  • Comment posted by tommycallaghan, at 14:39 15 Mar 2013

    Benfica are not a bad team . My team Celtic had 2 tough ties with them but i fancy Newcastle to do it.

  • Comment posted by U15606650, at 15:18 15 Mar 2013

    @182 Just a drop in quality?

    @183 I am not really a spurs fan but at least they play to win in their cup games and are getting the rewards for it. Perhaps if AFC had bothered with some "smaller" cups over the last 8 years, they wouldnt have been trophy less for so long?

  • Comment posted by RiskyAndy, at 13:50 15 Mar 2013

    I really hate this situation at Chelsea. Why cant the fans just support Rafa and the team were not going to get rid of him until the end of season. Do we want to win any trophies?

  • Comment posted by LB, at 13:10 15 Mar 2013

    As a Chelsea fan I actually feel that if your not going to make the semi finals of the UCL it isn't the worst thing to drop into Europa and have a long run and still have big games to look forward to unlike utd and arsenal who are ending their seasons playing for a title that's already won and 4th place which is out of their grasp. Up the Europa!

  • Comment posted by Stevieg68, at 13:03 15 Mar 2013

    The mighty TOON ARMY march on in Europe, tough tie ahead, but why cant we win it. On our day we are very difficult to break down. The EL has been great not just for the toon, but for football fans in England. CL is so overated. Why dont the TV stations take this competition seriously, there is not even a highlight show.

  • Comment posted by U15647901, at 13:01 15 Mar 2013

    People make me laugh banging on about Fulham taking advantage of Spurs playing extra time! We've got Lloris, Dawson, Ekotto, Bale, Dempsey to all come back. Lennon only came on late, so will be fresh! Not too many tired legs there! Worried rival fans clinging on to any hope! Funny, but embarrassing.

  • Comment posted by U3733790, at 19:54 15 Mar 2013

    I understand for the club the priority is CL qualification (or highest PL position) due to finance but if I was a player for Tottenham or Newcastle I would rather win the EL. At the end if your career are you going to want to be saying to your grandchild "look I won 2 Europas, 2 FA Cups and 1 league cup", or "I won nothing but we finished 4th 8 years in a row."

  • Comment posted by almighty, at 16:41 15 Mar 2013

    Spurs will reach the Fennel !, I hope

  • Comment posted by U15648255, at 16:37 15 Mar 2013

    Love to see an English team win Europa.

    People saying the Premier League is in decline? After Aresenal showed great form to beat Bayern 2-0 at the Allianz. Also Man Utd getting a dubious red card given against them.

    Great news to see them 3 English teams in the quarters. Come on Chelsk, Spurs & The Toon.

  • Comment posted by almighty, at 16:31 15 Mar 2013

    Lets hope we get an unbiased ref for the English games

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