Portuguese trio dodge EL battles

Portuguese trio dodge EL battles

Published Mar. 18, 2011 2:18 p.m. ET

Domestic league leaders Porto, rivals Benfica and underdogs Braga are all in contention to be at the final in Dublin on May 18.

None of them will meet in the next round after Porto drew Spartak Moscow, Benfica got PSV Eindhoven and Braga were paired with Dynamo Kiev.

However, all three will play their first legs at home and face difficult second-leg away trips.

The fourth quarter-final will see Villarreal face Dutch outfit FC Twente, with the Spaniards at home first.

ADVERTISEMENT

In the semi-finals, the winner of the Braga-Dynamo clash will be at home first against Benfica or PSV, with Porto or Spartak home first against Villarreal or Twente.

Europa League quarter-finals:

Porto v Spartak Moscow

Benfica v PSV Eindhoven

Villarreal v FC Twente

Braga v Dynamo Kiev

1st legs on April 7, 2nd legs on April 14.

Europa League semi-finals:

Braga or Dynamo Kiev v Benfica or PSV Eindhoven

Porto or Spartak Moscow v Villarreal or FC Twente

1st legs on April 28, 2nd legs on May 5.

share