Liverpool face Atalanta in Europa League quarters

Liverpool will play Italian outfit Atalanta in the quarter-finals of this season’s Europa League after the teams were paired together in Friday’s draw, which left open the possibility of the Anfield side meeting Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen in the final. Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, who are still in contention to win a quadruple this season, will entertain Atalanta at Anfield on April 11 and go to Italy a week later for the return. The Reds hammered Sparta Prague 11-2 on aggregate in the last 16 and will be favourites to beat Atalanta, who currently lie sixth in Serie A.
The clubs met in the group stage of the Champions League in 2020/21, with Liverpool winning 5-0 away in Bergamo and Atalanta winning 2-0 at Anfield. “(They have) still the same manager, I’m pretty sure a similar structure, which means uncomfortable to play against, very well organised,” Klopp said with reference to the side coached by Gian Piero Gasperini. “Very interesting, really looking forward to it, let’s see what we can do. But a lot of respect for what Atalanta is doing in the last years, very consistent.”
Leverkusen are enjoying a remarkable season under former Liverpool midfielder Alonso, who is one of the leading contenders to replace Klopp as manager at Anfield when the German steps down at the end of the campaign. Winners of the UEFA Cup, the Europa League’s predecessor, in 1988, Leverkusen have not lost a game all season and are currently 10 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga with nine matches left. Their unbeaten record very nearly ended on Thursday, when they trailed 2-1 in injury time at home to Qarabag before a stunning comeback to win 3-2 against the side from Azerbaijan. That allowed them to win their last-16 tie 5-4 on aggregate.
Leverkusen will face West Ham United – last season’s Europa Conference League winners – in the quarter-finals, with the English side having beaten another German club in Freiburg in the last round.
The winners of that tie will advance to a semi-final against either AC Milan or Roma, who will face off in an all-Italian last-eight tie.
The other quarter-final brings together two former European champions, with Marseille taking on Benfica. Whoever wins that will play either Liverpool or Atalanta in the last four. This season’s Europa League final will be played in Dublin on May 22.

Aston Villa to meet Lille in Conference League quarters
Aston Villa will take on French side Lille in the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League as they continue their quest to win a first European trophy in more than 40 years. Villa crushed Ajax 4-0 on aggregate in the last 16 and will now host Lille in the first leg of their quarter-final tie before heading to France for the return a week later.
They are aiming to claim their third continental title following their victory in the European Cup in 1982 and the UEFA Super Cup the following season. Villa manager Unai Emery has a remarkable European record, having won the Europa League as coach three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal.
Lille, who sit fourth in Ligue 1, are through to a European quarter-final for the first time in their history. The winners of that tie will advance to a semi-final against either Greek giants Olympiakos or Fenerbahce of Turkey, who meet in the last eight. This season’s Conference League final will be played in Athens at the OPAP Arena on May 29.

Europa League draw
Quarter-finals: AC Milan (ITA) v Roma (ITA); Liverpool (ENG) v Atalanta (ITA); Bayer Leverkusen (GER) v West Ham United (ENG); Benfica (POR) v Marseille (FRA)
- First legs to be played April 11, second legs April 18
Semi-finals: Benfica or Marseille v Liverpool or Atalanta; AC Milan or Roma v Bayer Leverkusen or West Ham United
- First legs to be played May 2, second legs May 9

Europa Conference League Draw
Quarter-finals: Club Brugge (BEL) v PAOK (GRE); Olympiakos (GRE) v Fenerbahce (TUR); Aston Villa (ENG) v Lille (FRA); Viktoria Plzen (CZE) v Fiorentina (ITA)
- First legs to be played April 11, second legs April 18
Semi-finals: Aston Villa or Lille v Olympiakos or Fenerbahce; Viktoria Plzen or Fiorentina v Club Brugge or PAOK;
- First legs to be played May 2, second legs May 9