Liverpool face Benfica in Europa League

Former European champions Liverpool and Benfica will meet in the quarter-finals of the Europa League following Friday's draw in Nyon.                                           

The Portuguese side will host the first leg on April 1 against the Premier League team, whose only hope of silverware this season now lies with Europe's secondary club competition.                  

"We know they are a good team and of course we have played them before in the Champions League," Liverpool coach Rafa Benitez told Liverpool's website.                                           

"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, Saviola, Garcia - so we know they have a lot of quality."                                           

Fulham, who dumped Juventus out of the competition with a memorable 4-1 win on Thursday, were rewarded with a tie against German champions VfL Wolfsburg, who beat Rubin Kazan with a goal in the last minute of extra-time.                                           

Unfashionable Fulham are making their first appearance in a European quarter-final.                                           

Valencia and Atletico Madrid will meet in an all-Spanish tie while Hamburg SV, who beat Anderlecht 6-5 on aggregate, face another Belgian side in Standard Liege.