The two strongest teams left in the 2017-18 Europa League, Atlético Madrid and Arsenal, were kept apart in the quarterfinal draw. Atléti will be favorites to overcome Lisbon’s Sporting, while Arsenal will take on CSKA Moscow. The London club will be feeling confident after their convincing win over AC Milan, but CSKA overcame Olympique Lyonnais in France in the last round, and could prove tricky opponents.
Top teams kept apart in Europa League quarterfinal draw
The Arsenal-Atleti final is still on!
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images
Perhaps the tie of the round is RB Leipzig against Olympique Marseille. The Bundesliga overachievers overcame Napoli in the round of 32, before eliminating Zenit Saint-Petersburg, while Marseille defeated Europe League perennials Athletic Bilbao in the last 16.
The dream of the energy drink final is still alive, as Red Bull Salzburg take on Lazio. The Italians will probably be favorites to progress, but Salzburg defeated Borussia Dortmund in the last 16, which suggests it could be a close game. This is, incidentally, the farthest any Austrian club has progressed since the competition’s rebrand.
The ties will be played April 5 and 12.
UEFA Europa League quarterfinal draw
RB Leipzig vs. Olympique Marseille
Arsenal vs. CSKA Moscow
Atlético Madrid vs. Sporting Lisbon
Lazio vs. Red Bull Salzburg
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