City look to avenge German ghosts in UEFA Cup

Big spending English Premier League outfit Manchester City were given a chance to avenge defeat to a German club in the UEFA Cup some 30 years ago when they were drawn against Hamburg in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals here on Friday.

City, who have failed to glitter in the Premier League despite massive investment in players after being bought by the Abu Dhabi United consortium, last reached the UEFA Cup quarter-finals in 1979 only to be beaten by another German side Borussia Monchengladbach.

It will see City manager Mark Hughes pitting his wits against Martin Jol, who he has crossed paths with when the Dutchman was managing Spurs.

Should Hamburg progress and deny City their last hope of silverware this season they could play Bundesliga rivals Werder Bremen in the last four after they were drawn with Udinese, the sole remaining Italian club in European club competition.

The other two matches are both France Ukraine clashes as Paris Saint Germain play Dynamo Kiev and Marseille take on Shakhtar Donetsk – setting up a potentially explosive semi-final between the two bitter French rivals.

Draw for the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the UEFA Cup, announced here Friday:

Match 1

SV Hamburg (GER) v Manchester City (ENG)

Match 2

Paris SG (FRA) v Dynamo Kiev (UKR)

Match 3

Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) v Marseille (FRA)

Match 4

Werder Bremen (GER) v Udinese (ITA)

Semi-final draw

Werder Bremen (GER) or Udinese (ITA) v SV Hamburg (GER) or Manchester City (ENG)

Paris SG (FRA) or Dynamo Kiev (UKR) v Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) or Marseille (FRA)

Quarter-finals – April 9/16

Semi-finals – April 30 and May 7

Final

May 20 Istanbul