Basel await in European last four!

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Chelsea have been drawn against Swiss team FC Basel in the UEFA Europa League semi-finals.

In the other tie, Fenerbahce will host SL Benfica, the conquerors of Newcastle in the last round; both teams have previously come up against the Blues in UEFA Champions League quarter-finals (in 2008 and 2012 respectively , with either team proving potentially very difficult opponents in the Amsterdam final should Chelsea progress.

Rafael Benitez' team have crucially been drawn away first, meaning the defending European champions will have the advantage of the second leg being at Stamford Bridge. The Blues have an absolutely formidable record in West London - since Manchester United won 1-0 there in 2011, the Blues have won ten and drawn the other two of their last twelve competitive European fixtures at home; scoring an impressive 35 goals in the process and conceding merely ten.

The first legs will be played on Thursday 25 April and the returns the following week.

Basel accounted for London rival Tottenham in the last round - after drawing 4-4 on aggregate after extra-time, the Swiss side triumphed 4-1 on penalty kicks. They currently top the Swiss Super League by a point, where they have scored more goals than any other side domestically and can also boast of an unbeaten home domestic record at St. Jakob-Park.

Their route to the semi-finals has seen them dispose of Dnipro of Ukraine; Zenit St-Petersburg (who accounted for Liverpool earlier on in the competition); and of course Tottenham. They will no doubt prove stiff opposition for the Champions of Europe.

The final in Amsterdam will be played on May the 15th - will Chelsea be there? You can discuss the big semi-final in our discussion thread.

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[Rmpr 8,977]

Is the UEL a tournament to decide which is the 17th best team in Europe?

[BlueLion. 21,491]

17th best team in Europe, and still better than Spurs.