The Uefa Cup is by far a lot more cosmopolitan competition than the English-dominated Champions League. England's sole representatives, Manchester City will take on the high-flying Hamburg, who remain in the hunt for the Bundesliga title, unlike their opponents, whose last chance of silverware lies in Europe.

The old passions between England and Germany, even if not on a national level, have been rekindled again, thus banning orders are expected shortly to arrive at Eastlands for certain City supporters attempting to travel for the first leg to the north German town.

It'll be a return to English football for Hamburg's Martin Jol, the former Tottenham manager, who is having a fine season at the Bundesliga team. He of course has met Premier League opposition already this season in the shape of Aston Villa, but that match took place in Germany.

Germany's other representative in the Uefa Cup quarter-final, Werder Bremen, will take on Udinese, having already dispatched AC Milan earlier in the competition. With Germany quickly catching up on Italy's third place in the Uefa country ratings, which gives the right to field four clubs in the Champions League, the Bundesliga as a whole might have to line up and thank Werder if it knocks out the last Italian club left in European competitions.

The other two ties will see French teams battle it out against Ukrainian ones: PSG take on Dynamo Kiev and Shakhtar Donetsk meet Marseilles.

PSG will first play at home and will hope that come the second leg, temperatures in the Ukrainian capital would have risen by three or four degrees. Shakhtar might prove a tougher acclimatisation test for the Marseille players used to the mild Mediterranean climate.

With the Ligue 1 title race closer than ever and both PSG and Marseilles just a point behind seven-time defending champions Lyon, the Ukrainian clubs could benefit if their opponents choose to focus on the domestic front instead of continental affairs.

The first legs will be played on April 9, and the return on April 16. The final for the Uefa Cup itself is on May 20 in Istanbul.