The draw for the UEFA Europa League quarterfinal stage paired eight teams that have never met one another. Here's a quick look at the key men and the matches to come that will keep fans and critics on their toes:

Jamie Trecker

This is the Turks’ first visit to the Europa League quarterfinals, and it is unfortunate their opponent is Lazio: against Italian sides, Fenerbache are dreadful, losing 10 games out of the 13 overall meetings in Europe. Lazio also has a history of mowing down Turkish sides; they’ve only lost once in eight games.
 

This Fenerbache team does have talent: Dirk Kuyt, Cristian, Raul Meireles and Moussa Sow are their key players, Kuyt and Cristian have combined for five of their goals to lead the team. Lazio is pretty average this season, sitting in sixth in Serie A – but with a strong performer in Libor Kozak and striker Miroslav Klose. Kozak has scored a goal in every game he’s played in. Sergio Floccari and Ederson have also been critical to Lazio’s campaign as well.
 

This one’s a toss-up, but if history is a guide, it should be Lazio into the next round.
 

Pick: Lazio

Jamie Trecker

 

Spurs are the only former UEFA Cup winners left in this tournament, and they nearly didn’t make it. On Thursday night, Spurs managed to turn a 3-0 first leg advantage into a 3-3 tie courtesy of a William Gallas own goal. They were able to pull it out 4-4 draw on the away goals rule, but the result indicated how badly they rely on Gareth Bale to create and score. Spurs have talent – Jan Vertonghen, Clint Dempsey, Brad Friedel are all quality, but without Bale, they lack that cutting edge.
 

Basel knocked out the not-half-bad Zenit St. Petersburg but are something of a wild card here. Alexander Frei and Marco Streller remain the key men on this team, but they miss the guile of Xherdan Shaqiri, sold to Bayern Munich in the off-season.
 

Tottenham have played only one prior game against a Swiss side: that was Grasshoppers back in 1974 in the UEFA Cup, and they destroyed them, 9-2 over two legs. Basel is also poor against English sides, losing eight of their 16 meetings, with just three wins. If things run to form, Spurs should be into the semis.

Pick: Tottenham

Jamie Trecker

 

Chelsea have never lost to Russian side in European play. The reigning champions of Europe will not relish a trip to Tartarstan but they have to feel good about their chances. Rubin were dominant in the group stages, brushing aside some minnows and stunning Inter 3-0 back in November. And, they’ve taken a couple big scalps: they knocked out Atletico Madrid in convincing fashion. Rubin’s squad is largely anonyomous, but Jose Rondon and Gokdeniz Karadeniz can hurt you – they lead the squad with a combined eight goals.
 

Chelsea have a lot of talent – Eden Hazard and Juan Mata have to be candidates for Player of the Year – but they have been very rocky since their collapse in the Champions League. New manager Rafa Benitez seems universally loathed by Chelsea's fan base and the club is fighting off challenges from both Tottenham and Arsenal to lock up that coveted third place spot in the Premier League.
 

Fixture congestion will also play a part: Chelsea have an unwanted FA Cup replay April 1 – just three days before they host the Russians. Could be nervy.

Pick: Chelsea

Jamie Trecker

 

Benfica were unlucky to be knocked out of the Champions League, paying dearly for a road loss to Spartak Moscow. But they are a true title contender here, riding a long unbeaten streak to top the Portuguese table. Oscar Cardozo has been the key man for Benfica, with Ola John and Nicolas Gaitan the threats out wide.
 

Newcastle, on the other hand, are in a rebuild. They have escaped a relegation battle, but the newly Fracophillic “Le Toon” remains a work in progress. Losing Damba Ba in the winter window to Chelsea hurt badly, and with Fabricio Coloccini lost for the season, defense is a question. Newcastle also cannot boast a great record against Portuguese sides: while they have never lost at home in their 11 matches overall, they have never won in Portugal.
 

Papiss Cisse is likely to be used as the runner up top as Newcastle will look to spring the counter; the return of Steven Taylor will help shore things up in the absence of first-choice keeper Tim Krul (ankle), but they need the craft of Hatem Ben Arfa and Yohan Cabaye to have a realistic chance.

Pick: Benfica.

Jamie Trecker