Spartak Moscow will have to overcome Porto and either Vilareal or FC Twente if Aiden McGeady is to reach the final of the Europa League in Dublin.
The former Celtic midfielder helped Spartak to beat Ajax 4-0 on aggregate in the last 16 and now faces another former European Cup winner in Porto for a semi-final spot.
Porto defeated CSKA Moscow home and away in the last round with Spartak boss Valeri Karpin believing that his side have been drawn against the toughest possible opponents.
“Porto are not easy opponents; they are the favourites to win the whole tournament,” the Spartak boss claimed. “It would have been better to play against them in the final.
“I had no preferences for the draw; some teams look stronger on paper, others a bit weaker, but it could be a different story on the pitch.”
The first leg will be played in Portugal on April 7 with the return leg in Moscow seven days later.
If Spartak see off Porto they will then play the winners of the Vilareal-Twente clash with the first leg of the semi final at home.
In the other part of the draw Braga were drawn away to Dinamo Kiev with the winners of that match travelling to face the winners of the Benfica-PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of the semi final.
The final of this season’s competition will be held in the Aviva Stadium, Dublin on May 18.
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