Middlesbrough continue European glory run

Middlesbrough defender Chris Riggott celebrates after the UEFA Cup match against AS Roma on March 15. Middlesbrough's impressive UEFA Cup run continues at FC Basel with Steve McLaren's men among the favourites for the title following earlier victores over Roma and Stuttgart.

The impressive UEFA Cup run of Middlesbrough continues at Swiss side FC Basel with Steve McLaren's men among the favourites for the title following prior victores over Roma and Stuttgart.

Should they get past this quarter-final tie against Christian Gross's side, they would meet the winners of the big domestic match-up between Rapid Bucharest and city rivals Steaua.

McLaren can be forgiven for dreaming of winning the title on May 10 however he was realistic enough to know Basel also fancy their chances against them.

"Both teams will look and say that's a good draw," McLaren said Wednesday. "We have avoided the big guns of Sevilla, Schalke 04 and (Zenit) St Petersburg.

"We are playing a club we know a lot about. They have a good tradition and history, but they should hold no fears. We are quite confident. We know they have beaten very good sides to get where they are, and so have we.

"It's an opportunity for both clubs to get to the semi-final."

McLaren believed his side were confident and full of belief.

"Once you reach the quarter-finals of any club competition, there's a smell and you start to think, 'If we just get through this one......'" he said. "There is that sense, especially after beating Stuttgart and Roma. The belief and confidence is there in the players. But there are still two very tough games that we have got to get through."

Basel reached the last eight with a 4-2 aggregate victory over Strasbourg, who, along with Roma, had beaten them in the group stage of the competition. They had beaten another French team, Monaco, in the previous round.

Croatian striker Mladen Petric admitted Middlesbrough would be tough opponents. Petric told UEFA's website: "Middlesbrough have a very good team. We have seen their value this season against Grasshopper and especially now against Roma.

"But we're not satisfied yet with our UEFA Cup achievements and have a good chance to prevail over the two games. Beating the French teams has given us a lot of confidence."

Rapid will be hoping to make home advantage count against city rivals and former European champions Steaua at their Giulesti stadium on Thursday. Rapid have won all seven of their home games in the competition so far this season.

Another advantage for Rapid is that Steaua will have to play the return leg at the unfamiliar Lia Manoliu stadium while their usual Ghencea stadium is being renovated.

This is the first ever time Romanian clubs have met in European competition and their only league meeting this season produced a goalless draw.

In the other half of the draw, Sevilla and St Petersburg meet in Spain and Levski Sofia and Schalke 04 play in Bulgaria.

UEFA Cup

Quarter-final, first leg

Thursday

Levski Sofia (BUL) v Schalke 04 (GER) (1700GMT)

Rapid Bucharest (ROM) v Steaua Bucharest (ROM) (1730)

FC Basel (SUI) v Middlesbrough (ENG) (1845)

FC Sevilla (ESP) v St Petersburg (RUS) (1900)

2nd leg: April 6