Source: Daily_Mail
German threat to Fulham: Roy's boys to face Wolfsburg in Europa League
The Europa League final in Hamburg on May 12 could still be an all-English affair.[LNB] Fulham meet Wolfsburg and Liverpool play Benfica in next month'squarter-finals and the Barclays Premier League sides were kept apart inthe semi-final draw.[LNB] Up and away: Fulham's Zoltan Gera celebrates his penalty goal against Juventus[LNB]After their historic 4-1 win against Juventus at Craven Cottage on Thursday, Roy Hodgson's Fulham will be confident of progressing against Wolfsburg.[LNB] Hodgson said: 'It's a meeting, I think, of two fairly similar clubs so I'm looking forward to it. Wolfsburg's stadium is like our own. It's not a 60,000-seat stadium. It's a very compact one.[LNB] 'I think our fans will be wise enough to put things into perspective. They were great nights against Juventus and Shakhtar Donetsk but there's no guarantee that when we meet a team that's just slightly less it is going to be an easy game.'[LNB] [LNB]Confident: Fulham manager Roy Hodgson[LNB] The German side were surprise winners of the Bundesliga last season but currently sit eighth and have a poor home record that includes a 3-1 home defeat by Manchester United in the Champions League, courtesy of a Michael Owen hat-trick.[LNB] But highly rated striker Edin Dzeko, who has been linked with AC Milan as well as Chelsea, Arsenal and United, will pose a threat, particularly as Fulham play the second leg away from Craven Cottage, where they have been so impressive this season.[LNB] Zoltan Gera, who scored twice against Juventus, said: 'Craven Cottage is not a big stadium but the fans are very close to the pitch and the atmosphere is great, too. I think it is a good thing for us to have a ground like this and it can help us.'[LNB] Liverpool, who beat Lille 3-1 on aggregate, renew acquaintances with Benfica - the Portuguese club who ended their dreams of retaining the Champions League title in 2006 - with the second leg is at Anfield.[LNB] Manager Rafa Benitez said: 'We know they are a good team and of course we have played them before in the Champions League.[LNB] 'They are a massive club with a lot of support and it will be a tough game. They are top of the table and playing really well at the moment.' [LNB] Mancini lauds Juve slayer Hodgson as City prepare to face the Fulham feverFulham hero Dempsey insists: We can win Europa League after Juve scalp [LNB] [LNB]
