Europa League semi-final draw: Holder Sevilla faces Shakhtar, Liverpool takes on Villarreal

The draw for the semi-final stage of this season's Europa League was held Friday in Nyon, Switzerland, with a pair of enticing ties on offer that should help further dispel the notion that this competition is an afterthought on the European stage.

Liverpool has been rewarded for its sensational comeback against Borussia Dortmund with two matches against Villarreal. Although the Anfield faithful can point to the second leg being on Merseyside as perhaps handing Liverpool an advantage, it does have sorry memories against Spaniards at this stage of the competition after being booted out on away goals by Atletico Madrid in 2010.

Sevilla edged through the quarter-finals courtesy of a penalty shootout against Athletic Bilbao, and now awaits a two-legged tie against Ukraine giant Shakhtar Donetsk. Mircea Lucescu's side has coasted into the competition's final four, and has been typically fearsome in front of goal on domestic duty.

The first legs are due to be played on April 28, while the return fixtures are scheduled for May 5.

Here are the matches standing between two teams and the final at the St. Jakob-Park in Basel, Switzerland on May 18:

Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Sevilla

• First leg: Thursday, April 28 (Arena Lviv)
• Second leg: Thursday, May 5 (Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan)

Instant analysis: The last time this pairing was drawn in Europe, it was a thriller. With the aggregate scoreline poised at 4-4 in the second leg's dying seconds - a scoreline which would send Sevilla out courtesy of away goals - goalkeeper Andres Palop trotted forward for a corner, and sensationally headed in unmarked. A rare goal from Javier Chevanton won it for the Spaniards in extra time, and they went on to lift the UEFA Cup in Glasgow. Expect another closely fought affair this time around, with the Miners boasting a fearsome strike force and Unai Emery's side, seeking its third consecutive Europa League title, boasting plenty of continental pedigree.

Villarreal vs. Liverpool

• First leg: Thursday, April 28 (Estadio El Madrigal)
• Second leg: Thursday, May 5 (Anfield)

Instant analysis: Villarreal strutted into the final four after overwhelming Sparta Prague, but in Liverpool will face a side high on one of the greatest nights in its history to advance to this stage. While some may say this Reds side lacks quality compared to previous eras, it does offer plenty of depth in midfield and attack, so it could be difficult for Marcelino to guess the Scousers' setup. With Jurgen Klopp's often shaky defence, it has to be wary of the threat Denis Suarez can pose at set-pieces, but especially the brute strength and composure that forward Cedric Bakambu's displayed in his recent emergency as a first-team mainstay.