Zenit will now play FC Basel after the Swiss side bettered Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk in bad tempered 1-1 draw in Ukraine.

CNN: Europa League holders Atletico Madrid dumped out

While City faced high-class opponents in Napoli and Bayern, United crashed out to the combined might of Benfica, FC Basel and Athletic Bilbao.

WSJ: England Awaits Stuttering Finale

Last season, they won 15 and lost only one of their 18 home matches as they finished three points behind champions FC Basel.

BBC: Spurs target Euro elite

Two of those stalwarts, captain Alex Frei of FC Basel and Lucerne striker Hakan Yakin, will be hoping to add to their respective 40 and 20-goal international tallies in South Africa.

BBC: World Cup 2010: Teenager Xherdan Shaqiri in Swiss squad