So used is the Europa League to residing on Spanish soil that the trophy itself may start worrying about homesickness as it scrutinises the situation ahead of the last-16 stage.
Only once in the last five years – twice in the last seven – has it not been carried home in May by a Primera Liga club. But there is work to be done if that pattern is to be maintained.
Sevilla, holders the past three years, are otherwise engaged in the Uefa Champions League.
Celta Vigo go to Ukraine tonight a goal down to Shakhtar Donetsk after the first leg of their last-32 tie while Villarreal’s condition is grave, taking a 4-0 deficit to Roma.
Hope seems to reside with Athletic Bilbao, silver medallists of the 2012 Europa League, if they can only deal with an expatriate Spanish armada in Cyprus tonight.
Athletic take a narrow lead, 3-2, to the island leg of their collision with Apoel Nicosia, and do so nervously.

Source: The National