The Europa league is now down to 32 teams and Lokomotiv host Athletic Bilbao in their first leg on Thursday. New signing Roman Pavlyuchenko is cup-tied so can't play for the Mucovites, but that hasn't lessened the team’s belief they can get a result.

Due to the Russian winter break Lokomotiv will be playing their first competitive match since mid-December. Sub-zero temperatures forced them to move their match with Athletic Bilbao across the capital to the artificial pitch at the Luzhniki Stadium.

The Railwaymen's coach says neither side is favourite.

“The chances are 50/50. We have prepared well, both physically and tactically. But Athletic have an advantage as they are on a good run, and in the middle of their season, playing two matches a week,” says Jose Couceiro

Lokomotiv's biggest signing during this break, Roman Pavlyuchenko, will not be able to help his side, as he has already played for Tottenham in the Europa League this season. However, Loko's top scorer Dmitry Sychev has already netted six goals in Europe, the second highest in the tournament.

Yet the red-and-greens have a disastrous record against Spanish clubs with just a solitary victory in twelve matches, and that win was against Real Madrid a decade ago.

The Muscovites haven’t played in the spring phase of a UEFA competition since 2006 after being knocked out by another Spanish club, Sevilla, but are confident they can succeed this time.

The Basque side may only lie ninth in Spain's La Liga, but remain a formidable prospect. The Lions have also reached the final of the Copa del Rey, where they will face holders Barcelona.

The Bilbao team have scored in their last 10 games, and are eager to increase their tally in their first ever meeting against Lokomotiv. Athletic's manager, former Argentina defender Marcelo Bielsa, ironically nicknamed El Loco, says that neither snow nor plastic pitch scares his charges.

“Both teams are in the same boat, and any defeat can't be excused by the weather conditions or the artificial pitch. They're not key factors. It's a match, just like any other, and we'll play the way we do in Spain, and use the same squad,” he says.

The winners of the tie will take on Ajax or Manchester United next month.