Kiev - Former French footballing great Michel Platini on Wednesday said a pair of Ukrainian sides had an edge over their French opponents in Thursday's UEFA Cup quarter-finals.

"I have to say the Ukrainians have a certain advantage," the European football boss Platini told a news conference in Kiev.

Shakhtar Donetsk visit Olympique Marseille with a 2-0 cushion from the first leg while Dynamo Kiev take on Paris St Germain after drawing 0-0 last week in Paris.

"Shakhtar is up 2-0, and Dynamo is playing at home," said Platini. "But the best teams will win."

The winners of the two pairings will go on to meet each other in the semi-final round.

Platini was in Ukraine leading a UEFA delegation investigating Ukrainian preparations for Euro 2012 preparations which the country hosts together with Poland. (dpa)