The four Europa League semi-finalists will be decided on Thursday night as the road to Bilbao continues to narrow.
While attempted comebacks were the running theme in the Champions League quarter-finals, three of the four Europa League ties are all square heading into the second legs. The three British participants all have work to do if they’re to book their place in the last four, while Scandi underdogs Bodo/Glimt are chasing history against Lazio in Rome.
Never before has a Norwegian team progressed beyond the quarter-finals of any UEFA club competition, but Kjetil Knutsen’s side have given themselves a great chance of becoming the first.
A frenetic night of action beckons, and here’s how 90min is projecting the four ties to pan out.
|
Kick-off time (BST) |
Fixture |
Prediction |
|---|---|---|
|
20:00 |
Athletic Club vs Rangers |
3-0 |
|
20:00 |
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Tottenham |
2-1 |
|
20:00 |
Lazio vs Bodo/Glimt |
2-1 |
|
20:00 |
Man Utd vs Lyon |
1-2 (A.E.T) |
Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have endured miserable domestic campaigns, but this competition has offered both clubs hope of salvaging something from the season.
Ange Postecoglou is on the thinnest of ice in north London, and his Spurs team have a big challenge on Thursday. They should’ve beaten Eintracht Frankfurt at home last week and taken a lead with them to Germany, but reserve goalkeeper Kaua Santos performed wonderfully after Pedro Porro smartly cancelled out Hugo Ekitike’s early opener.
This is a side that has struggled to perform away from home in Europe since Mauricio Pochettino departed, and it’s going to take a monumental effort for them to progress into the last four.
Manchester United’s task looks less daunting on paper, although Ruben Amorim has already overseen his fair share of low points at Old Trafford since taking on the impossible job. Rayan Cherki’s stoppage-time equaliser in France means Lyon head into the second leg with the momentum, and they’ve been in excellent domestic form as of late.
Winning at the Theatre of Dreams would be a huge achievement for the French side, with United the only club still yet to lose a game in this competition this season.
The victor of that tie meets either Athletic Club or Rangers in the semis. With Bilbao hosting the final, Athletic have long been earmarked as potential champions on their home pitch, but they could only muster a draw against the ten men of Rangers at Ibrox last Thursday. Still, Ernesto Valverde’s side are heavy favourites to advance despite the Gers’ spirit and their impressive form on the road in the Europa League this term.
Nobody likes to travel to the Arctic Circle, and Roman teams have had particular issues in recent years. Lazio joined Roma on Bodo/Glimt’s list of notable scalps last week, and the Serie A side were fortunate to only lose 2-0.
The Norwegian outfit are far better on home soil, but Knutsen’s side have proven themselves to be more than competent on their travels this term. History beckons.
