The Europa League’s eight quarter-finalists will be decided this Thursday, with the draw to follow on Friday lunchtime.
Here’s a preview of the round of 16 second legs:
Lokomotiv Moscow (0) v Atlético Madrid (3)
Diego Simeone’s team have one foot in the quarter-finals after their first-leg win in Madrid, which featured a belting long-range strike from the ever-reliable Saúl plus a goal on his first European appearance of the season from Diego Costa. Russian league leaders Lokomotiv are not quite out of the reckoning, but if Atlético add to their goal tally in Moscow, it’ll be curtains for 70-year-old Yuri Semin’s side. Prediction: 1-1 (Atlético 4-1 agg)
Dynamo Kiev (2) v Lazio (2)
Roma overcame Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday in a tight Champions League round of 16 tie, so can city rivals Lazio emulate them in the Europa League against another big Ukrainian club? Until recently the Serie A side’s away record in this competition was second to none, but Dynamo have not lost at home in seven European encounters. They used the away goals rule to their advantage in the last round and could do so again. Prediction: 1-1 (3-3 agg; Dynamo on away goals)
Athletic Bilbao (1) v Marseille (3)
Athletic are only still in this tie because of an outrageous piece of officiating at the Stade Vélodrome, where a goal-line assistant overruled the referee and wrongly persuaded him to award a non-existent ‘hand ball’ penalty, which Aritz Aduriz promptly converted. Marseille were much the better team, two goals from Lucas Ocampos and a Dimitri Payet special giving them a decent first-leg lead, but Rudi Garcia’s side are shaky on their travels. Prediction: 2-0 (3-3 agg; Athletic on away goal)
Viktoria Plzeň (0) v Sporting (2)
Two goals from Sporting’s January signing Fredy Montero have put the Lisbon club in charge of this tie. However, they will be aware that Plzeň have won all five of their UEFA League home games this season by a margin of two goals or more. The Czech team’s star striker Michael Krmenčík turns 25 on the day of the game, but it will probably be Sporting boss Jorge Jesus, taking charge of his 50th Europa League game, with the greater cause for celebration. Prediction: 2-1 (Sporting 3-2 agg)
Zenit (1) v RB Leipzig (2)
Zenit have the best chance of the three Russian sides to reach the quarter-finals – thanks to Domenico Criscito’s splendid late free-kick in the first game. Leipzig are unafraid of travel in this, their debut European campaign, having already won 4-1 at Monaco and 3-1 at Napoli, but Zenit’s home form in the Europa League is ridiculously good – 17 wins and one draw in 18 games – and Roberto Mancini’s men will draw on that for confidence. Prediction: 3-1 aet (Zenit 4-3 agg)
Lyon (1) v CSKA Moscow (0)
Lyon have won all three of their Europa League knockout games this season to make it six wins from their last seven in the competition, and they should have no trouble adding another victory to that sequence against a ragged CSKA side. Marcelo’s towering header was the difference between the two teams in Moscow, and more goals should follow back at the Parc OL – the venue for this year’s final. Prediction: 3-1 (Lyon 4-1 agg)
Arsenal (2) v AC Milan (0)
Amazingly, Arsenal’s last six European home games in the spring have all ended in defeat. They can even afford to make it seven against Milan as long as they don’t lose by more than one goal, but after surprising everyone by bossing the first game at the San Siro, they will surely be able to preserve their 2-0 advantage. The ‘Wenger out’ lobby will swell significantly if they don’t. Prediction: 1-1 (Arsenal 3-1 agg)
Salzburg (2) v Borussia Dortmund (1)
Salzburg prolonged their unbeaten run in Europe to a staggering 18 matches with their impressive 2-1 win in Germany – the first time they had ever won there. A first UEFA Europa League quarter-final spot awaits the competition regulars if they can extend that sequence to 19. Dortmund will be up for the challenge, though, and it could be an awkward evening for the Austrians. Prediction: 1-2 aet (3-3 agg; Dortmund on pens)
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