Europa League: Round of 32 second leg preview

The UEFA Europa League trims its field by 16 this week with the second legs of the round of 32. Last week’s results have turned a number of them into dead rubbers, with half of the ties virtually settled already.

Barring a dramatic second-leg turnaround, representatives of the following teams can already book their flights to Nyon for Friday’s round of 16 draw – Arsenal, Athletic Bilbao, Atlético Madrid, RB Leipzig, Lokomotiv Moscow, Marseille, Milan and Sporting.

Seven of those teams struck three goals in the first leg, the odd one out being Atlético, who scored four. All bar Marseille did the business away from home, but as Rudi Garcia’s team did not concede at the Stade Vélodrome to a Braga side that haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last 23 European outings, a successful qualification for the Portuguese club would require an extraordinary turn of events.

Also in the driving seat going into the second legs are Salzburg, Dynamo Kiev and Viktoria Plzeň, who all claimed score draws away from home first time out, and although they are far from home and dry, Lyon have the upper hand as they travel to Spain to take on Villarreal armed with a 3-1 lead.

With the CSKA Sofia v Red Star Belgrade tie (goalless in the first leg) settled on Wednesday, that leaves just three of Thursday’s ties hanging in the balance. Celtic and FCSB (aka Steaua Bucharest) both have a 1-0 first-leg lead to protect as they travel to face Zenit and Lazio, respectively, while Michy Batshuayi’s last-minute winner for Borussia Dortmund against Atalanta gives the German side a slender 3-2 advantage to take to Italy in what promises to be the most closely-fought encounter of the week.

This is how I see Thursday’s ties going. Predicted qualifiers are underlined.

Lokomotiv Moscow (3) v Nice (2)

Manuel Fernandes’ first-leg hat-trick eclipsed two-goal Mario Balotelli in the south of France, and the Russian league leaders should add to their lead in Moscow.

Atlético Madrid (4) v FC Copenhagen (1)

The only former Europa League winners in the field came from behind to trounce the Danish champions. It’s job already done for Diego Simeone’s side.

Dynamo Kiev (1) v AEK Athens (1)

AEK salvaged a sixth successive Europa League draw with a late equaliser in Athens. This one could go to extra time and maybe even penalties.

Zenit (0) v Celtic (1)

Callum McGregor’s excellent strike in Glasgow gives Celtic the edge, but Zenit’s home record in this competition is formidable. The away goals rule could come into play.

Leipzig (3) v Napoli (1)

Napoli have bigger fish to fry in Serie A – and it showed in their timid second-half collapse to Timo Werner and co in Naples. A second-leg comeback is highly unlikely.

Villarreal (1) v Lyon (3)

Memphis Depay’s wonder strike last week could prove crucial. Villarreal will probably add to their record number of Europa League wins but it probably won’t be enough.

Viktoria Plzeň (1) v Partizan (1)

The runaway Czech league leaders have won all four of their home games in this season’s Europa League and should make it five at the Serbian champions’ expense.

Lazio (0) v FCSB (1)

The Romanians were triumphant in Bucharest, but Lazio were unlucky not to score and have the chance at home to make good their misfortune – and do enough to go through.

Sporting (3) v Astana (1)

Sporting have six players one yellow card away from a suspension. Coach Jorge Jesus may be tempted to rest them given that the tie is already in the Portuguese club’s pocket.

Atalanta (2) v Borussia Dortmund (3)

This is the toughest tie to call. Atalanta won all of their group games in their adopted European home of Reggio Emilia, and Josip Iličič’s two away goals could be vital.

Athletic Bilbao (3) v Spartak Moscow (1)

Aritz Aduriz, Athletic’s 37-year-old striker, is the competition’s leading marksman this season and must be fancied to score for the sixth successive Europa League game.

Salzburg (2) v Real Sociedad (2)

Salzburg’s last-gasp leveller in San Sebastian means they have not lost in 16 European matches, but the Basques are the competition’s top-scoring team and could end that run.

Milan (3) v Ludogorets (0)

If Milan are true to type, they will figure that the tie is already won, take it easy in front of their own supporters and casually freewheel into the round of 16.

Arsenal (3) v Östersund (0)

With a 3-0 lead and an EFL Cup final against Manchester City just three days later, Arsenal will almost certainly rest all of their Wembley starters. The Swedish minnows will lap up the occasion, maybe even avoid defeat, but their European adventure is over.

Braga (0) v Marseille (3)

Marseille have a pretty dreadful record in Portugal (played six, won none, lost five) but they can afford to suffer another defeat and still make it through to the round of 16.