Atlético Madrid and Marseille have the edge as they go into the second legs of the
UEFA Europa League semi-finals, but their respective opponents, Arsenal and
Salzburg, are not without hope of reaching the final, scheduled for the evening of
Wednesday 16 May at the Parc OL in Lyon.
Arsenal only have themselves to blame for not taking a lead to the Spanish capital,
having had one man more than their opponents for 80 minutes at the Emirates and then,
having finally converted one of the many chances they created, through Alexandre
Lacazette’s fine downward header, stupidly allowing Antoine Griezmann to snatch a
breakaway equaliser eight minutes from time when it seemed that their besieged
opponents were more than happy to settle for a 1-0 defeat.
Salzburg, on the other hand, were entitled to curse their bad luck in losing 2-0 at the
Stade Vélodrome. Marseille’s first goal, from Florian Thauvin, was helped into the net
with a forearm, Stefan Lainer had a strong claim for a penalty refused, and a late half-
volley from substitute Fredrik Gulbrandsen ricocheted back off the inside of the post. The
Austrians will be hoping for a major turnaround in fortune at home.
Here are my second-leg previews and predictions:
Atlético Madrid (1) v Arsenal (1)
If Arsenal are to give the departing Arsène Wenger a fitting finale to his 22-year reign in
his native France, and keep alive their only hope of giving the man who replaces him a
berth in next season’s Champions League, they must do something that no visiting team
to the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano has managed since January – score a goal.
The Gunners have racked up 30 already in their debut Europa League campaign – the
most in the competition – with an average of two per game on their travels, so they are
certainly equipped to end Atlético’s 11-match run of clean sheets. But it was evident in
the first leg, even with their reduced numbers following Šime Vrsaljko’s early dismissal,
that Diego Simeone’s team remain immensely difficult to break down.
Jan Oblak enhanced his reputation as one of the world’s top goalkeepers with a number
of impressive stops, saving the best until last with a wonderful fingertip effort to deny
Aaron Ramsey a late winner, while Diego Godín and José María Giménez demonstrated
why Uruguay will probably have one of the most solid central defences on show at the
forthcoming World Cup.
Atlético don’t have to score to go through, but with Diego Costa apparently fit again to
return alongside Griezmann, the potency of their attack is doubled. It is unlikely, despite
the strength of their rearguard, that Atlético will opt to have what they hold – i.e. an
away-goal advantage – and with Arsenal probing and pressing hard for a goal, openings
are sure to be there for the home side to exploit.
Prediction: Arsenal to give it their best shot, maybe even take it to extra time, but
Atlético to prevail. 2-1 (Atlético 3-2 on aggregate)
Did you know? Arsenal have never previously lost a UEFA competition semi-final to
non-English opposition, their only last-four defeat coming against Manchester United in
the 2008/09 Champions League.
Salzburg (0) v Marseille (2)
This is the biggest club fixture in Austria since the first leg of the 1994 UEFA Cup final,
when Salzburg were defeated 1-0 by Internazionale (and then lost the second leg by the
same scoreline in Milan). It is the start of a huge week for the ‘Red Bull’ outfit, who need
a draw at home to Sturm Graz on Sunday to wrap up their fifth Austrian Bundesliga title
in a row and then face the same opponents the following Wednesday in the final of the
Austrian Cup – in which they will hope to complete a fifth successive domestic double.
As far as the locals are concerned, however, the game against Marseille is the Big One.
Part of the Europa League furniture since the competition was revamped in 2009,
Salzburg have never enjoyed a season like this. Indeed, in seven previous campaigns they
had never gone beyond the round of 16.
German coach Marco Rose, who led the club to victory in the UEFA Youth League last
season, has done an incredibly good job in his debut campaign with the seniors, and has
yet to suffer a defeat at home in any competition, but can his team stage another
remarkable second-leg comeback – just as they did in the quarter-finals against Lazio,
when they were also obliged to retrieve a two-goal deficit going into the second leg,
eventually winning 4-1 after a 2-4 defeat in Rome.
Marseille have been brilliant at home in Europe this season but far less formidable on the
road. Dimitri Payet, who provided both assists in the first-leg win and now tops the
competition charts with six, has been exceptional during the knockout phase (he barely
featured in the group stage) and has the skill and cunning, as well as the experience, to
inspire his team through to the final. One more piece of magic from the Marseille skipper
– just one – could make all the difference.
Prediction: A mighty effort from Salzburg but Marseille’s first-leg advantage to prove
decisive. 2-1 (Marseille 3-2 on aggregate)
Did you know? No French or Austrian club has ever won the Europa League or UEFA
Cup
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