Manchester United travel to France to face Lyon
Still harbouring hopes of winning the Europa League to end a miserable season on a high, Manchester United travel to France to face Lyon at Groupama Stadium in the first leg of their quarter-final tie on Thursday night.
The two teams have previously met on four occasions in the Champions League, last doing so back in 2008 when the Red Devils won the competition, but this contest represents their first encounter in the Europa League.
Five days after suffering a 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, Man United played out a dull and disappointing goalless stalemate with rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford on Sunday – a lacklustre contest in which neither side covered themselves in glory.
European qualification via the Premier League is an unrealistic target for Man United, who are on course for their worst-ever season in the division as they are currently languishing in 13th place with just 38 points from 31 matches, seven points behind the top half of the table.
Man United have in fact lost just one of their last 21 Europa League games – a 3-0 defeat at Sevilla in April 2023 which is the only time during this run that they have failed to score – while the Red Devils have not lost any of their last 11 first-leg knockout ties in Europe since losing 1-0 to Barcelona in the 2019 Champions League.
Lyon are enjoying a better run of form at present and have particularly excelled on home soil, but they have looked vulnerable at times at the back, while Man United have had success in the Europa League this term so they may find a way to claim at least a share of the spoils to keep the tie nicely poised ahead of the second leg at Old Trafford.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Tottenham host Frankfurt in Europa League quarters
Under-pressure Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou will lead his side into the club’s biggest game of the season so far at home to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday night.
After losing in the EFL Cup semi-finals to Liverpool, everything has felt geared towards a Europa League charge to save Spurs’ season, with Postecoglou adamant he can still deliver a trophy within that two-year window.
It has not been an easy week for Postecoglou, as he has had to deal with more questions about his future, as well as seeing VAR deny him a potential point at Chelsea, while hearing the Spurs supporters boo his substitutes at Stamford Bridge.
Spurs were largely impressive in the UEL league phase, finishing fourth, and they are third-favourites to win the competition, but before even reaching the final, they will need to come through two challenging tests, as Lazio are set to await the winners of this tie, if they see off Bodo/Glimt.
For Frankfurt, this is a path they have trodden before, with it being their third Europa League quarter-final in six years.
Frankfurt very rarely lose in this competition, and they knocked West Ham United out across London in 2022, but their form has taken a slight hit recently, following Marmoush’s departure in particular.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Favourites Chelsea face off with Legia Warsaw
Conference League favourites Chelsea travel the Polish capital to face Legia Warsaw in the first leg of their quarter-final on Thursday evening.
Ever since qualifying for the competition, the Blues have been resounding favourites, and have backed up that tag with dominant performances throughout the season.
After finishing top of the league phase with a 100% record, Chelsea maintained that by winning both legs of their last-16 tie with Danish giants Copenhagen last month.
Enzo Maresca‘s side now have a favourable run to the final, knowing they will avoid the other opponents from the top-five leagues should they make it through this quarter-final.
Djurgardens or Rapid Vienna await the winners of this clash, and that is why Chelsea find themselves clear at the top of the markets to lift the trophy next month in Wroclaw, just slightly west of their next destination Warsaw.
Chelsea could, therefore, become the first club to win all three of UEFA’s active club competitions, while they also have a Cup Winners’ Cup crown in the trophy cabinet.
Chelsea should make it nine wins from nine in the competition this season here, but even though Maresca did rest a few players at the weekend, their full XI may not find it straightforward in the Polish capital.
Legia have shown some very promising signs across all competitions this season, but this will surely be a step too far in what has been a very encouraging European campaign.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Rome giants Lazio meet Bodo/Glimt
Two teams from very different places clash in the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday evening, as Rome giants Lazio meet Bodo/Glimt just outside the Arctic Circle.
The Serie A side strolled through the league phase, then edged through their first knockout tie; meanwhile, Glimt had to go through the playoffs before eliminating last year’s Conference League champions.
Effectively sealing progress from the last 16, Bodo/Glimt seized a 3-0 lead in the home leg of their tussle with Olympiacos, so a 2-1 away loss still sent them through on aggregate.
Kjetil Knutsen‘s men have therefore reached the quarter-final of a major European competition for just the second time to date, following their deep run in the 2021-22 Conference League.
Previously in this term’s Europa League, they only missed out on direct qualification from the league phase on goal difference, before overturning a 1-0 deficit in the playoffs with a dramatic 5-2 extra-time win over Twente.
At their headquarters, located north of the Arctic Circle, the Norwegian champions have regularly excelled, winning five of six games in this term’s continental campaign; finding the net at least three times on four separate occasions.
As Bodo/Glimt can pose a threat to any team on home turf – and Lazio have lost some momentum in recent weeks – the first-leg of this fascinating tie could be drawn.
The hosts love to attack, while their visitors boast plenty of talent and nous across the final third, so this may be an open contest.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Olympique Lyonnais 20:00 Manchester United
Tottenham Hotspur 20:00 Eintracht Frankfurt
Real Betis 20:00 JagielloniaBia?ystok
The post Today’s UEFA Europa League &Conference League Quarter-Finals appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.
Read Full Story
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS