Manchester United head to Spanish shock bundle Granada whereas Arsenal tackle Slavia Prague, however Ajax in opposition to Roma stands out as the tie of the spherical.
AFP Sport appears forward to the Europa League quarter-finals forward of the primary legs on Thursday
– Emery the Europa League professional –
Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) v Villarreal (ESP)
Unai Emery received the Europa League in three consecutive years with Sevilla and took Arsenal to the 2019 last. When he was appointed by Villarreal final summer time he stated he dreamed of successful a trophy with a membership that has been probably the most constant in Spain within the final 15 years, with 9 top-five finishes in La Liga. There have been 4 European semi-finals too, however they’ve by no means received a significant trophy or reached a last.
With Emery, they’re at present sixth in La Liga and have been glorious in Europe, cruising by way of their group earlier than eliminating Red Bull Salzburg and Dynamo Kiev. Now they face perennial Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb who’re having fun with their greatest European run because the Nineteen Sixties after beautiful Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspur within the final 16.
Croatian worldwide Mislav Orsic is the person to observe after his sensible hat-trick did for Spurs.
– Ajax eyeing one other last –
Ajax (NED) v Roma (ITA)
On paper that is the tie of spherical, because the runaway Dutch league leaders welcome guests from Serie A to Amsterdam for the primary leg.
Four-time European champions Ajax are having fun with one other deep run in continental competitors quickly after reaching the Europa League last in 2017 and the Champions League semi-finals in 2019. Erik ten Hag was in cost two years in the past and remains to be on the helm now with Ajax beating Lille and Young Boys after dropping out of the Champions League within the group stage.
Roma’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League from Serie A have been hit by a droop in type so the chance to get there by successful this competitors shouldn’t be sniffed at. They have already eradicated Braga and Shakhtar Donetsk within the knockout rounds.
– Slavia risk for Arsenal –
Arsenal (ENG) v Slavia Prague (CZE)
For the second yr operating Arsenal’s poor league type underneath Mikel Arteta has left them trying to cup competitions for success. FA Cup winners final yr, the Gunners’ solely hope of silverware this season is within the Europa League, and this competitors — by which they reached the 2019 last — virtually definitely gives their greatest probability of returning to the Champions League subsequent season.
After successful all six group video games after which edging Benfica and Olympiakos, Arsenal can however not afford to take Slavia Prague calmly. The Czech champions are on a 21-game unbeaten run which incorporates knocking Leicester City and Rangers out of Europe.
The latter tie was marred by accusations by Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara that he was racially abused by Slavia centre-back Ondrej Kudela, who will miss Thursday’s recreation in London with what his membership described as “a bruised nose” and “high fever”.
– Man Utd too sturdy for Granada? –
Granada (ESP) v Manchester United (ENG)
United shrugged off the frustration of being knocked out of the Champions League within the group stage to assert spectacular wins in opposition to Real Sociedad and AC Milan within the Europa League.
The Old Trafford aspect are chasing a primary trophy since successful this competitors in 2017 and on paper they need to be too sturdy for Granada, even when Anthony Martial is out injured and Eric Bailly has examined optimistic for Covid-19.
Granada have slumped to ninth in La Liga however have loved an excellent debut European marketing campaign, notably beating PSV Eindhoven away within the group stage and eliminating Napoli within the final 32 earlier than defeating United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s previous membership Molde of Norway within the spherical of 16.
“On Thursday we are going to play one of the most important matches in our history,” stated Granada coach Diego Martinez, who received the Europa League throughout his time as an assistant coach to Emery at Sevilla.
