Europa League Round of 16 Preview

The Europa League action continues tonight as team justle for the last eight tickets.

Below are some of the matches to look forward to tonight in the competition.

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LYON VS PORTO

After a VAR review for a potential offside in the build-up, Lucas Paqueta’s 59th-minute strike broke the deadlock and proved to be enough for the French outfit to secure a slender one-goal advantage. Lyon’s victory over Porto was in fact their first in five attempts against them in European competition.

Fortunately for Lyon, the away goals rule has been scrapped this season. Thus, they must simply avoid defeat on Thursday night to advance to the last eight for the first time since 2016-17.

Lyon’s Jerome Boateng, Sinaly Diomande, Rayan Cherki and Lenny Pintor will not be available for the match on Thursday night.
As for Porto, Pepe and Wilson Manafa are both unfit for the match.

FRANKFURT VS REAL BETIS

A stroke of luck helped the German outfit take the lead in the 14th minute. An out-swinging cross from Filip Kostic curled all the way past Claudio Bravo into the top-right corner. Then a brilliant goal from Nabil Fekir makes it 1-1 after which Daichi Kamada netted the second goal for Frankfurt that gave his team the lead.

Frankfurt will be without Danny da Costa, Sebastian Rode, Ragnar Ache and Diant Ramaj due to injuries.

As for Betis, Alex Moreno, Hector Bellerin, Martin Montoya and Andres Guardado are all sidelined due to injuries.

WEST HAM VS SEVILLA

Munir El Haddadi scored the only goal of the game. This,handed Sevilla the advantage ahead of the reverse fixture in England.

Given the chances that West Ham squandered in the first leg, Julen Lopetegui will be delighted that Sevilla makes the journey to the Premier League outfit with a narrow lead.

Michail Antonio suffered a huge injury in the last match while Jarrod Bowen is still struggling with a heel injury.

Sevilla will have to make do without Lucas Ocampos and Thomas Delaney due to match suspension and match ban respectively.

GALATASARAY VS BARCELONA

Having been held to 0-0 draw in front of their own fans in the first leg of their last 16 tie, Barcelona will endeavour to advance to the Europa League quarter-finals when Galatasaray welcome them to Turkey for the second leg.

Ardan Turan is expected to miss out on a reunion with his former club due to injury. Kaan Arslan, Halil Dervisoglu, Ismail Cipe, Baris Yilmaz and Alpaslan Ozturk were not involved at the weekend either.

Meanwhile, Barcelona’s long term absentees Ansu Fati, Sergi Roberto, Alejandro Balde and Samuel Umtiti have been joined on the sidelines by Gerrard Pique.

A big week of football lies ahead! 🤩

✅ Round of 16 second legs
🗓️ Quarter-final draw on Friday #UELdraw | #UEL pic.twitter.com/5iLvv4S2oF

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) March 14, 2022

LEVERKUSEN VS ATALANTA

An entertaining encounter in Bergamo raises the prospect of another close contest for a place in the quarter-finals. The hosts are trailing 3-2 from last week.

Leverkusen have won 17 of their 25 home games in the Europa League and before a loss against Young Boys last season.

Following their first leg success, Atalanta have won each of their three Europa League knockout matches since dropping down from the Champions League at the end of last year.

Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz will be sidelined for the rest of the season following an ACL tear against Koln at the weekend. Patrik Schick will be absent from the match as well.

As for Atalanta, Duvan Zapata and Josip Illicic remain out of action, and in the former’s absence, a series of players have recently filled upfront as a ‘false nine’.