Lyon v Manchester United
Paulo Fonseca’s touchline ban is not holding Lyon back in their pursuit to finish the season as the best of the rest in Ligue 1. PSG wrapped up the title at the weekend but the other Champions League spots are very much up for grabs. Lyon returned to winning ways by beating Lille 2-1 at the weekend to make it six wins from their last seven. The team have won eight of their 11 matches since Fonseca arrived in January, which has taken them to within striking distance of second-placed Marseille. The 52-year-old pledged to bring attacking football back to Lyon and he is living up to his word.
Unfortunately for Lyon, they will be missing their young wingers Ernest Nuamah and Malick Fofana when they host Manchester United on Thursday, which is a huge blow given their penchant for attacking down the flanks. The good news for Fonseca is that he will be able to call upon Rayan Cherki and Thiago Almada to carry out the attacking duties either side of Corentin Tolisso, with Georges Mikautadze leading the line.
Lyon’s wingers should find plenty of space in the final third against a United side that rely heavily on wing-backs to provide width. Ruben Amorim is slowly recovering players; Luke Shaw made the bench for the Manchester derby and Matthijs de Ligt and Kobbie Mainoo should be available. Amad Diallo, Lisandro Martínez, Jonny Evans and Ayden Heaven are long-term absentees but, for the first time in a while, United have experienced players on the bench, which could prove key.
Given their woeful performances in the Premier League this season – United are 13th in the table with a negative goal difference – they need to win the Europa League to get back into the Champions League. There is one good omen for United, though – the last time these teams met, in the Champions League in 2008, United won the tie and went on to win the competition. Prediction: Manchester United to progress
Tottenham v Eintracht Frankfurt
“I always win things in my second year,” said Ange Postecoglou in September. After a deeply disappointing domestic season, the Australian needs success in the Europa League to maintain that record. Otherwise, the only cup Spurs fans will see this year is the one the manager held to his ear during his team’s defeat at Chelsea last week. Having ended a three-game winless run by beating Southampton at the weekend, Spurs will hope to use that momentum when they welcome Eintracht Frankfurt to north London.
Tottenham will be without Dejan Kulusevski, Kevin Danso and Radu Dragusin. Rodrigo Bentancur returns from a ban and could replace Pape Sarr in what would be the only change to the side that beat AZ Alkmaar at home last month. Spurs utilised home advantage to overcome the Dutch side, winning 3-1 in the second leg after a 1-0 defeat on the road, and they will need a good start against the German side this week.
Eintracht, who are third in the Bundesliga, were beaten by Werder Bremen at the weekend and have injuries to key players. There are concerns over Kevin Trapp, Ansgar Knauff and Can Uzun, while January signing Elye Wahi misses out. Even with a number of absentees, they are not to be underestimated, as Ajax fans will testify.
Their away form isn’t great but they have beaten Ajax, Stuttgart and Borussia Dortmund on home turf this season. If they are still in the tie come full time on Thursday, then Spurs’ quest for silverware may drag on for another season. Prediction: Eintracht Frankfurt to progress
Rangers v Athletic Bilbao
Rangers supporters have witnessed some surprise results under Barry Ferguson’s stewardship. Having beaten Fenerbahce and Celtic, they fell to a shock 2-0 home defeat by Hibernian at the weekend. The fans will be eager to see more of the former in their quarter-final against Athletic Club, who will be motivated by the prospect of playing the final at their home stadium in Bilbao.
Mohamed Diomande and John Souttar are suspended for Rangers. The latter’s absence may prompt a return to a three-man backline with Leon Balogun and James Tavernier flanking Robin Pröpper at the back. Nedim Bajrami, meanwhile, could deputise for Diomande behind Cyriel Dessers in the final third.
Rangers host Athletic Club at a good time. The Basque side have won only two of their last seven, and have lost their last two away European matches. They also have injury concerns in defence, with Yuri Berchiche out and Yeray Álvarez a doubt after the pair suffered knocks in Sunday’s goalless draw with Villarreal. Íñigo Ruiz de Galarreta’s absence means Beñat Prados should partner Mikel Jauregizar at the base of the midfield in Glasgow. Prediction: Athletic to progress
Bodø/Glimt v Lazio
Home comforts have benefited Bodø/Glimt in the Europa League this season. The Norwegian side have faltered on their travels, but turned it around at the Aspmyra Stadion. They won knockout ties against Twente and Olympiakos having lost the away leg, and will hope to maximise home advantage once again this week against Lazio. The defending Eliteserien champions have also been fortunate with injuries, with Kjetil Knutsen able to field a relatively unchanged XI. They face the Italian side on Thursday with no regulars missing.
Lazio welcome Samuel Gigot back from a ban and his return is a boost given that Patric is ruled out due to injury. Nicolò Rovella serves the second of a two-game suspension, so Marco Baroni may continue with a midfield pairing of Matteo Guendouzi and Matías Vecino. Nuno Tavares’s absence means Luca Pellegrini will probably start at left-back for this one.
Lazio have been impressive in the Europa League this season, finishing top of the league phase and then beating Viktoria Plzen in the last-16. They should have too much quality for Bodø/Glimt. Prediction: Lazio to progress
This is an article by WhoScored