© Imago
After an extraordinary away win last week, Lazio hold a slim lead heading into Thursday’s conclusion of their Europa League last-16 clash with Viktoria Plzen.
The Italian side will start with a one-goal advantage at Stadio Olimpico, as they fight it out to face either Bodo/Glimt or Olympiacos in the quarter-finals.
We say: Lazio 2-2 Viktoria Plzen (Lazio win 4-3 on aggregate)
Previously a formidable force on Roman soil, Lazio have recently won just one of their last seven league games at the Olimpico and are showing signs of weakness.
Yet, their first-leg lead stands the Biancocelesti in good stead, as even a home draw would send them through to the quarter-finals at Plzen’s expense.
> Europa League preview: Lazio vs Plzen
© Imago
Faced with an uphill task to overturn a huge deficit, Olympiacos welcome Bodo/Glimt for the return leg of their Europa League round of 16 encounter.
The Red-Whites suffered a 3-0 defeat in the first leg in Norway, a scoreline that failed to reflect the balance of play in a clash where their profligacy proved costly.
We say: Olympiacos 2-0 Bodo/Glimt (Bodo/Glimt to win 3-2 on aggregate)
Given Olympiacos’ strong home record, they are likely to claim victory on the night, but overturning the heavy first-leg deficit remains a daunting challenge.
> Europa League preview: Olympiacos vs Bodo/Glimt
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Eintracht Frankfurt will look to see the job through in the second leg of the Europa League last 16 tie at home to Ajax on Thursday night.
Dino Toppmoller’s men are 2-1 up from the first leg in Amsterdam last week, after Hugo Larsson and Ellyes Skhiri goals turned the match on its head following Brian Brobbey’s opener for the Eredivisie leaders.
We say: Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Ajax
After a very impressive performance in the Dutch capital last week, Frankfurt are fancied to progress, but there will be some slight concerns about carrying their poor league form over into Europe.
Ajax have won 10 in a row in the Eredivisie, but after scraping through against Union SG in the last round, this may be one step too far, and their European journey will more than likely come to an end here.
> Europa League preview: Frankfurt vs Ajax
© Imago
Facing a one-goal deficit after last week’s first leg, Athletic Bilbao will try to keep their Europa League dream alive by beating Roma on Thursday.
The clubs clash at San Mames – the venue for this season’s final – as Athletic attempt to pull off a last-16 comeback and move closer to starring in May’s showpiece.
We say: Athletic Bilbao 1-1 Roma (Roma win 3-2 on aggregate)
Roma may have won just two of their last 12 away games in Spain, losing eight, but they are a team transformed under returning hero Claudio Ranieri.
Confidence is sky-high in the visitors’ camp, while their hosts have been off the boil for a few weeks. So, Athletic’s hopes of a home final could be curtailed.
> Europa League preview: Athletic Bilbao vs Roma
© Imago
Tottenham Hotspur will need to overturn a first-leg deficit against AZ Alkmaar in North London in the Europa League on Thursday night if they are to keep any hopes of silverware this season alive.
Lucas Bergvall’s freak own goal is all that separates the sides following last Thursday’s clash in the Netherlands, with a place in the quarter-finals against Eintracht Frankfurt or Ajax up for grabs.
We say: Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 AZ Alkmaar
Spurs have been very good at home in Europe this season, barring a few nervy minutes at the end against Roma, scoring nine goals in their four league phase matches here, and the team will be under no illusions over how important this match is for their season.
AZ have lost on all previous nine trips to England, and while they will certainly get chances in front of goal here, they will feel as though they missed a big opportunity not winning by more goals in the first leg, where they were largely dominant.
> Europa League preview: Spurs vs AZ
> Will Van de Ven partner Romero in defence? Predicted Spurs lineup vs. AZ
> Midfielder banned, Kulusevski latest: Spurs injury, suspension list for AZ clash
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Boasting a 3-1 first-leg advantage, Rangers will endeavour to finish the job when they welcome Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce to Ibrox for the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday night.
The winners of this contest will set up a quarter-final showdown with either Roma or Athletic Bilbao.
We say: Rangers 2-2 Fenerbahce (Rangers to win 5-3 on aggregate)
Rangers relished their underdog status last week and they will back themselves to prevail again on home soil, considering they have not lost any of their previous five encounters with Turkish opposition at Ibrox (W3 D2).
It is difficult to write off any Mourinho side in Europe, and Fenerbahce certainly have the players at their disposal to turn this tie around, but another special European night at Ibrox could be in store for Rangers and they should have enough to progress on aggregate.
> Europa League preview: Rangers vs Fenerbahce
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With one foot in the quarter-finals, Lyon will be looking to finish the job at Parc Olympique Lyonnais, where they host FCSB for the return leg of their round of 16 Europa League encounter.
Les Gones enter this contest with a two-goal cushion after securing a 3-1 victory in Romania last week.
We say: Lyon 2-0 FCSB (Lyon to win 5-1 on aggregate)
Given their formidable home form and historical dominance in this fixture, Lyon are well-placed to claim another victory on Thursday, sealing their progress with wins in both legs.
> Europa League preview: Lyon vs FCSB
© Imago
Vying for a place in the quarter-finals of the Europa League, Manchester United and Real Sociedad lock horns at Old Trafford for the second leg of their last-16 tie on Thursday night.
The two teams are level at 1-1 after last week’s first leg in San Sebastian where Joshua Zirkzee’s opener was cancelled out by a 70th-minute penalty from Mikel Oyarzabal.
We say: Manchester United 1-1 Real Sociedad (Man Utd to win 2-1 after extra time and 3-2 on aggregate)
There have only been nine goals scored across seven previous meetings between Man United and Real Sociedad, including four netted in the same game by the Red Devils in a 4-0 win in February 2021.
Another closely-fought contest between two teams struggling on the domestic front could therefore be on the cards, one that may be forced into extra time, but we are backing the hosts to find a way to come out on top at Old Trafford and prevail on aggregate to set up a quarter-final tie with either Lyon or FCSB.
> Europa League preview: Man Utd vs Real Sociedad
> Zubimendi, Oyarzabal, Kubo to return? Predicted Real Sociedad lineup vs. Man United
> Yoro concern, Ugarte hope: Predicted Man United lineup vs. Real Sociedad
