Europa League Previews: Eintracht-Barcelona and West Ham-Lyon among quarter-final showdowns
We're at the quarter-final stage of the Europa League as the likes of RB Leipzig, Barcelona, Atalanta and West Ham seek to write their name into the history books. Ahead of Thursday's ties, we preview the action, starting with the early kick off in Germany.
RB Leipzig were given a bye into the next round of the Europa League following Spartak Moscow's disqualification from the competition, so have had some additional rest for their quarter-final meetings with Atalanta. Domenico Tedesco has recently welcomed Marcel Halstenberg back to action after the German missed a significant chunk of the season owing to injury.
Yussuf Poulsen is sidelined for the Bundesliga giants, while Tyler Adams will be assessed having missed the win over Borussia Dortmund. Christopher Nkunku extended his good run of form with a goal and two assists in the resounding 4-1 victory over Marco Rose's side. Another player in good form, particularly in the Europa League, is Atalanta forward Ruslan Malinovskyi, who had a direct hand three of their four goals against Bayer Leverkusen in the last-16.
The Ukrainian is set to partner Luis Muriel on the frontline, while Duvan Zapata was fit enough for the bench against Napoli at the weekend and is an option for Gian Piero Gasperini. Josip Ilicic and Rafael Toloi are absent for the Serie A side. At wing-back, Davide Zappacosta and Joakim Maehle are battling to start on the left.
Score Prediction: RB Leipzig 2-1 Atalanta
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Barcelona
Chairman of the supervisory board of Eintracht Frankfurt Fußball AG Philip Holzer stated that the club have received 250,000 ticket requests for Thursday's welcome of Barcelona in what promises to be a cracking game in Germany. Head coach Oliver Glasner fortunately welcomes back Martin Hinteregger after he missed the 0-0 with table footers Greuther Fuerth through suspension.
That said Glasner is without Ragnar Ache and Diant Ramaj, though the duo haven't featured since January. Eintracht could well go unchanged from their second leg stalemate with Real Betis here, which would mean a 3-4-3 setup. In the Barcelona camp, Xavi remains without a host of players through injury, with Ansu Fati and Samuel Umtiti among those absent, though the former is back in training.
Dani Alves was left out of Barcelona's Europa League squad, so Sergino Dest is set to start at right-back given Sergi Roberto is also injured. Ousmane Dembele has been in excellent form in the league, but didn't start either leg against Galatasaray, so Adama Traore may have another chance to feature.
Score Prediction: Eintracht Frankfurt 0-2 Barcelona
West Ham made it three wins from their last four at Everton's expense on Sunday as they earned a 2-1 win in front of their own fans. Jarrod Bowen capped his return to action with a goal and he is expected to line up on the right flank. Bowen's availability is a boost as Manuel Lanzini is banned, with Said Benrahma and Nikola Vlasic competing to deputise in the final third.
Vladimir Coufal made the bench against Everton and could make his first appearance since February here, which comes at a good time as Ben Johnson needs assessing following a hamstring issue. Angelo Ogbonna is a long-term absentee, so expect Craig Dawson to start alongside Kurt Zouma in front of cup goalkeeper Alphonse Areola. Lyon ended a three-match winless run with a 3-2 win over Angers at the weekend, a victory Jerome Boateng started.
The German was taken off after an hour and may not be risked here, so Thiago Mendes is set to partner Castello Lukeba at the heart of the defence. Tete scored on his Lyon debut against Angers, though is ineligible for the Europa League, while Maxence Caqueret, Rayan Cherki and Sinaly Diomande are absent. Karl Toko Ekambi was set to miss the game at West Ham after recently testing positive for COVID, but will now link up with the squad on Wednesday evening, and his return is a huge boost for the French side. Former Tottenham man Tanguy Ndombele is likely to be given a frosty reception at the London Stadium.
Score Prediction: West Ham 1-1 Lyon
Braga earned an impressive 3-2 win over Liga Bwin powerhouse Benfica on Friday night to boost morale ahead of their welcome of Rangers. The Portuguese side have now lost just one of their last nine competitive matches and have lost just three times at home this season, so Rangers have their work cut out.
Head coach Carlos Carvalhal could go with the same XI that beat French side Monaco 2-0 at home in the last round, which would mean there is no space in the side for Diogo Leite in the favoured three-man defence. Nuno Sequeira and Roger Fernandes are again ruled out. While Braga geared up for their quarter-final first leg game with a win, Rangers lost 2-1 at home to rivals Celtic to fall six points off the pace in the race for domestic glory.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst will hope his side can quickly bounce back with a first leg success, but they are up against it in Portugal. Striker Alfredo Morelos missed the Old Firm through injury and needs assessing here, however Ianis Hagi and Nnamdi Ofoborh are ruled out. Aaron Ramsey scored the opener in the defeat to Celtic and will use that as a confidence boost here, with the Welshman set to start alongside Ryan Kent and Joe Aribo in support of Kemar Roofe.
Score Prediction: Braga 2-0 Rangers
