The Europa League Quarter-Finals 2024 are upon us, and football fans are gearing up for an exhilarating round of matchups that promise drama, excitement, and unforgettable moments. Let’s delve into the previews and explore what each clash has in store!
Liverpool Vs Atalanta
Liverpool squares off against Atalanta in what promises to be a captivating encounter between two formidable sides.
A bit of a surprise for many to see the Reds here instead of the other famous European competition, but a disappointing season last year saw them finish 5th. This year though, especially after Klopp announced his departure, it seems that there is a sense of urgency in Merseyside to deliver a historic farewell to the German coach. Liverpool are currently tied with Arsenal in 1st place and only 1 point ahead of City in what is shaping to be one of the most exciting title race recently. Can the Reds deliver a final European glory under Klopp?
From fighting relegation to playing Champions League football and a couple of Coppa Italia finals, Gasperini transformed the Italian club into a solid, attacking team that is more than capable of causing an upset against any “big” team. Make no mistake, the impact he’s had at the club so far is no short than Klopp’s at Liverpool. Atalanta are currently 6th in the league and still playing the cup semi final against Fiorentina. Will they be able to ruin Jurgen’s farewell tour and book a place in yet another semi this year?
Prediction: Liverpool is favored to advance, but Atalanta’s unpredictability could pose a challenge. Expect an intense battle with Liverpool narrowly edging out Atalanta.
AC Milan Vs Roma
As the former AC Milan and Roma coach Fabio Capello once said: It is impossible to name a favorite in the all-Italian tie!
Milan is probably one of those teams that’s got the talent to perform and deliver results, but you just never know which version you’re gonna get. Finishing 3rd in this Champions League’s group of death, after some disappointing results against Newcastle and Dortmund, Milan earned the automatic pass to the Europa League. They currently sit 2nd in the league, 14 points behind their rivals Inter who are on another level domestically! On the bright side, it seems that I Rossoneri are finally finding their form back and some stability that they desperately need. Will they carry this over to the final and important stage of the season?
On the other hand, who would’ve thought that former Roma legend de Rossi will have such a huge impact in a short period of time. It’s never easy to replace someone as big as Mourinho, but for the first time in a very long time, Roma seems to be playing consistently and with clear tactical instructions that allowed them to climb to 5th place in the league. Sure the Giallorossi have won just one of the sides’ last 13 meetings, losing the most recent one 3-1 at San Siro. However, a lot has changed since then! Can last year’s runners-up hang in?
Prediction: This matchup is too close to call, but Milan’s European experience gives them a slight advantage. Expect a tightly contested battle with AC Milan edging out Roma in a thrilling encounter.
Leverkusen vs West Ham
Leverkusen faces off against West Ham in a matchup that pits German efficiency against English resilience. Who’s coming on top?
Can we take a moment and appreciate what Xabi Alonso is doing at Leverkusen this season? Never in their 119-year history have Leverkusen won the German top flight. They have finished Bundesliga runners-up five times and lost the German Cup final 3 times! Undefeated so far this season, they sit 10 points clear defending champs Bayern Munich. Can they keep the magic going?
West Ham are currently 7th in the league, in what’s shaping to be a bit of a rollercoaster season for them. The Hammers topped group A with 15 points, and most recently thrashed Freiburg 5-0 to advance. The English side have now recorded an impressive 26 European victories in three successive campaigns under Moyes, lifting the Conference League on their way last term. Could they be the team to bring Leverkusen back down to earth?
Prediction: On papers West Ham have the talent to match Leverkusen’s attacking firepower. It will definitely be an entertaining clash, with Leverkusen emerging victorious in a closely contested battle.
Benfica Vs Marseille
Benfica takes on Marseille in a clash of contrasting styles and footballing philosophies, setting the stage for an intriguing tactical battle.
The Portuguese side dropped into the Europa League after being eliminated from the Champions League following a disappointing campaign. In the knockout-round play-offs, the Portuguese side edged past Toulouse 2-1 on aggregate and then held out for a 3-2 scoreline against Scottish giants Rangers. As per Opta, against Marseille, Benfica will play a 12th round-trip match against a French club in European competition.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been back to his best form in this crucial part of the season. The Gabon forward passed the 20-goal mark at the start of March and is also the Europa League top scorer. He’s definitely been the star of the show so far and he doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. After a shaky start to the season, the French team seems to be getting back on track.
Prediction: Benfica enters as favorites, but Marseille could cause problems.
Road to the Final
Here’s my prediction for the upcoming stages. What about you? Let us know what you think in the comments.
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