While the Champions League draw is split across two weeks through the last 16, the Europa League remains intense as the competition plays catch up with its more reputable older brother.
The second legs of the last-16 ties take place this Thursday, featuring a pair of Premier League clubs in different situations as they pursue a quarter final berth.
Dynamo Kyiv vs CHELSEA (5:55pm)
Dynamo Kyiv were thoroughly outplayed at Stamford Bridge last Thursday. Having failed to score an away goal, the hosts are as good as eliminated with a three-goal deficit to overturn.
Dynamo will be forced to chase the game early on and could leave themselves exposed to Chelsea on the counter as a result.
Maurizio Sarri has the opportunity to rotate heavily for this match, perhaps handing starts to Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek after the duo came off the bench in the 1-1 draw with Wolves on Sunday.
Each Premier League slip up increases the importance of the Europa League for Sarri’s side. Progression might not be under threat here, but a good performance is needed after a poor outing at the weekend.
This will be much more challenging than the first leg was for Chelsea. The chasm in quality was evident in west London, though, making another victory probable.
TIP: Chelsea to win @ 59/50
PREDICTED SCORE: Dynamo Kyiv 1-3 Chelsea (Priced at 16/1 with 888sport)
ARSENAL vs RENNES (8pm)
Sokratis’ red card and some reckless defending have Arsenal up against it here.
A 3-1 defeat in France means a big performance is needed from the Gunners, who will be full of confidence having beaten Manchester United 2-0 at the weekend. Unai Emery’s side have won five in a row at the Emirates and are 3/10 to win this one.
Rennes have only lost twice in 2019 and notched a brilliant 3-1 away win against Real Betis in the last round of the Europa League.
The visitors will fancy their chances of finding the net after causing Arsenal plenty of problems in the first leg. Hatem Ben Arfa was superb last week and could be the difference maker.
This is in the balance. The 10/13 price on both teams to score looks like a good bet. Use 888sport’s betting calculator to build your accumulator around those odds.
TIP: Both teams to score @ 10/13
PREDICTED SCORE: Arsenal 3-1 Rennes (Priced at 9/1 with 888sport)
Inter vs EINTRACHT FRANKFURT (8pm)
Inter will have been relatively happy with the 0-0 in Germany last week. Both teams had chances to win the match, but Nerazzurri will be pleased to be in a position where a win in Milan sends them through to the next round.
A Serie A weekend win against SPAL was a handy confidence boost ahead of the second leg.
Eintracht Frankfurt swept Fortuna Dusselforf aside at the weekend to keep their hopes of a top four spot in the Bundesliga alive. Adolf Hutter’s side have not lost in 2019.
Their attack has been free-scoring for most of the season and one goal on Thursday will change the shape of the tie and make them heavy favourites.
Scoreless draws often favour the home side. Playing in the San Siro is a challenge for any team, but Frankfurt’s attack is a good bet to fire them into the last eight with the away goals rule playing a big part.
TIP: Eintracht Frankfurt to go through @ 17/20
PREDICTED SCORE: Inter 2-2 Eintracht Frankfurt (Priced at 21/2 with 888sport)
Slavia Prague vs SEVILLA (8pm)
Slavia Prague staged the upset of the Europa League first legs, drawing 2-2 in Seville last week.
Despite conceding in the first minute, the Czech side came back, scoring twice before half-time. Sevilla were dominant, however, allowing Slavia Prague just six shots in the 90 minutes.
The first leg disappointment was the latest in a long line of poor results for Sevilla this calendar year.
A 5-2 win against Real Sociedad at the weekend will have given the fans some hope ahead of the second leg, though, and kept Pablo Machin’s hopes of a top four finish alive.
Machin’s side face a challenge to balance attack and defence in Prague. Their 5/6 price to progress is fair value, considering their superiority in the first leg.
TIP: Sevilla to go through @ 5/6
PREDICTED SCORE: Slavia Prague 1-2 Sevilla (Priced at 15/2 with 888sport)
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
