Its crunch time in the second tier of European football as the second legs in the last-16 will wrap up what has already been a scintillating round of matches.
Europa League fixtures:
Thursday, March 15th
Lokomotiv (0) vs (3) Atletico
Kyiv (2) vs (2) Lazio
Bilbao (1) vs (3) Marseille
Zenit (1) vs (2) Leipzig
Plzen (0) vs (2) Sporting
Salzburg (2) vs (1) Dortmund
Lyon (1) vs (0) CSKA
Arsenal (2) vs (0) Milan
Dynamo Kiev (2) vs (2) Lazio
Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex, Kiev
Dynamo Kiev have a real shot at reaching the quarter-finals of the
Europa League for the first time in four seasons when they welcome Lazio to their 70,050-seater cauldron of an arena following a massively impressive 2-2 draw in the Italian capital last week. The Ukranians boast the big Congolese forward Dieumerci Mbokani in their ranks, who has netted 8 times in 15 league appearances for them and if given a chance in Europe on Thursday, could prove to be a real threat at the focal point of the Kiev attack. The Eagles are winless in their last four while Dynamo are on a three-match unbeaten run in all competitions.
Athletic Bilbao (1) vs (3) Marseille
San Mames Stadium, Bilbao
The Eagles have had a torrid time of things so far this season and currently find themselves in the bottom half of the La Liga table after notching up just eight wins from their 28 matches played but are aiming to make it through to the last eight of the Europa League for the second time in three seasons after their solitary away goal in the south of France a week ago gave the Spaniards a sliver of hope. Marseille on the other hand are seriously making a name for themselves as contenders for the title. Rudi Garcia’s side however are yet to win away from home in the competition in 2017/18 which is a concern ahead of Thursday’s clash.
Zenit St. Petersburg (1) vs (2) RB Leipzig
Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg
Zenit only just recently returned to domestic action in Russia following a three-month spell on the sidelines over the cold winter period. The Lions overcame Celtic 3-1 on aggregate in the previous round after the Hoops had inflicted a first defeat over them in the Europa League this season. Zenit have a perfect home record though with four wins from their four matches played at the Krestovsky scoring 11 goals conceding just three. The Germans have just two wins from their last seven in all competitions over the course of the last month or so, over Napoli and Zenit respectively, as they continue on their path to maiden European glory.
Red Bull Salzburg (2) vs (1) Borussia Dortmund
Red Bull Arena, Salzburg
Borussia Dortmund have it all to do after Valon Berisha’s second-half double sealed the all-important victory away from home for Salzburg. The Austrian’s have suffered just one defeat all season with Israeli striker and top-scorer Munas Dabbur firing in 16 goals from 23 appearances in the league. Dortmund will need on-loan Chelsea forward Michy Batshuayi to be on top form come Thursday. The big Belgian has scored an astonishing seven goals in just nine matches since joining the Germans in January.
Arsenal (2) vs (0) AC Milan
The Emirates Stadium, London
Arsene Wenger will have gone some way to silencing his ever-present critics by beating AC Milan at the San Siro for just the second time in their history, erasing the bad memories of a 4-0 first-leg defeat that put to bed any hopes Arsenal had of progressing when the pair met at the same stage in the Champions League six years ago. The Europa League now looks the most likely route back into that coveted competition as Sevilla and Man United have recently shown. The Gunners have never lost to Milan in four matches at home; while in seven matches total against them Arsenal have three wins compared to Milan’s two with two draws.
