After two exceptionally dramatic nights of Champions League action it feels difficult to get excited by the Europa League, even though we have now reached the last 16 of the competition. This is the reality of the football calendar we live with now. There is barely a moment to let the action sink in before the next game is in front of us. In that spirit, some quick thoughts looking ahead to the Europa League round of 16.
Benfica have the look of dark horses in this competition. The Portuguese giants were runners up in 2013 and 2014, suffering heartbreak in close finals to Chelsea and Sevilla respectively. While Dinamo Zagreb are not to be trifled with, Benfica are riding the crest of a wave under new manager Bruno Lage having climbed to the top of Primeira Liga for the first time this season after a fantastic win away to Porto. Before the English teams started taking the Europa League seriously as a route to the Champions League, it was the Portuguese teams that gave Spanish dominance a run for the money. Benfica look primed to do so again this season.
Many consider it their competition. Winning a trophy five times earns you the right to have an aura and sense of destiny. But I don’t recall ever seeing a Sevilla side at this stage of the competition running on fumes. Looking like they were nailed on for Champions League qualification from La Liga for half the season, Sevilla’s form has tailed off dramatically as they now sit six points behind a remarkable Getafe side in fourth. Having played almost 50 games already this season, surely Pablo Machin will have to prioritize between two fronts. A home win against Slavia Prague in the first leg is an absolute must. Can their favourite competition reignite Sevilla’s spark?
There are two ties pitting Spanish and Russian clubs against each other - Zenit St Petersburg vs Villarreal and Valencia vs FC Krasnodar. History would suggest backing the La Liga sides, but the Russian teams aren’t to be underestimated. Zenit are former winners themselves, while Krasnodar upset Bayer Leverkusen in the last round. Meanwhile Villarreal are in serious danger of relegation, and though Valencia have picked up their form dramatically since the middle of January, they had an exhausting February. It’s also worth noting that Zenit and Krasnodar are currently first and second in the Russian Premier League. It is understandable that Russia’s best may struggle against the best teams in the Champions League, but it is another matter altogether when they take on sides not at the very top of the big leagues. These two ties promise a lot of intrigue.
Chelsea have had a long season with plenty of ups and downs. In addition to being involved in a tussle for Champions League qualification, Maurizio Sarri’s men have also had significant runs in cups. Can Chelsea keep up their motivation for the Europa League? Sarri has rotated heavily in this competition and might well be tempted to do so when facing Dynamo Kiev. Alternatively, there is the prospect of killing the tie in the first leg at home. The answer probably depends on what Sarri’s priorities are. Unlike other managers Sarri isn’t afraid to commit to one competition at the expense of another. Last season he made no bones of the fact that Serie A was the number one priority for Napoli, as they limply exited both, the Champions League and Europa League. He could do the same with the Blues, or he could assess that the risk-reward permutations are different this time around and take the competition seriously.
Speaking of Napoli, Carlo Ancelotti has taken a completely different approach from his predecessor when it comes to this competition. He has said it is a priority for Napoli and I think this is the right approach. In fact, I would go as far to say that anything less than a run to the semifinals would constitute a poor season for Napoli on the whole. They really have nothing left to fight for in the league and a continental deep run would be an important addition to the legacy of a team that has won the admiration of many neutrals in recent seasons. That being said, Salzburg are no mugs. The list of teams that have fallen prey to them in the Europa League since last season include Borussia Dortmund, Lazio, RB Leipzig and many others. Only an extra time goal stopped them from making the finals last year. This is an intelligently coached team with dangerous players. If Napoli take their eye off the ball, they can certainly be punished.
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Inter. Two former winners and two teams that are an absolute guarantee of drama - the good kind for Frankfurt, less so for Inter! Looking at it objectively, it’s hard to deny that Inter are a more well-rounded team than Frankfurt. They also have a manager who is vastly more experienced in European competition. But logic and Inter don’t go hand in hand. Since January, Inter have lost against Cagliari, Bologna, Torino and drawn against Chievo. If those teams can beat Inter, then a Frankfurt side that have scored six goals in two games against each of Shakhtar Donetsk, Lazio and Marseille certainly can. Expect the best atmosphere of the round in Frankfurt for the first leg. For an Inter team that almost wears fickle as a badge of honour, it could be a nightmare tie. Spalletti needs to find a way to keep his players inspired.
The final word goes to Rennes vs Arsenal. When Rennes were drawn against Betis in the last round I thought it would be the end of their European adventure. The feeling was amplified after a first leg at home when they let a 3-1 lead slip to a late 3-3 draw. Momentum seemed lost, but on the back of an inspired Hatem Ben Arfa, they won 3-1 at Betis. Excitement for this game in France has reached unprecedented levels for a Europa League game. Ligue Un agreed to postpone Rennes' game on the weekend so they could be well prepared for Arsenal’s visit, while ticket applications crossed more than 100,000 even before the club put tickets for sale. These are two attacking teams with defensive deficiencies that are clearly there to be exploited. However, the biggest attraction for me in this game is watching Mesut Ozil and Hatem Ben Arfa on the pitch at the same time. Two non-conformists who move at their own rhythm and can light up a game with a sudden moment of magic. My only hope is that they both deliver and entertain their fans and neutrals alike.