The return of the Champions League has taken centre stage this week, but there are plenty of interesting ties in the Europa League, even if Arsenal and Chelsea received favourable draws. We have dissected four matches on Thursday that are worth following.
Galatasaray v Benfica, 8pm GMT
Turkish champions Galatasaray endured a torrid first half of the season in the Süper Lig, though their fortunes have improved since the turn of the year. A run of seven wins in their last eight matches will have boosted morale, with the most recent of those victories, a 3-1 win against Trabzonspor, the most impressive.
That victory on Sunday marked the debut of January signing Mbaye Diagne and the striker had a perfect start, scoring the opening goal from the penalty spot to pick up where he left off for fellow Süper Lig club Kasimpasa. The 27-year-old, unlike his new club, enjoyed a sensational start to the season, scoring 20 goals in 17 league appearances, and Fatih Terim (now in his fourth spell as Galatasaray manager) will hope his new marksman can lead his side past a very tough last-32 opponent.
Galatasaray have been in great form lately but Benfica will take solace from that fact that their last defeat came against another Portuguese team. Porto did the double over Galatasaray in their Champions League group, relegating them to the Europa League.
Benfica will be in superb spirits themselves, after back-to-back wins against Sporting in the Lisbon derby and a crushing 10-0 demolition job of Nacional on Sunday. Ljubomir Fejsa is sidelined for the trip to Istanbul, while left-back Alejandro Grimaldo and veteran striker Jonas are also doubts. All eyes will be on teenage sensation João Félix who, at 19, has caught the eye of Europe’s top clubs with five goals in his last six league games. He is undoubtedly one to watch in the future.
Celtic v Valencia, 5.55pm GMT
Were it not for a refereeing decision, Valencia may still be in the Champions League. Marouane Fellaini appeared to handle the ball as he scored the goal that took Manchester United into the knockout stages and consigned Valencia to third place in the group, leaving Marcelino to lament the absence of VAR during the group stage. Uefa have acted, but it is too little too late for Valencia.
The Spanish side do have pedigree in the Europa League though. They have won their last four round-of-32 ties and have done so in style, keeping clean sheets in seven of those eight games – including two 1-0 victories over Stoke City back in 2012.
Celtic were unconvincing in their Europa League group, finishing nine points behind group winners Salzburg and only securing second place when RB Leipzig conceded an 86th-minute equaliser in their final match. However, they have hit top form at the right time. Having ended 2018 vulnerable in the title race after a defeat to Rangers in the Old Firm derby, Celtic have streaked clear in the league thanks to six straight wins. So far this year, they have scored 21 goals without conceding any. The arrival of some exciting January signings – including youngsters Timothy Weah and Oli Burke, who are eligible for the Europa League – has certainly helped.
This will be the first meeting between the two sides since they were drawn together in the third round of the Uefa Cup in 2001, when Valencia won a penalty shootout at Celtic Park after both legs ended 1-0. Henrik Larsson scored Celtic’s only goal in that tie. With Fillip Benkovic and Kieran Tierney both unavailable, what the club would give for a talisman such as Larsson.
Celtic need to make home advantage count in the first leg. Valencia did not win any of their away games in the Champions League group stage, even drawing at Young Boys, and have only won one of their last nine matches on the road in all competitions. If Celtic are to go through, they need a big performance in Glasgow.
FC Krasnodar v Bayer Leverkusen, 8pm GMT
In what will be their first competitive match in two months given the extended winter break in Russia, Krasnodar host Peter Bosz’s new-look Bayer Leverkusen side. All three of Krasnodar’s home games in the group stage – Sevilla, Standard Liege and Akhisarspor – ended in 2-1 wins for the hosts and the conditions will certainly be a shock to the system for the visitors.
That said, if any team can break down Krasnodar’s stubborn resolve, it could be Bayer Leverkusen. The appointment of a coach who was considered a failure at Borussia Dortmund may not have enthused the entire fanbase but Bosz has history in this tournament. He took Ajax to the final against Manchester United in 2017.
The Dutchman has his new side playing some excellent attacking football. He has switched to a 4-3-3 formation and dropped youngster Julian Brandt into midfield alongside hot prospect Kai Havertz, and it is working so far. Both players were on the scoresheet last Friday in a 5-1 win at Mainz, a victory that followed on from their memorable 3-1 win over Bayern Munich.
Shakhtar Donetsk v Eintracht Frankfurt, 5.55pm GMT
Ukrainian champions Shakhtar have made it to the knockout stages in Europe in each of the last eight seasons. That said, they have been knocked out at the first time of asking in seven of those seasons, with their run to the semi-finals in the Europa League in 2015-16 the only exception.
As has been the case for years, they rely heavily on the input of a Brazilian contingent, though the current crop do not possess the quality of Fernandinho, Willian or Douglas Costa. Taison is the standout star in the squad but both he and top scorer Moraes are now 31.
Shakhtar’s opponents, on the other hand, have a youthful exuberance to their attack. One of only two teams to progress through the Europa League group phase with a perfect record, Frankfurt did so despite facing Lazio and Marseille, two of last season’s semi-finalists. The Bundesliga side have not missed former coach Niko Kovac since his appointment at Bayern. His replacement, Adi Hutter, has enjoyed a fantastic start to life in Germany, having previously won titles with Salzburg and, last season, with Young Boys, ending their 32-year wait to win the Swiss league.
Eintracht Frankfurt have been playing some fine attacking football under their new Austrian manager, with Ante Rebic, Luka Jovic and Sebastien Haller all enjoying superb seasons to date. Jovic has claimed most of the headlines, with the 21-year-old scoring 19 goals so far this season, though Haller is the focal point and invaluable in bringing the best out of those around him, with 14 goals and 11 assists to his name.
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