AND so, with the ending of the last 16 round, we leave behind the 'normal' European football rules. From here on, it's one-legged knockouts all the way and if that doesn't entice you, well fair enough, but it should do. Are the next few weeks of back-to-back high profile matches going to be better than the actual World Cup? It's a subjective one of course, but yes. Definitely. Sit back, enjoy it, and if you want to place a bet over the next few days, you may as well give these tips a once over.
Man Utd vs FC Copenhagen | Monday August 10, 20:00 GMT
Man Utd squandered a good chance of silverware when they were beaten by Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final but that was United's only defeat in their last 23 matches in all competitions, stretching back to January. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has effectively gone with his B team in the Europa League this season, but he's likely to recall several of his key stars here given Copenhagen's comprehensive 3-0 win over Istanbul Basaksehir last time out.
The Danes have won just one of their European meetings with English sides, but if they're looking for good omens, it was against Man Utd in the 2006/07 Champions League group stages, thought United did win the Old Trafford clash 3-0. Stale Solbakken's side have won just five of their 12 Europa League matches this season, but they do have two three-goals wins in their last three outings.
Solskjaer's side have two 5-0 wins in their last three outings, and if, as expected, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood are recalled, it's tough to look past the Europa League favourites here.
Match Odds: Man Utd (1/4) Draw (5/1) FC Copenhagen (21/2)
Tip: Anthony Martial to score and Man Utd to win (11/10)
Correct score: Man Utd 2-0 FC Copenhagen (27/5)
Inter Milan vs Bayer Leverkusen | Monday August 10, 20:00 GMT
Inter were run ragged by Getafe in their last match but still emerged with a 2-0 win after Romelu Lukaku notched his 30th club goal of the season for the first time in his career, and Christian Eriksen came off the bench to seal it. Going all the way back to 2014/15 when he was at Everton, Lukaku has now scored in eight consecutive Europa League appearances (11 in total). No player has ever scored in nine straight Europa League matches.
Inter come into this game on the back of five straight clean sheets, nine games unbeaten overall. Even permanently miserable Antonio Conte might allow himself a smile. Getafe created plenty of chances, and that's got to be a concern for Conte as Inter prepare to face such talented attackers as Kai Havertz, Florian Wirtz, Moussa Diaby, Kevin Volland and Leon Bailey. Peter Bosz's side will also have a measure of home advantage given they've won at Dusseldorf's neutral venue twice in the last two years.
Ultimately, this is a game Inter's defence needs to come to the fore. Can a Conte-coached, Diego Godin-marshalled defence shut out Leverkusen or at least keep their scoring down to a minimum? Possibly. Can Leverkusen keep out 30-goal Lukaku, Lautaro Martinez, Alexis Sanchez and co? Almost certainly not. Back Inter.
Match Odds: Inter Milan (11/10) Draw (5/2) Bayer Leverkusen (12/5)
Tip: Romelu Lukaku to score any time (5/4)
Correct score: Inter Milan 2-1 Bayer Leverkusen (15/2)
⚽️ _______ will end the competition with the most goals!#UEL pic.twitter.com/hnnMJVJ2Zi
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) August 7, 2020
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Basel | Tuesday August 11, 20:00 GMT
Since May 25, Shakhtar have won 10 and drawn two of their 12 competitive matches and recently sealed a fourth straight league title with a 14-point cushion from Dynamo Kiev. Their last Europa League match was a bizarre one – 0-0 with Wolfsburg after 89 minutes before a three-minute blitz saw the Ukrainians triumph 3-0.
That attacking power is best exemplified by Junior Moraes who has been directly involved in 13 goals in his last 16 appearances in this competition (11 goals, two assists). The Brazilian has also had twice as many shots (14) as any of his teammates in the Europa League this season – he's the man most likely for Shakhtar.
Basel cruised through the round of 32 and the round of 16 in identically comfortable fashion: beating APOEL and Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0 away in the first legs, and then beating both 1-0 in the return fixtures.
Match Odds: Shakhtar Donetsk (19/20) Draw (5/2) Basel (29/10)
Tip: Junior Moraes first goal scorer, Junior Moraes last goal scorer (11/1)
Correct score: Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 Basel (15/2)
Wolves vs Sevilla | Tuesday August 11, 20:00 GMT
Wolves have already beaten Spanish opposition along their Europa League run this season, after seeing off Espanyol 6-3 on aggregate. However, Espanyol finished bottom of La Liga, Sevilla finished fourth. And the Andalusians have incredible pedigree in this competition. This will be Sevilla's sixth quarter-final in this competition since 2006, and on all five previous occasions, they've gone on to claim the title.
Nuno Espirito Santo's side made heavy weather of their last 16 home leg against Olympiakos, managing just 35% of possession, allowing 16 shots, and only managing to score courtesy of a ridiculous foul by allowing Raul Jimenez to convert from the spot. They also made heavy weather of the end of the season, claiming just seven points from the last 18 available. The total opposite is true of Sevilla who, post-lockdown, extended their unbeaten run to 18 matches and cruised into fourth place with a 10-point buffer.
Julen Lopetegui's side have kept six clean sheets in their last seven games. They also ran out comfortable 2-0 winners over Roma in the last round, had a goal dubiously ruled out, and hit the woodwork on two occasions. It's been a long, long season for Wolves – over a year in fact. It was catching up them at the end of the Premier League season – it will catch up with them again here to bring an end to their mammoth campaign. Back Sevilla here, and consider them for an outright bet too.
Match Odds: Wolves (12/5) Draw (47/20) Sevilla (6/5)
Tip: Sevilla to win and under 4.5 total goals (11/8)
Correct score: Wolves 0-2 Sevilla (17/2)
