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Fenerbahce v Rangers, 5.45pm
Fenerbahce effectively wrapped up their playoff tie against Anderlecht in the first leg, winning 3-0 at home to ease their way into a last-16 meeting with Rangers. The Yellow Canaries are in good form; their 3-0 win over Antalyaspor on Sunday extends their unbeaten run to 18 matches. José Mourinho’s team are particularly strong at home, having won eight of their past nine at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium.
However, Mourinho will be without two key players with midfielder Fred suspended and wing-back Bright Osayi-Samuel suspended and injured. January signing Diego Carlos is yet to feature due to injury, but fellow winter arrival Milan Skriniar is set to continue in defence alongside Caglar Soyuncu and teenager Yusuf Akcicek.
Rangers finished eighth in the group stage, taking the final automatic place in the last 16. Smooth progress in the Europa League was not enough to save Philippe Clement’s job. He was sacked last month after a run of disappointing results. Barry Ferguson, who won the Uefa Cup as Rangers’ captain in 2008, has taken over until the end of the season.
Ferguson received some good news this week. John Souttar has recovered from a knock and may start in defence alongside Robin Pröpper in Istanbul. Leon Balogun has also recovered from injury to swell Ferguson’s centre-back options, which is just as well given that Leon King, who returned to Ibrox this week, is ineligible. Prediction: Fenerbahce to progress
AZ Alkmaar v Tottenham, 5.45pm
AZ and Tottenham lock horns in the Europa League for the second time this season. Spurs won in the league phase 1-0, a penalty from Richarlison in the second half proving the difference between the sides.
Spurs travel to the Netherlands without Dejan Kulusevski, who has a foot injury and is expected to be sidelined until after the international break. Richarlison and Radu Dragusin are also missing. In better news for Spurs, Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Dominic Solanke are expected to make the matchday squad.
AZ have won 10 of their past 11 home matches but they will be without Sven Mijnans for this one and Ruben van Bommel is also a doubt. Otherwise, AZ are likely to go with the bulk of the side that took on Spurs in London in October, which would mean the former Tottenham striker Troy Parrott leading the charge. Parrot joined last summer and has scored 17 goals this season, including four in the Europa League. Prediction: Tottenham to progress
Real Sociedad v Manchester United, 5.45pm
A 4-0 defeat at Barcelona on Sunday was hardly ideal preparation for Real Sociedad, who did not have a single shot. La Real have lost back-to-back games without scoring, although they were against Real Madrid and Barcelona who are a few levels above this Manchester United team. La Real are a tough proposition on their own ground; they have won 11 of their past 14 home games.
Nayef Aguerd and Takefusa Kubo were suspended for the game at Barcelona but should start here. Right-back Jon Aramburu and central midfielder Martín Zubimendi are also available, having missed the second leg of the playoff tie against Midtjylland last month due to suspensions.
The Europa League is United’s last chance to win silverware this season after their limp exit from the FA Cup on Sunday. Harry Maguire was forced off in the loss to Fulham, adding to their woes. Lisandro Martínez, Jonny Evans, Mason Mount, Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw are already ruled out due to injury, while Ruben Amorim is unable to call upon the ineligible Chido Obi-Martin, meaning he will be relying on out-of-form pair Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee to lead the charge. United were the only unbeaten team in the league phase but their lack of an in-form striker will surely catch up with them at some point. Prediction: Real Sociedad to progress
FCSB v Lyon, 5.45pm
Lyon are the favourites, but FCSB should not be underestimated. The Romanian giants have lost one of their past 16 home games – against Manchester United at the end of January. Lyon, on the other hand, have won two of their past eight away games.
That said, with Valentin Cretu suspended and Alexandru Pantea injured, FCSB may have to move Mihai Popescu to right-back. They also have problems in attack with the absence of striker Daniel Birligea meaning Daniel Popa should lead the charge with Florin Tanase in support.
Lyon’s biggest concern is not on the pitch but in the dugout after their manager’s extraordinary outburst on Sunday. Paulo Fonseca could be banned from the touchline in Ligue 1 for up to seven months after he confronted the referee during the win against Brest. Furious about a penalty being awarded against his team late in the game, Fonseca berated the referee and was shown a red card. He lost his cool completely, shouting at the official, squaring up to him and, according to the referee, head-butting him. In the end, VAR ruled it was not a penalty after all. Prediction: Lyon to progress
Roma v Athletic Club, 8pm
Two of the favourites face off in the Stadio Olimpico. Roma are in good shape, with central midfielder Leandro Paredes their only absentee. The Argentinian is suspended but Claudio Ranieri has ample cover in the form of the returning Bryan Cristante. Roma are also in great form at home. Their 2-1 win against Como on Sunday was their 10th win in their past 11 home games.
Athletic Club have not been particularly convincing of late, winning four of their past 11 matches. They have failed to win their past four away games – including a 1-0 defeat at Atlético Madrid on Saturday. Ernesto Valverde will be hoping Oihan Sancet recovers from a knock. The 24-year-old has not featured since he was forced off in their 7-1 win over Real Valladolid last month. Plenty is riding on Sancet’s availability. Even if he makes it, Athletic Club are likely to struggle. Prediction: Roma to progress
Ajax v Eintracht Frankfurt, 8pm
Ajax left it late in the playoff round, beating Union Saint-Gilloise 3-2 on aggregate thanks to a Kenneth Taylor penalty in extra time. Davy Klaassen was sent off so will miss the first leg against Eintracht Frankfurt. Jordan Henderson and Taylor did not start the second leg against Union Saint-Gilloise but should return in midfield if Francesco Farioli reverts to a 4-3-3 setup. In the absence of strikers Wout Weghorst and Christian Rasmussen, Brian Brobbey will probably lead the charge.
Ajax should fancy their chances of overcoming Eintracht Frankfurt. The Bundesliga side, who are without Robin Koch due to injury, have won one of their past seven games and that came against relegation-threatened Holstein Kiel. Back-to-back heavy defeats at the hands of Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen will do little to boost their morale, which is far from ideal given Ajax have won all but three of their 21 home matches this season. Prediction: Ajax to progress
Bodø/Glimt v Olympiakos, 8pm
The Norwegian season drew to a close at the start of December, with Bodø/Glimt retaining their title. The break means they may be lacking match fitness, but it has allowed them to focus their efforts on the Europa League. Bodø/Glimt finished ninth in the group stage and had to settle for a place in the playoff round when they beat Twente 6-4 on aggregate. Their 5-2 win in the second leg was as impressive as it was entertaining.
Olympiakos will be a tough proposition. The Greek giants are unbeaten in 26 matches, a run that dates back to October. They have won nine of their past 12 away games, including the past five. Ayoub El Kaabi could be sidelined for the first leg and Dani García is missing, which means teenager Christos Mouzakitis is likely to partner Santiago Hezze in the middle of the park. Prediction: Olympiacos to progress
Viktoria Plzen v Lazio, 8pm
Viktoria Plzen’s reward for knocking Ferencvaros out is a last-16 meeting with Lazio. Plzen, who are second in the Czech league behind Slavia Prague, the runaway leaders, have lost two home matches all season. Ferencvaros know all about their home form. They won the first leg of their playoff tie 1-0 but were swatted aside 3-0 in the second leg in Plzen.
That said, Lazio are a level above the sides Plzen have faced this season. They finished top of the table in the league phase, cruising into the last 16 with ease. Marco Baroni has the stronger squad and should feel confident about taking his team into the quarter-finals. Prediction: Lazio to progress
This is an article by WhoScored
