Sports Mole provides score predictions and previews for all of today’s Europa League fixtures, including Sparta Prague vs. Liverpool.
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Returning to Europa League duty, Liverpool make the taxing trip to Sparta Prague‘s epet Arena for the first leg of their last-16 tie on Thursday evening.
While the Reds bypassed the knockout round playoffs by finishing first in Group E, Brian Priske’s side had to pull off an astounding comeback against Champions League drop-outs Galatasaray.
We say: Sparta Prague 1-1 Liverpool
Not since September have Sparta Prague conceded more than one goal in a competitive home fixture, and Priske’s resilient charges ought to feel optimistic of prolonging that sequence against a Liverpool side who historically do not travel well in the Europa League.
With selection dilemmas aplenty given their significant absentees and impending battle with Manchester City, the Reds may be happy to leave Prague with a first-leg draw before attempting to complete the job at Anfield in the return fixture.
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> How Liverpool could line up against Sparta Prague
> Liverpool injury, suspension list vs. Sparta Prague
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Kicking off a glamour tie in the Europa League’s last 16, European rookies Brighton & Hove Albion continue their continental adventure on Thursday, when they visit Roma at Stadio Olimpico.
While the Giallorossi are regulars in UEFA competition and reached this stage via a dramatic win in the playoffs, newcomers Brighton cruised through the group phase on their long-awaited debut.
We say: Roma 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Roma have lost just one of their last 23 home games in the Europa League – winning no fewer than 17 – and they have been given a new lease of life under Daniele De Rossi. As Brighton are currently below their best, the Premier League side could find themselves one goal behind heading into next week’s second leg.
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After butting heads in the Europa League group stage, Qarabag FK and Bayer Leverkusen renew acquaintances when they do battle in the first leg of their last-16 tie at the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium on Thursday night.
While Leverkusen collected the maximum 18 points to finish top of Group H, Qarabag claimed 10 points from six games to finish behind their German counterparts in second place.
We say: Qarabag FK 1-3 Bayer Leverkusen
As they did against Braga in the playoff round, Qarabag will look to relish their underdog status against Leverkusen and require another resolute defensive performance, similar to their last home outing with Die Werkself earlier this season, if they wish to keep the tie alive heading into the second leg.
However, stopping the juggernaut that is Leverkusen will be a tall order for the Azerbaijani hosts, and Alonso’s side should ultimately have few problems putting themselves in a strong position to progress beyond the last 16.
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Marseille meet Villarreal in the last 16 of the Europa League on Thursday in the first-ever competitive clash between these two clubs.
The first leg this week will take place at the Stade Velodrome, with Marseille’s new boss Jean-Louis Gasset looking to continue his excellent start in charge.
We say: Marseille 2-0 Villarreal
Villarreal won on their last trip to France earlier this season, beating Rennes 3-2, but the form of Marseille undoubtedly makes the hosts favourites in this first leg.
Twelve goals in just three games since Gasset took charge has breathed a new lease of life into Marseille, and they are set to keep that positive run going here.
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Scottish giants Rangers travel to the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon to face Portuguese outfit Benfica in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday night.
Neither side could be separated the last time that they locked horns in the 2020-21 group stage, as they played out a 2-2 draw in Glasgow and a 3-3 draw in Lisbon.
We say: Benfica 2-2 Rangers
Another closely-fought contest with plenty of goalmouth action could be on the cards between these two sides, who will be desperate to return to winning ways following disappointing domestic defeats last weekend.
Taking into account Benfica’s impressive Europa League home form and Rangers’ record in Portugal, we can see an entertaining score draw played out in Lisbon to leave the tie finely poised ahead of next week’s second leg.
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Having already butted heads twice in the group stage, Freiburg and West Ham United will immediately reunite for the first leg of their Europa League last-16 clash on Thursday night at the Europa-Park Stadion.
David Moyes’s men prevailed in both of their previous battles in Group A, thereby earning a direct ticket to the last 16 and forcing their German foes to do it the hard way against Lens in the playoffs.
We say: Freiburg 2-3 West Ham United
West Ham rediscovering their knack for scoring spells trouble for a Freiburg side who cannot bolt the back door shut at home, but Streich’s men still pose quite the threat in the final third themselves, giving rise to an action-packed first leg.
Whether the hosts have learned their lessons from their group-stage losses to the Irons remains to be seen, but while Moyes’s men still look rather frail at the back, an almost complete contingent of attacking options can fight fire with fire to take a first-leg lead back to London.
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Meeting in the Europa League’s last 16, Italian giants AC Milan and Czech side Slavia Prague kick off their two-legged tie on Thursday evening.
After Milan made it through the playoffs and Slavia topped their group, the clubs’ first-ever meeting takes place at San Siro.
We say: AC Milan 2-1 Slavia Prague
Though Slavia certainly have the weapons to punish any Milan mistakes, the hosts possess more squad depth these days and can score from several sources. As a result, they should make the most of home advantage and take a one-goal lead to Prague.
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