Ritorno europa league milan

Manchester United’s English striker Mason Greenwood (L) takes on AC Milan’s Canada-born English defender Fikayo Tomori (R) during the UEFA Europa League round of 16 first leg football match between Manchester United and AC Milan at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on March 11, 2021.(Oli SCARFF / AFP)

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United, who beat AC Milan in the last 16, are due to play away in the first leg on April 8 but it remains to be seen where that match will take place.

The Old Trafford club faced Spanish opponents in Real Sociedad in the last 32 but the first leg of that tie was moved to Turin in Italy because of restrictions on travel from the UK to Spain as a result of the pandemic.

Granada are in Europe for the first time after finishing seventh in La Liga last season. The team from southern Spain notably beat PSV Eindhoven away in the group stage and eliminated Napoli in the last 32 before defeating Solskjaer’s old club Molde of Norway in the round of 16.

Granada coach Diego Martinez has won the Europa League before, during his time as an assistant coach at Sevilla.

Meanwhile, Ajax will face Roma with the winners of that quarter-final playing either United or Granada in the last four. United beat Ajax in the 2017 Europa League final.

Arsenal are set to host Slavia in the first leg of their quarter-final and will be wary of the runaway Czech league leaders who have eliminated Leicester City and Scottish champions Rangers in the last two rounds.

However if the Gunners get through they could face their former coach Unai Emery in the semi-finals.

Emery’s Villarreal will take on Dinamo Zagreb, last-16 conquerors of Tottenham Hotspur, in the other quarter-final.

Emery took Arsenal to the final of the Europa League in 2019, when they lost to Chelsea in Baku.

The final of this season’s competition is set to be played in the Polish city of Gdansk on May 26.

Man Utd, Arsenal set for Europa League quarters (source: youtube/ Kplus Sports)

AFP Sport looks ahead to the Europa League quarter-finals ahead of the first legs on Thursday at 1900 GMT:

– Emery the Europa League expert –

Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) v Villarreal (ESP)

Unai Emery won the Europa League in three consecutive years with Sevilla and took Arsenal to the 2019 final. When he was appointed by Villarreal last summer he said he dreamed of winning a trophy with a club that has been one of the most consistent in Spain in the last 15 years, with nine top-five finishes in La Liga. There have been four European semi-finals too, but they have never won a major trophy or reached a final.

With Emery, they are currently sixth in La Liga and have been excellent in Europe, cruising through their group before eliminating Red Bull Salzburg and Dynamo Kiev. Now they face perennial Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb who are enjoying their best European run since the 1960s after stunning Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspur in the last 16.

Croatian international Mislav Orsic is the man to watch after his brilliant hat-trick did for Spurs.

– Ajax eyeing another final –

Ajax (NED) v Roma (ITA)

On paper this is the tie of round, as the runaway Dutch league leaders welcome visitors from Serie A to Amsterdam for the first leg.

Four-time European champions Ajax are enjoying another deep run in continental competition soon after reaching the Europa League final in 2017 and the Champions League semi-finals in 2019. Erik ten Hag was in charge two years ago and is still at the helm now with Ajax beating Lille and Young Boys after dropping out of the Champions League in the group stage.

Roma’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League from Serie A have been hit by a slump in form so the opportunity to get there by winning this competition should not be sniffed at. They have already eliminated Braga and Shakhtar Donetsk in the knockout rounds.

– Slavia threat for Arsenal –

Arsenal (ENG) v Slavia Prague (CZE)

For the second year running Arsenal’s poor league form under Mikel Arteta has left them looking to cup competitions for success. FA Cup winners last year, the Gunners’ only hope of silverware this season is in the Europa League, and this competition — in which they reached the 2019 final — almost certainly offers their best chance of returning to the Champions League next season.

After winning all six group games and then edging Benfica and Olympiakos, Arsenal can nevertheless not afford to take Slavia Prague lightly. The Czech champions are on a 21-game unbeaten run which includes knocking Leicester City and Rangers out of Europe.

The latter tie was marred by accusations by Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara that he was racially abused by Slavia centre-back Ondrej Kudela, who will miss Thursday’s game in London with what his club described as “a bruised nose” and “high fever”.

– Man Utd too strong for Granada? –

Granada (ESP) v Manchester United (ENG)

United shrugged off the disappointment of being knocked out of the Champions League in the group stage to claim impressive wins against Real Sociedad and AC Milan in the Europa League.

The Old Trafford side are chasing a first trophy since winning this competition in 2017 and on paper they should be too strong for Granada, even if Anthony Martial is out injured and Eric Bailly has tested positive for Covid-19.

Granada have slumped to ninth in La Liga but have enjoyed a brilliant debut European campaign, notably beating PSV Eindhoven away in the group stage and eliminating Napoli in the last 32 before defeating United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s old club Molde of Norway in the round of 16.

“On Thursday we are going to play one of the most important matches in our history,” said Granada coach Diego Martinez, who won the Europa League during his time as an assistant coach to Emery at Sevilla.

Cagliari’s Belgian midfielder Radja Nainggolan (L) attempts to tackle Inter Milan’s Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku during the Italian Serie A football match Inter Milan vs Cagliari on April 11, 2021 at the San Siro stadium in Milan.(Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP)

Inter are 11 points ahead of second-placed AC Milan and chasing a 12th consecutive league win to push them closer to a first title since 2010.

Champions Juventus are third, a further point back, with their nine-year reign looking set to end.

“We never expected to be this far ahead with eight games to go,” said Inter defender Milan Skriniar.

“Every day Conte tells us that we must work without looking at the advantage and above all not to make calculations.”

Stefano Pioli’s second-placed Milan take on 13th-placed Genoa looking to end their home drought.

The northerners have not won in the San Siro in over two months and will be without suspended forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

A slip-up could allow either Juventus or Atalanta to move second with both teams going head-to-head in Bergamo.

Conte has won his last three league games against fifth-placed Napoli, who are two points off the Champions League berths.

“We’re working really hard, hungry to reach our goal,” said Inter forward Romelu Lukaku who helped the team finish runners-up last season.

“Last year there were many ups and downs, but if we look at the team there are many young players and I think we have all taken a next step.”

Gennaro Gattuso’s Napoli will be without suspended Hirving Lozano with Alex Meret in goal for injured David Ospina.

Napoli have won at least 19 of their opening 30 Serie A games for just the fifth time.

The previous times they finished the season in the top three of the table.

In the Champions League race nine points separate second-placed Milan and Roma in seventh.

In Bergamo, Atalanta and Juventus clash in a dress rehearsal for next month’s Italian Cup final.

Third-placed Juventus are just one point ahead of Atalanta, who occupy the final elite-European berth.

With eight games left, both sides need to win.

Atalanta travel next weekend to European rivals Roma, with their final game this season against AC Milan.

Juventus come up against both Milan teams in their run to the end of the season.

Atalanta haven’t beaten Juventus in Serie A in 20 years going back to February 2001.

But in all competitions Juve have have won just one of their last six meetings in November 2019.

Juve striker Cristiano Ronaldo drew a blank last time out to his frustation as the 36-year-old targets the top Serie A scorer prize this season which he currently leads with 25 goals.

Lazio, in sixth, host Benevento with city rivals Roma, a point behind, travelling to 17th-placed Torino, riding high after advancing to the Europa League semi-finals.

Cagliari host relegation-rivals Parma, in a match which could prove decisive for top-flight football next season.

One to watch: Duvan Zapata

Atalanta’s Duvan Zapata has scored four goals in his last three Serie A games to bring his tally to 13 this season.

Despite a brace last time against Fiorentina the 30-year-old Colombian was furious at his “missed chances”. Against Juventus he has impressive record with seven goals in eight games in all competitions.

Key stats:

71 – Atalanta’s goals, the top attack in Serie A

12 – Champions Juve’s points off top spot

11 – Inter’s winning streak

5 – Cagliari’s points off top flight survival

Fixtures (times GMT)

Saturday

Crotone v Udinese, Sampdoria v Hellas Verona (both 1300), Sassuolo v Fiorentina (1600), Cagliari v Parma (1845)

Sunday

AC Milan v Genoa (1030), Atalanta v Juventus, Bologna v Spezia, Lazio v Benevento (all 1300), Torino v AS Roma (1600), Napoli v Inter Milan (1845)

Lazio’s Italian midfielder Marco Parolo celebrates (2nd R) scores the 2-1 goal with his head during the UEFA Champions League Last-16, second leg football match FC Bayern Munich v Lazio in Munich, southern Germany on March 17, 2021.(CHRISTOF STACHE / AFP)

The draw also pitted Premier League leaders Manchester City against Borussia Dortmund, with Chelsea playing Porto in the other tie.

Hansi Flick’s Bayern side defeated PSG 1-0 behind closed doors in Lisbon last August to win their sixth European Cup and remain the team to beat, having won 18 and drawn one of their 19 games in the Champions League since the beginning of last season.

The first leg is set to be played in Germany on April 7, with the return in Paris on April 13.

“The draw is of course a difficult one, and surprises exist, but we’re going to play against the team that is the best on the continent at the moment,” said PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino, who was appointed in January and oversaw a 5-2 aggregate win over Barcelona in the last 16.

“We’re optimistic,” the Argentine told PSG’s official website.

The meeting of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool and Zinedine Zidane’s Real is another re-run of a recent final, with the Spaniards beating the Reds 3-1 in Kiev in 2018 to win the last of their record 13 titles to date.

Liverpool then won the trophy for the sixth time in Madrid in 2019 but their Premier League title defence this season has unravelled, with the Anfield club sixth in the table having lost nine times in 17 games in 2021.

Klopp’s side are due to be away in the first leg on April 6, but it remains to be seen where that match will be played.

– Travel headaches? –

Atletico Madrid’s home leg against Chelsea in the last 16 was moved to Bucharest due to restrictions imposed on travel to Spain by British authorities in the pandemic.

The winner between Liverpool and Real will go onto a semi-final against either Chelsea or Porto, throwing up the possibility of an all-English last-four tie. Liverpool beat Chelsea in the semi-finals in 2005 and in 2007.

Real have often struggled this season too but they may be optimistic about their prospects in the wake of the draw.

“I think they would have signed for that, in fact with two hands,” ex-Madrid player, coach and sporting director Jorge Valdano told Spanish TV channel Movistar Plus. “Liverpool are not what they were last year.”

Real coach Zinedine Zidane said of Liverpool: “We know them, physically they demand a lot from you.”

Unbeaten in 13 games since the appointment of Thomas Tuchel as coach, Chelsea will be expected to get the better of Portuguese champions Porto, who ousted Juventus and Cristiano Ronaldo in the last 16.

However, that tie could also be relocated given travel restrictions between the UK and Portugal which prompted both legs of the recent Europa League clash between Arsenal and Benfica to be played at neutral venues.

“I’m happy we play an international game, not against an English team, because the Champions League is about that and I always prefer to play teams from other countries,” said Tuchel.

“Clearly many people will maybe now make us favourites but you can ask in Turin their opinion about whether it helps you to be favourites,” referring to the Juventus defeat.

Meanwhile City will be strong favourites against Dortmund, with the winner of that tie going through to a semi-final against Bayern or PSG.

The prolific Erling Braut Haaland will be Dortmund’s main threat, with City boss Pep Guardiola saying: “The numbers speak for themselves, he’s one of the best strikers in the world right now, at his age.”

Travel restrictions between the UK and Germany could also have an impact on that tie.

Both legs of City’s last-16 tie against Borussia Moenchengladbach were played in Budapest, as was Liverpool’s tie against RB Leipzig.

This season’s semi-finals are due to be played in late April and early May, with the final on May 29 in Istanbul.