UEFA Europa League preview: What to look out for on Matchday 8
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Knockout phase spots are up for grabs as the league phase of the UEFA Europa League reaches a thrilling conclusion.
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Manchester United visit FCSB and Tottenham host an Elfsborg side hoping to make history as teams pursue top eight and knockout phase places on Matchday 8 of the inaugural league phase.
All kick-off times 21:00 CET
Thursday 30 January
Ajax vs Galatasaray
Roma vs Eintracht Frankfurt
Athletic Club vs Viktoria Plzeň
Dynamo Kyiv vs RFS
Midtjylland vs Fenerbahçe
Twente vs Beşiktaş
Ferencváros vs AZ Alkmaar
FCSB vs Manchester United
Maccabi Tel-Aviv vs Porto
Nice vs Bodø/Glimt
Olympiacos vs Qarabağ
Lyon vs Ludogorets
Rangers vs Union SG
Real Sociedad vs PAOK
Anderlecht vs Hoffenheim
Braga vs Lazio
Slavia Praha vs Malmö
Tottenham Hotspur vs Elfsborg
Standout fixtures
After dramatic victories confirmed their knockout phase places on Matchday 7, FCSB and Manchester United will hope to protect the top eight places they currently occupy in their final league phase match. After winning 3-2 at Qarabağ and extending their unbeaten streak to four, the Romanian club are relishing the challenge. “We look forward with great hope,” said forward Florin Tănase. “We have to surpass ourselves, but we have done this before many times, so we will do it again.” The Red Devils are not short on confidence either after Bruno Fernandes struck in added time to seal victory over Rangers, one that had seemingly slipped away when Cyriel Dessers equalised in the 88th minute. “There was a feeling in the stadium that we could score again,” said coach Ruben Amorim. “The noise that greeted our second goal was amazing.” As another decisive fixture looms, they must show that same poise under pressure.
Did you know?
Manchester United were defeated 1-0 by CFR Cluj at Old Trafford in their last meeting with a Romanian club in UEFA competition, though they had won all five of their previous match-ups with such teams.
James Maddison struck a classy opening goal and praised Tottenham's resilience as they withstood late pressure to win at Hoffenheim. "You need your leaders to stand up and they did tonight," agreed coach Ange Postecoglou, who has set his sights on a top eight finish after securing a round of 16 or knockout phase play-off place. Elfsborg travel to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with hopes of reaching the knockout stage of a European competition for the first time in their history. "It's impossible to describe [the feeling] – it's absolutely crazy," said defender Gustav Henriksson, who boosted their chances with the decisive goal in the 1-0 win over Nice. That triumph was their third of the campaign and their second on the bounce, lending the Swedish side plenty of confidence in their quest to make history.
Did you know?
Elfsborg have flourished despite holding the least possession of any team in the league phase, averaging just 36.7% across the first seven matchdays.
One of the league phase's top performers await Roma as they seek to secure a knockout phase place. The Italian side return to the Stadio Olimpico after a 1-0 defeat in Alkmaar, while Frankfurt travel to Rome after beating Ferencváros 2-0 to move second in the standings, sublime goals from Can Uzun and Hugo Ekitike showcasing their continued attacking potency despite the departure of Omar Marmoush – their leading scorer in the league phase – to Manchester City. Contrasting emotions infuse this decisive encounter as a result. “There’s anger, there’s disappointment, there’s everything because you have the game in your hands but you didn’t finish well enough,” said Roma coach Claudio Ranieri, while Frankfurt assistant coach Jan Fiesser celebrated a “special evening all round”. Will frustration fuel Roma or will Frankfurt enjoy another memorable evening?
Did you know?
Roma are the possession kings of the league phase. Their average of 59.3% possession is higher than any other side, while their passing accuracy of 86% is only bettered by Lazio and Manchester United.
In their fifth Europa League campaign since last reaching the knockout stage, PAOK's return of one point from their first four games must have left the reigning Greek champions fearing another early exit. They have since registered nine unanswered goals and nine points across three games, demonstrating "huge intensity, motivation, and a smart approach," according to manager Răzvan Lucescu. That run has carried them into 17th place – one higher than their Matchday 8 hosts – and kept their knockout phase hopes alive as their final league phase match beckons. Real Sociedad trail the Greek side on goal difference following their 3-1 defeat at Lazio, a setback that came after consecutive wins and clean sheets. “It depends on us,” declared manager Imanol Alguacil as his side hope to confirm a knockout place in San Sebastian.
Did you know?
This is Real Sociedad's third meeting with a Greek club in UEFA competition. The Basque club recorded a home win and an away draw against Olympiacos in the 2003/04 UEFA Champions League season.
Plus
- Ajax will look to recover from a three-game losing streak as they host undefeated Galatasaray in their bid to secure a knockout phase place. The visitors played out a thrilling 3-3 tie with Dynamo Kyiv in their last match, which was their third consecutive draw.
- Rangers and Union SG made certain of their knockout phase places on Matchday 7, but the opportunity to climb in to a coveted top eight spot means there is everything to play for at Ibrox. Rangers lost 2-1 at Old Trafford on Matchday 7, while Union SG earned victory by the same scoreline against Braga.
- Though both occupy top 24 spots heading into Matchday 8, neither Midtjylland nor Fenerbahçe have guaranteed knockout football ahead of their match in Herning. The Danish side broke a three-game losing streak with a 2-0 win at Ludogorets last time out, while their Matchday 8 guests picked up their third draw of the campaign.