From 213 teams, just eight remain in this season’s UEFA Europa League as we learn how the quarter-finals and semi-finals will look. For the second round running, Arsenal overturned a first-leg deficit to advance with a 4-3 aggregate win, while Chelsea saw off Dynamo Kiev.
Competition favourites, alongside Chelsea, Napoli made easy work for Red Bull Salzburg and will be the team the English contingent will be desperate to avoid.
Inter Milan are a big name missing after a shock 1-0 home loss to Eintracht Frankfurt, and so are Sevilla after Slavia Praha stunned them in extra time to win 6-5 on aggregate.
Chelsea will face Slavia Prague in the Europa League quarter-finals. The Blues hammered Dynamo Kiev 8-0 on aggregate to ease into the last eight. Olivier Giroud’s hat-trick was the highlight from Thursday’s thrashing.
The competition has also provided an opportunity for Maurizio Sarri to experiment with his side. Callum Hudson-Odoi is thriving with his increased minutes and has scored four times and assisted two more in his eight appearances so far.
With the Blues locked into a battle for a top four finish, Sarri will be delighted to have the backdoor entry to the Champions League, should it be required. A three-point gap separates them from fourth-placed Arsenal, though a game in hand against Brighton could draw them level.
Unai Emery welcome Serie A giants Napoli in what will be a battle between two prominent UEFA club competition winners. Arsenal’s first leg vs Napoli has been moved to the Emirates to avoid a clash with Chelsea’s second leg against Slavia Prague at Stamford Bridge.
Villareal welcome Valencia in what is the only same league match up as both La Liga sides face off for a place in the Semi final. On the flip side it guarantees at least one Spanish side in the Semi Finals after Sevilla slipped up at Prague last night.
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Benfica welcomes impressive Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt in what will be an exiting fixture. Benfica survived a late scare to qualify for the next round and Eintracht Frankfurt shocked the football world to dump Serie A side Inter Milan.
Europa League quarter-finals in full:
Napoli vs Arsenal
Villarreal vs Valencia
Benfica vs Frankfurt
Slavia Prague vs Chelsea
Semi-final draw in full
Napoli or Arsenal vs Villarreal vs Valencia
Slavia Prague or Chelsea vs Benfica or Eintracht Frankfurt
