The Europa League gets more serious with the draw for the first knockout stage, with four English teams competing.
Slavia Prague VS Leicester
As a genuine top four contender, Leicester will have ambitions toward winning the Europa League. They have the quality and on paper they are a better team than Slavia Prague. However, the away tie in Prague will be tough. Slip up, and they could make life difficult for themselves. Leicester are evens to win the first leg away from home.
Real Sociedad VS Manchester United
In any other year, this would be an advantageous tie for Manchester United. However, inspired by ex-Man City talisman David Silva, Sociedad are joint top of La Liga, even on points with both Madrid teams. They’re one of the form teams in Europe while Manchester United are characteristically inconsistent. By dint of falling to the Europa League from the Champions League, United will be expected to reach the final, at minimum. A potentially calamitous tie for the Red Devils. United are 6/4 to win in Spain.
Read: Champions League Draw – Initial Thoughts and Odds
Wolfsberger AC VS Tottenam
The ideal draw for Jose Mourinho. A comparatively small team, Mourinho’s nous will see Spurs through this one, bar an abberative result. Expect Tottenham to take the Europa League seriously now. Jose Mourinho prides himself on winning trophies and this is one Spurs can easily win. They’re 4/7 to win away in Austria.
Benfica VS Arsenal
Every game is difficult for Arsenal at the moment. Nonetheless, they would have hoped for a kinder draw. Perhaps their form will have improved by the time this game comes around. However, as the second best team in Portugal, Benfica will provide stern opposition. The Gunners are 9/5 to win the first leg.
With all four English teams vying to win the competition, expect some good games, with (bar Spurs), all those team’s seasons possibly being defined by their European success.
