The Europa League enters the crucial stages with Arsenal and Napoli meeting in a massive showdown and German side Eintracht Frankfurt looking to extend their unbeaten run in the competition. Here are some of the Things to Look out for on Thursday. You can bet on the Europa League here.
Arsenal impressive home form to continue?
The Gunner’s home form has been the bedrock of their season. They have lost just one Europa League match at home in their last ten. Their home record against Italian visitors is great, too. They have won ten, drawn four and lost just twice. They have also won seven straight matches at home, losing just twice in 15 games. Although a match against Italian giants Napoli is not a walkover, the Gunners have proven they can beat just about anybody at home this season under Unai Emery. Moreover, Napoli’s away form is not that good. They have won just three times in their last ten matches away from home.
Eintracht Frankfurt unbeaten record
Eintracht Frankfurt, the last standing German team in European competition, have won eight and drawn their other two matches in the competition this season, an impressive statistic. The Germans are unbeaten in 14 Europa league matches and that could extend to 15 when they play Benfica on Thursday in the quarter-final. If they avoid defeat, they’ll match Atletico Madrid’s all-time record of 15 games without defeat.
Olivier Giroud’s to carry on his impressive goalscoring run?
Europa League top scorer Olivier Giroud has had to make do with a bit-part role at Chelsea, playing second-fiddle to Gonzalo Higuain and scoring just twice in the Premier League this season. However, he’s been brilliant in the Europa League. He’s scored nine goals so far. He’s also the top scorer in European competitions this season with nine, more than Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski who have scored eight each in the Champions League. If he scores against Slavia Prague in the first leg of the quarter-final, he will be on course for a brilliant season given he’s always been mostly called upon from the bench.
Will Villareal’s poor league form carried to the Europa League?
Valencia and Villarreal meet in a European quarter-final for the second time. The Yellow Submarine have been brilliant in the Europa League this season. The same cannot be said of their league form, where they are facing a possible relegation from La Liga. Villarreal finished fifth in last season’s La Liga to qualify for Europe for the fifth successive season. They sit 18th in the table this time around and their recent upturn in form has been disrupted by a three-match winless match. On Thursday, they face local rivals Valencia. Will their poor form be carried in Europe?