Teams Sporting and Union Saint-Gilloise are looking to surprise again in the Europa League quarter-final stage of a sports competition. On the other hand, the Manchester United and Feyenoord teams are looking for a rematch in relation to something that happened earlier in the competition.
The UEFA Europa League has reached the quarter-final stage and there is a sense of revenge in the air. Feyenoord and Roma will meet again in a repeat of last season’s UEFA Europa Conference League final. Manchester United will face a Spanish team that has been a challenge in recent seasons. Sporting are looking to regain the form that took them to the previous round against Arsenal, while Belgian rookie Union Saint-Gilloise returns to Germany. This article, presented by Enterprise Rent-A-Car, highlights some of the key talking points ahead of the Europa League quarter-final first legs.
Europa League Quarter Finals – April 13, 2023
Feyenoord will face Roma at 17:45.
Man United will face Sevilla at 20:00.
Juventus will face Sporting at 20:00.
Leverkusen will face Union Saint-Gilloise at 20:00.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM SPORTING AND JUVENTUS?
Sporting has had a season full of ups and downs so far. At times, the team played with great intensity and achieved great victories, such as at home against Tottenham and away against Frankfurt in the Champions League group stage, as well as in the memorable battle of the last 16 against Arsenal. However, on other occasions, the team has fallen short of expectations, such as in the Portuguese League Cup final in January, the European collapse in the autumn and the title fight in the Portuguese league.
Despite this, the former forward of the Portuguese national team, Nuno Gomes, believes that Sporting is in its best phase of the season and that everything is falling into place at the right time. He warns Juventus, Sporting’s opponent, that the Portuguese team’s attack is dangerous and has several threats, being lethal in the transition. Furthermore, the Italian team already had a taste of the potential of Portuguese football, when they twice lost to Benfica, Sporting’s Lisbon rivals, in the most recent Champions League group stage.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM MAN UTD AND SEVILLA?
Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford is in excellent form this season. In February, he surpassed his personal record for goals, and in March, he overtook Cristiano Ronaldo as United’s top goalscorer in Europe. He hopes to add more trophies to his list of achievements in May. Among Europe’s top five leagues, only Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé have scored more goals this season.
Sevilla must be worried as Rashford are used to playing La Liga sides. Although he did not score against Real Sociedad in the group stage, he did score in United’s 4–3 win over Barcelona on aggregate in the knockout stage play-offs and in both matches against Betis in the Round of 16. Now the 25-year-old is gearing up to face Sevilla again.
In the 2019/20 Europa League semi-final, Sevilla dashed United’s hopes, but in those days Rashford played more as a winger. Now, he is the team’s main striker. Sevilla need to be mindful of Rashford’s goalscoring ability and his new role in United’s attack.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM LEVERKUSEN AND UNION?
The popular saying “revenge is a dish best served cold” may apply to Feyenoord, who were drawn to face the team that defeated them 1-0 in last season’s Europa Conference League final. However, caution and emotional balance must be exercised in the face of this challenge. Dutch coach Arne Slot lamented at the time that “a bit of luck was lacking and we didn’t have it”, but now the team can aim for a different result.
Feyenoord are leaders of the Dutch league and have not lost since the beginning of November. In the round of 16 second leg, the team beat Shakhtar by 7-1. Roma have been inconsistent but are still in the top four in Italy and when they have a good day they can beat any team – at least at home. Away from home, the Giallorossi have found it more difficult. If Feyenoord are to avenge last year’s final defeat, they may need to inflict damage on their opponents in Rotterdam.