FC Porto will play host to Spartak Moscow in the UEFA Europa League Quarter-Final first leg on Thursday.
FC Porto are fresh from sealing the Portugese League championship at the weekend, but coach Andre Villas-Boas is assured the celebrations will not impact his teams focus ahead of this clash. “The party we had at the weekend won’t be a problem on Thursday.” Villas-Boas told the official UEFA website.
Spartak coach Valeri Karpin described Porto as “the favorites to win the whole tournament” this week, and will be aware of the challenge facing his team.
Dynamo Kiev will play host to SC Braga in the UEFA Europa League Quarter-Finals first leg. The two clubs will clash after both eliminating English opposition to reach the last eight. Dynamo eliminated Manchester City 2-1 on aggregate, while Braga edged out Liverpool 1-0 over two legs.
In the other two Quarter-Finals, Villareal will play host to FC Twente while Benfica will face off against PSV Eindhoven.
Dynamo Kiev will play host to SC Braga in the UEFA Europa League Quarter-Finals first leg. The two clubs will clash after both eliminating English opposition to reach the last eight. Dynamo eliminated Manchester City 2-1 on aggregate, while Braga edged out Liverpool 1-0 over two legs.
Dynamo will be looking to extend a seven game unbeaten streak in European home games, while Braga are seeking to add to the solitary goal they have scored away from home in Europe this season.
Milos Ninkovic will not be able to play for Dynamo, the Serbian defender has been ruled out for two weeks with a knee injury.
Defensive duo Alberto Rodriguez and Elderson will not play for Braga after being sidelined with injury.
KEY PLAYERS
Ognjen Vukojevic (Dynamo Kiev) – The Croatian midfielder is a key presence in the engine room, and has also scored three goals in the competition so far.
Alan (SC Braga) – The Brazilian midfielder scored the decisive goal when Liverpool were eliminated in the previous round.
Villarreal will play host to FC Twente in this UEFA Europa League Quarter-Final first leg.
Villarreal received hefty praise from their opponents in the buildup to this game. Twente coach Michel Preud’homme compared them to their fellow Spaniard’s Barcelona. “They are a typical Spanish side, who play quickly with short combination football. They are a very good team. Actually they are the ‘little’ Barcelona,” Preud’Homme told the official UEFA website.
Goalkeeper Diego Lopez will anchor the Villarreal defense, and is the only player to play every minute of every game in the tournament so far for ‘The Yellow Submarine.’
Luuk de Jong will lead the attack for Twente and has scored three goals in four Europa League games so far this season.
KEY PLAYERS
Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal) – The tournament’s leading goal scorer has netted eight goals in 10 Europa League games so far this season.
Peter Wisgerhof (FC Twente) – The Dutch defender will play a key role in shackling Rossi, Wisgerhof also scored at Rubin Kazan earlier in the competition.
Benfica will play host to PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Europa League Quarter-Final first leg.
The leaky Benfica defense has been targeted as a “weakness to exploit” by PSV coach Fred Rutten in the buildup to this game. Benfica coach Jorge Jesus countered by telling the official UEFA website, “if we concede and win, I don’t care.”
Veteran striker Nuno Gomes is sidelined for Benfica due to knee surgery. Paraguay striker Oscar Cardozo and Franco Jara are set to lead the Benfica attack.
Young star Ola Toivonen is ruled out for PSV due to injury. Toivonen’s strike partner Marcus Berg will lead the attack and is still searching for his first Europa League goal of the season.
KEY PLAYERS
Maxi Pereira (Benfica) – The Uruguay international defender will have a key role in shoring up the back line describe as a “weakness” by PSV coach Rutten.
Balazs Dzsudzsak (PSV) – If Benfica’s defense is to be exploited then the Hungarian forward will be a key figure. Dzsudzsak has registered four goals and two assists in the tournament so far this season.
FC Porto will play host to Spartak Moscow in the UEFA Europa League Quarter-Final first leg on Thursday.
FC Porto are fresh from sealing the Portugese League championship at the weekend, but coach Andre Villas-Boas is assured the celebrations will not impact his teams focus ahead of this clash. “The party we had at the weekend won’t be a problem on Thursday.” Villas-Boas told the official UEFA website.
Spartak coach Valeri Karpin described Porto as “the favorites to win the whole tournament” this week, and will be aware of the challenge facing his team.
KEY PLAYERS
Falcao (FC Porto) – The Colombian striker has scored seven goals in nine Europa League games this season, and will be a big threat to Spartak.
Alex (Spartak Moscow) – The Brazilian playmaker will be at the heart of Spartak’s search for an away goal. Alex has registered two goals and three assists in the tournament so far.
Spartak coach Valeri Karpin described Porto as “the favorites to win the whole tournament” this week, and will be aware of the challenge facing his team.
Dynamo Kiev will play host to SC Braga in the UEFA Europa League Quarter-Finals first leg. The two clubs will clash after both eliminating English opposition to reach the last eight. Dynamo eliminated Manchester City 2-1 on aggregate, while Braga edged out Liverpool 1-0 over two legs.
In the other two Quarter-Finals, Villareal will play host to FC Twente while Benfica will face off against PSV Eindhoven.
Dynamo Kiev will play host to SC Braga in the UEFA Europa League Quarter-Finals first leg. The two clubs will clash after both eliminating English opposition to reach the last eight. Dynamo eliminated Manchester City 2-1 on aggregate, while Braga edged out Liverpool 1-0 over two legs.
Dynamo will be looking to extend a seven game unbeaten streak in European home games, while Braga are seeking to add to the solitary goal they have scored away from home in Europe this season.
Milos Ninkovic will not be able to play for Dynamo, the Serbian defender has been ruled out for two weeks with a knee injury.
Defensive duo Alberto Rodriguez and Elderson will not play for Braga after being sidelined with injury.
KEY PLAYERS
Ognjen Vukojevic (Dynamo Kiev) – The Croatian midfielder is a key presence in the engine room, and has also scored three goals in the competition so far.
Alan (SC Braga) – The Brazilian midfielder scored the decisive goal when Liverpool were eliminated in the previous round.
Villarreal will play host to FC Twente in this UEFA Europa League Quarter-Final first leg.
Villarreal received hefty praise from their opponents in the buildup to this game. Twente coach Michel Preud’homme compared them to their fellow Spaniard’s Barcelona. “They are a typical Spanish side, who play quickly with short combination football. They are a very good team. Actually they are the ‘little’ Barcelona,” Preud’Homme told the official UEFA website.
Goalkeeper Diego Lopez will anchor the Villarreal defense, and is the only player to play every minute of every game in the tournament so far for ‘The Yellow Submarine.’
Luuk de Jong will lead the attack for Twente and has scored three goals in four Europa League games so far this season.
KEY PLAYERS
Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal) – The tournament’s leading goal scorer has netted eight goals in 10 Europa League games so far this season.
Peter Wisgerhof (FC Twente) – The Dutch defender will play a key role in shackling Rossi, Wisgerhof also scored at Rubin Kazan earlier in the competition.
Benfica will play host to PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Europa League Quarter-Final first leg.
The leaky Benfica defense has been targeted as a “weakness to exploit” by PSV coach Fred Rutten in the buildup to this game. Benfica coach Jorge Jesus countered by telling the official UEFA website, “if we concede and win, I don’t care.”
Veteran striker Nuno Gomes is sidelined for Benfica due to knee surgery. Paraguay striker Oscar Cardozo and Franco Jara are set to lead the Benfica attack.
Young star Ola Toivonen is ruled out for PSV due to injury. Toivonen’s strike partner Marcus Berg will lead the attack and is still searching for his first Europa League goal of the season.
KEY PLAYERS
Maxi Pereira (Benfica) – The Uruguay international defender will have a key role in shoring up the back line describe as a “weakness” by PSV coach Rutten.
Balazs Dzsudzsak (PSV) – If Benfica’s defense is to be exploited then the Hungarian forward will be a key figure. Dzsudzsak has registered four goals and two assists in the tournament so far this season.
FC Porto will play host to Spartak Moscow in the UEFA Europa League Quarter-Final first leg on Thursday.
FC Porto are fresh from sealing the Portugese League championship at the weekend, but coach Andre Villas-Boas is assured the celebrations will not impact his teams focus ahead of this clash. “The party we had at the weekend won’t be a problem on Thursday.” Villas-Boas told the official UEFA website.
Spartak coach Valeri Karpin described Porto as “the favorites to win the whole tournament” this week, and will be aware of the challenge facing his team.
KEY PLAYERS
Falcao (FC Porto) – The Colombian striker has scored seven goals in nine Europa League games this season, and will be a big threat to Spartak.
Alex (Spartak Moscow) – The Brazilian playmaker will be at the heart of Spartak’s search for an away goal. Alex has registered two goals and three assists in the tournament so far.
