Best of Europa League

The 2020/21 UEFA Europa League gradually and winding down to the grand-finale that will happen in Gdansk. The colloquial saying that "boys have been separated from men" is a good phrase one can loosely use in this case.

The four teams (Arsenal, AS Roma, Manchester United and Villarreal CF) remaining are among the biggest clubs in Europe and winning this trophy is a task none of them will take lighthearted as its the best route for three of them to be in the Champions League next season. 

Statistics 

Games played - 199

Goals scored - 600

Teams with most goals scored

Arsenal - 32 goals

AS Roma - 26 goals

Villarreal - 25 goals

Most attempts at goal

Arsenal - 175 (67 on target)

This season semi-final pitted two English teams against one Italian club and a Spanish side respectively.

Villarreal vs Arsenal

(1st-leg, April 29th & 2nd-leg, May 6th)

The coach of Villarreal, Unai Emery is a familiar name among the Gunners fan-base being a former manager, and due to his experience and records in this competition it will be difficult task to knock him and his boys out.

This is the Yellow Submarine fourth semi-final appearances in this competition, their previous appearances were in 2004,  2011 and 2016.

In the previous four meetings between both sides, Arsenal had 2 wins and the other two ended in stalemates.

So Mikel Arteta Gunners are being tip to qualify especially because winning this trophy is the most realistic way of them qualifying for the next season Champions League.

AS Roma vs Manchester United

(1st-leg, April 29th & 2nd-leg, May 6th)

Roma have been fantastic in this competition and a testament to that is the number of goals they had, including the individual brilliance of former Real Madrid forward Borja Mayoral.

The Red Devils are the favorite to win and qualify after this tie although the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer led side semi-final heartaches have to be broken or else struggle continues.

The Red Devils have a better head-to-head record over the Gialorossi. Hopefully, that translates into them overcoming this hurdle by qualifying for the final.

Predictions

The final might be between the two English teams, however the pendulum can swing the other way as football has shown on numerous occasions in the past.

Fabiyi Ridwan

Sports Writer and Analyst

The Champions of Europe

The 2020/21 UEFA Champions League has produced some memories and shocking results so far. This season semi-final fixtures pitted two English teams against one Spanish giant and Paris billionaire club.

Real Madrid vs Chelsea

(1st-leg, 27th May & 2nd-leg, May 5th)

Vinicius Jr. vs Christian Pulisic

This interesting tie might be decided by the individual brilliance of this young and brilliant forwards - Vinicius(Real Madrid) or Pulisic(Chelsea).

Vinicius' brace against Liverpool in the 1st-leg of the quarter-final got the Galacticos to this stage curently has 3 goals this season in this competition. For the American star, Pulisic, he is a game changer for the Blues but so far he has just a goal and an assist to show for all his brilliance. 

Paris Saint-Germain vs Manchester City

(1st-leg April 28th May & 2nd-leg on May 4th)

Kylian Mbappe vs Raheem Sterling

The French champion have had it good in Europe this season because of the brilliance of Mbappe who has scored 8goals so far, only Dortmund's Haaland has more. So while City's Sterling has just a goal in champions league so far he has on many occasions in the past scored many important goals in big games for the Cityzens.

Both players must bring their A-game to the field to give their teams a chance of qualifying to the final, however you can say Mbappe has got the edge being a losing finalist last season, a position Man City nor Sterling has ever found themselves. 

Fabiyi Ridwan

Sports Writer and Analyst 

The Falling Giants Competition

The UEFA Europa League is the tournament of teams that plays second fiddle to the champions of European top football - this claim might be disputed by fans of these clubs.

It serves has a consolation to these teams due to their inability to qualify for Champions League which they desire in order to rob shoulders with elite of clubs football across Europe.

Teams in this competition always compete as wounded lions, especially the lowly rated teams who always prove stubborn and show no respect to teams of high quality who missed their way in the Champions League and dropped down to this level.

Many goals have been scored so far in this season edition, and the quarterfinalists battles continues with many more goals and interesting results expected.

Arsenal vs Slavia Prague

1st-leg (8th April) & 2nd-leg (15th April)

The Gunners struggled to qualify for this stage due to their topsy-turvy form which has been evident all-through the season.

Both teams have met just twice before with the Gunners winning 7-nil during the 2007/08 Champions League season - their biggest win in Europe. However, the Czech champion are no push-over after overcoming two British teams Leicester city and Glasgow Rangers in the previous rounds, so Mikel Arteta and his lads should watch out.

Granada vs Manchester United

1st-leg (6th April) & 2nd-leg (15th April)

The Red Devils are the favourite but they sometimes find it difficult to beat Spanish opposition, although they beat Real Sociedad in round 32 with ease while they lost to Sevilla in last season semi-final.

However Granada is a tough team, two of their players are among the top 6 yellow-carded players in this competition, so they will give United a run for their money.

Ajax Amsterdam vs AS Roma

1st-leg (8th April) & 2nd-leg (15th April)

Here are two of the biggest names in European football who have found themselves in this competition.

The match is a 50 -50 tie that will produce many goals because both side scored with ease. Ajax scored 7 goals in the last round while Borja Mayoral of Roma is among the topscorers with 7goals - a goal short of the leading scorer - in this season so far.

Dinamo Zagreb vs Villarreal

1st-leg (8th April) & 2nd-leg (15th April)

This is a game that has so much excitement written all over it. The giant killers from Croatia who most pundits gave little or no chance against Tottenham in the last round with their manager in jail will be out to repeat their exploits in this round.

It is expected as well that Emery's tactics and records in Europa League can be bank on to steer Villarreal through to the next round, but it won't be easy against these resolute Croats.

To qualify for semi-final are; Arsenal, Man United, AS Roma and Villarreal. Although this predictions might change since possession doesn't win games, only goals does.

Fabiyi Ridwan

Sports Writer and Analyst 

The Champions Battles

The UEFA Champions League is the assembly of winners, where champions trade tackles and use tactics to outmatch each other over two legs of football contest.

This season edition have live up to expectations, with mouthwatering ties and goal galore experienced in almost all games so far.

And the underdog teams are working hard tactically to close the wide gap between them and the big boys, however the difference is just high profile signings cum big stars. 

The quarter-fnals stage kick start with enthusiastic fans ready to cheer their darling team from home due to Covid-19 protocols which has not allowed fans to return into the stadia across Europe. 

Real Madrid vs Liverpool

1st-leg (6th April) & 2nd-leg (14th April)

This is the rematch of 2017/18 final where the Galacticos beat the Reds 3-1 at the Olimpiyskiy stadium in Kiev. 

Both teams have not been convincing in recent games in their local league. It is an opportunity for Liverpool to revenge the loss three seasons ago, but Real Madrid still have the pedigree to qualify.

Manchester City vs Borussia Dortmund

1st-leg (6th April) & 2nd-leg (14th April)

This game will be interesting and it is expected to produce more goals because both teams for scoring many goals in games.

On paper, the Cityzens are the favourite but less fancied teams have knocked them out on big occasions in previous seasons which should give Dortmund the needed confidence going into this tie.

Bayern Munich vs Paris Saint-Germain 

1st-leg (7th April) & 2nd-leg (13th April)

The Bavarians are the defending champion, but they have a difficult opposition in last season losing finalist PSG.

This tie is a 50-50 game, with both sides boasting of superstars that can be the decider of the ties. Football itself is a game of how well you utilise your chances, so the team who best convert its chances will prevail.

Porto vs Chelsea

1st-leg (7th April) & 2nd-leg (13th April)

The Blues have lost just once in their last 15 games in all competitions under Thomas Tuchel. And the last time the Blues qualified for quarter-final was 2014.

The Portuguese champion are the surprised package among the quarter-finalist after beating Juventus on away goal rules in the last round, so they are giant killers and the Blues must be prepared to do the needful.

These are my semi-finalist predictions - Real Madrid, Chelsea, Man City & PSG to qualify for semifinals.

Due to the unpredictability that football is known for,  this predictions might change.

Fabiyi Ridwan

Sports Writer and Analyst