Which Four Teams Will Qualify for the Semi-Final of the Europa League?

It may be less glamorous than the UEFA Champions League, but the Europa League, which is more hectic than the UCL, is also as exciting as can be.

As things stand, 8 teams are currently fighting for the chance to make it through to the semi-final stages of the competition. With the second leg of the quarter-final games set to be played this Thursday, we take a look at which four teams stand a higher chance of qualifying for the semis of the competition.

1. Olympique Marseille vs. RB Leipzig (0-1)

The German club side, full of youngsters, made their home advantage count in the first leg of the encounter. They now take a one-goal lead to France where they will take on Payet and co. The already-difficult task has become even harder for Marseille.

For them to qualify, they must outscore Leipzig and keep them at bay for as long as possible in the game. They have scored an average of 2 goals per game whenever they play at home which is a good thing for them going into this game.

2. CSKA Moscow vs. Arsenal (1-4)

After Arsenal scored four goals for themselves in the first leg, it seems as if the Gunners are well on their way to the semi-final. But football history is filled with comebacks made by several teams. For this, Arsene Wenger’s men will not want to be complacent about this one.

With their record of winning 3 of their four away games in the Europa League this season, the English side will be going into this one with all the confidence in the world. They will also be boosted by the fact that the Russians have only won one out of the 2 games they’ve played at home this season.

3. RB Slazburg vs. Lazio (2-4)

This was the highest scoring game of the first leg. With goals scored, you can expect that the second leg will produce a lot of goals too.

The Austrian side has scored 5 goals in their last 4 home games in the competitions. Trailing by 2 goals, they will need to outscore a Lazio side that can’t stop scoring. Of their four games away from home, the Italian scored 2 goals in 2 of those games, scored three times in the third and failed to score in the fourth.

4. Sporting CP vs. Atletico Madrid (0-2)

The odds-on favorites to win the competition take a two-goal advantage to Portugal to a side that has not lost at home since joining the competition via the UEFA Champions League.

Since joining the competition, Atleti has won all of their games. To qualify, Sporting must now find a way to not only defeat them but also outscore them and make sure they don’t score that highly dreaded away goal.