After the appetizer, known as the UEFA Champions League, comes the main course called the Europa League. Well, you can treat the first sentence with as much regard as Roy Hodgson treats the Europa League.
Liverpool are far from assured a place in the next round, only two points ahead of FC Utrecht and their opponents, Napoli, tonight. Napoli must be well aware that Anfield is not an easy place to visit on a European night. However, Liverpool’s two goalless draws in the Europa League, Roy Hodgson’s affinity towards fielding a weakened side and a visit of English champions Chelsea on the Reds’ mind, gives ample opportunity for Napoli to steal all three points.
The Reds need to make winning a habit..
Roy Hodgson is expected to rest key players, yet again. Glen Johnson, who failed a late fitness test last weekend, might recover to play in this clash, but Dirk Kuyt is still a major doubt. Dutch midfielder Ryan Babel and Greek defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos could also miss out on this decisive clash. Joe Cole picked up an injury at the weekend is sidelined for atleast two weeks.
Portuguese champions Porto are favourites to go through from Group L, having already bagged nine points out of nine. However, their opponents, Turkish side Besiktas will provide them stiff competition. Porto could even qualify with a draw, depending on the result of the match between Rapid Wien and CSKA Sofia.
Juventus are desperate for three points when they host Salzburg in Turin. The Italian outfit has played out three draws in the first three matches and are currently third in the group. However, la Vecchia Signora would be in fine spirits after beating Italian rivals AC Milan, last week. The Italian giants have a whole host of injury problems. Winger Jorge Martinez has been ruled out until the new year with a foot injury, full-back Paolo De Ceglie is a long-term absentee with a knee problem and goalkeeper Alex Manninger is out with an ankle problem.
King of draws!
Groups I and J are extremely tight groups and Matchday 4 could provide a clearer picture of the teams to qualify in these. PSV are favourites to seal qualification as they host Debreceni at home. The Hungarian outfit haven’t picked up a single point, thus far. However, PSV’s qualification depends on the result of the other match in the group. The key match in the group will be played in Italy when Sampdoria host Metalist Kharkiv. A win for the home team puts them in pole position, while an away win throws the group wide open.
PSG host Borussia Dortmund in Group G, while Karpaty Lyiv travels to Sevilla. A win for PSG virtually seals their qualification for the next stage, while a result in favour of the German side makes the group even more interesting. Sevilla is expected to wrap-up three points at home. The Spanish side will want to regain some confidence after being hammered at the Camp Nou last week.
Manchester City FC can seal a place in the next round with an away win against KKS Lech Poznań. The British side have had an impressive Europa League campaign so far, although their domestic campaign has been taking a battering, recently. Manager Roberto Mancini is under extreme pressure to deliver the goods. Carlos Tevez is still out with a thigh injury and Nigel de Jong is another non-starter with a hamstring injury. Aleksandar Kolorov could feature having been sidelined since the season’s opening day with an ankle ligament injury.
Europa League failure could be the end for Mancini..
The tighest group in the Europa League is Group B. Two points separate fourth position Rosenborg (3 points) from leaders Bayer Leverkusen (5 points), while Atletico Madrid and Aris Thessaloniki FC are sandwiched in between with four points each. On this crucial matchday, Rosenborg host Atletico Madrid in Norway, hoping to gain revenge on the 3-0 reversal in Spain. In the other match of the group, Leverkusen host Aris in Germany after the two sides played out a goalless draw in Greece on Matchday 3.
Atletico need a big game from Diego..
Apart from Manchester City, FC Porto, Paris Saint-Germain and PSV Eindhoven, clubs that can seal a berth in the knockout stage are Sporting Clube de Portugal, PFC CSKA Moskva, FC Zenit St. Petersburg, FC BATE Borisov and VfB Stuttgart.
Sporting Clube de Portugal have been the most prolific side in the Europa League, scoring a dozen goals in three games, and are expected to complete the job tonight. Russian outfits Zenit and CSKA Moskva are also expected to continue their 100% record to seal progress to the next stage.
Matchday 4, like always, spells doom for a few teams, while simultaneously providing an assurance of post-christmas European football for others. It makes for an exciting night of football in the neglected younger sister of the Champions League..