The Europa League quarter finals get underway on Thursday evening, with eight teams battling for four spaces in the semi-finals. Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen are heavy favorites as they play at home while we will also be treated to an Italian showdown between AC Milan and AS Roma.
Liverpool vs Atalanta | 21:00 | 21 April
Liverpool fared admirably in the Europa League group round-robin phase, and secured top spot in Group C. Tied on 71 points with Premier League leaders Arsenal, the Reds are have lost just once in their past 13 fixtures in all competitions. They recorded a thrilling 11-2 aggregate win over Sparta Prague in the Round of 16, netting six goals in the home fixture played at the raucous Anfield atmosphere. The news of Trent-Alexander Arnold, Alisson Becker, Diogo Jota and Stefan Bajcetic all returning to training ahead of the Atalanta showdown will be a significant boost for Klopp.
The Italians have failed to build momentum off late, winning just once in their past 11 appearances in all competitions. That poor run has seen Atalanta drop to sixth on the Seria A log standings and facing elimination in the Coppa Italia having suffered a 2-1 defeat to Fiorentina in the first leg. The weekend’s 2-1 league loss to Cagliari highlighted the Nerrazuri’s glaring issues on the road, as they boast one victory in the last five away encounters across all formats. Having missed out on the 3-2 aggregate victory over Sporting CP in the Round of 16, highly-rated defender Giorgio Scalvini will again sit out as he nurses a hamstring injury.
The two sides met in the Champions League group stage in 2020, and traded away wins. Liverpool recorded a massive 5-0 romp in Italy and Atalanta were 2-0 winners at Anfield. Both Teams To Score is a banker here.
Prediction: Both Teams To Score (Yes) @ 1.71 and home team to score in both halves @ 1.82
Bet Boosts: Mac Allister to Score from Outside the Box | WAS 19.00
Bayer Leverkusen vs West Ham United | 21:00 | 11 April
The Germans have been imperious both domestically and in the European stage this campaign. Xabi Alonso’s men are yet to be defeated in eight Europa League encounters so far, with a run of seven victories and a draw quickly elevating them into the competition’s contenders. The weekend’s 2-1 win over Union Berlin was Leverkusen’s sixth in a row in all competitions, and left them needing just a win to lift the Bundesliga title.
The momentum of Leverkusen’s undefeated run has set them on course for a treble-winning season and drawing first blood in the first leg will get them closer to achieving that target. Leverkusen’s blistering home form has earned them seven straight wins, scoring 19 goals.
West Ham’s run to the quarterfinals has been near perfect, winning six out of eight games in a testament of their improved temperament in Europe. David Moyes’ men returned to winning ways over the weekend with a late 2-1 win against Wolves, their first win in four league games.
The Hammers decimated Freiburg by 5-1 on aggregate in the previous round, and their hopes of returning to Europe next season hinge on lifting the Europa League as the battle for the top European places heats up. Jarrod Bowen has been ruled out through injury while goalkeeper Alphonse Areola is a doubt.
The Hammers have failed to keep a clean sheet on the road in 2024 while the hosts have recorded seven straight wins at home. I believe a few goals will find the net here, with the home side prevailing.
Prediction: Additional Totals Over 2.5 @ 1.56 | Play Now!
AC Milan vs AS Roma | 21:00 | 11 April
Coming off a morale-boosting 3-0 win against Lecce last weekend, The Rossoneri have turned a new leaf in recent weeks and find themselves second on the Italia Serie A, 14 points behind runaway leaders Inter Milan. Stefan Pioli’s men are yet to taste defeat in eight matches across all competitions, with their last defeat coming against Rennes in the Round of 32 of the Europa League.
Milan enjoyed a comfortable 7-3 aggregate win over Slavia Prague in the previous and will fancy their chances against a Roma side that they have comfortably beaten Roma twice this season.
Roma prevailed 1-0 in a fierce derby against Lazio on the weekend, stealing a result may provide the needed impetus to withhold Milan’s surge when they meet at the San Siro. The Giallorossi easily dispatched Brighton & Hove Albion in the Round of 16, securing a 4-1 aggregate romp. Danielle De Rossi has improved this Roma side but their away record is still a cause of concern, having won twice in their previous nine encounters on the road.
AC Milan will be the favorites in this tie but the away will not easily give away just like that. I am backing a few goals to be scored here.
Prediction: Additional Totals Over 1.5 @ 1.26 | Take the bet now by clicking here!
