The Europa League is heating up as the Round of 16 approaches! There are some great teams left in the tournament, and it’s time to take a look at who has the best chance of advancing. From experienced veterans to young upstarts, this article will give you an early look at which teams to watch out for in the upcoming rounds of the Europa League.
Introduction to the Europa League Round of 16
Europe’s second-tier club competition enters the knockout stage this week with the round of 16. The eight group winners are seeded and will play the second legs at home. Here’s a look at the teams and matchups:
Group A: Arsenal (England) vs. BATE Borisov (Belarus)
Arsenal should cruise past BATE, which finished last in its Champions League group. The Gunners have been strong in Europa League play, winning all five of their games while scoring 19 goals.
Group B: Salzburg (Austria) vs. Club Brugge (Belgium)
This could be a tricky matchup for Salzburg, which narrowly won its group over Celtic. Club Brugge has experience in European competition, having reached the Round of 32 in both the Champions League and Europa League this season.
Group C: Villarreal (Spain) vs. Sporting Lisbon (Portugal)
Villarreal is one of the favorites to win the Europa League, and it should advance past Sporting Lisbon. The Spanish club has been strong in all competitions this season, including a run to the semifinals of the Copa del Rey.
Group D: AC Milan (Italy) vs. Ludogorets Razgrad (Bulgaria)
AC Milan is another team that should advance to the quarterfinals without much trouble. The Rossoneri have been solid in Serie A and reached
Teams to Watch Out For:
As the Europa League enters the Round of 32, there are a few teams that stand out as potential contenders for the title. Here’s a look at some of the teams to watch out for in the competition:
-Arsenal: The English side is always a force to be reckoned with in European competition, and they’ll be looking to make a deep run in the Europa League this year.
-Napoli: The Italian club has been one of the most impressive sides in Europe this season, and they’ll be looking to continue their good form in the Europa League.
-Borussia Dortmund: The German side is always a tough opponent in European competition, and they’ll be looking to make a strong showing in the Europa League this year.
-Atletico Madrid: The Spanish club is always a dangerous team in European competition, and they’ll be looking to make a deep run in the Europa League this year.
- AC Milan
AC Milan will be looking to make a strong push for the Europa League title this season. The Rossoneri have been in good form in recent months and will be eager to make up for their disappointing performance in last year’s competition.
Milan will be led by striker Gonzalo Higuain, who has been in excellent form since joining the club from Juventus last summer. The Argentine has already scored 19 goals in all competitions and will be keen to add to his tally in the Europa League.
In midfield, Milan will look to the experienced duo of Franck Ribery and Hakan Calhanoglu to provide creativity and invention. Ribery is a proven performer at the highest level, while Calhanoglu has been one of the most productive players in Serie A over the past few seasons.
The Rossoneri also have a solid defence, which is marshalled by captain Alessio Romagnoli. Milan conceded just 24 goals in 38 league games last season, and they will be looking to keep things tight at the back once again this term.
Milan should have no trouble qualifying for the knockout stages of the Europa League, and they will be confident of making a deep run in the competition.
- Arsenal
The Europa League round of 32 features some intriguing match-ups, with several big names set to do battle. Here’s a look at the teams to watch out for in this year’s competition:
Arsenal: The Gunners will be looking to make a strong push for the title this year after falling short in recent seasons. They’ll be up against BATE Borisov in the round of 32, and will fancy their chances of progression.
Borussia Dortmund: One of the favorites for the competition, Dortmund will be up against Atalanta in the round of 32. They’ll be looking to go deep into the tournament and will be a team to watch out for.
Napoli: Another side with aspirations of lifting the trophy, Napoli will take on Zurich in the round of 32. They have a strong squad and will be hoping to make a run to the final.
Porto: The reigning champions will be looking to defend their title this year, and they’ll start out against Roma in the round of 32. They’ll need to be at their best if they’re to progress further in the competition.
- Villarreal
Villarreal will be looking to build on their strong performance in last year’s Europa League, where they reached the semi-finals before being beaten by eventual winners Atlético Madrid. Unai Emery’s side will be hoping to go one better this time around and they will certainly be one of the teams to watch out for in this year’s competition.
Villarreal boast a strong squad with plenty of European experience, and they will be looking to use that to their advantage in the Europa League this season. They have some excellent attacking players in their ranks, such as Gerard Moreno and Paco Alcácer, who will be looking to fire them to success in the competition.
Emery is a very experienced manager and he knows how to get the best out of his team in Europe, so Villarreal will be a tough opponent for anyone they come up against. They will be hoping to make it all the way to the final this time around, and they will certainly be one of the teams to watch out for in this year’s Europa League.
- Roma
- – Roma
Roma have been one of the most consistent teams in Europe over the past few years, and they will be looking to make a deep run in this year’s Europa League. They have a very strong squad, led by captain Francesco Totti, and they will be a tough team to beat.
- – Sporting Lisbon
Sporting Lisbon are another team that has been consistently near the top of European competition in recent years, and they will be looking to make a deep run in this year’s Europa League. They have a very strong squad, led by captain Adrien Silva, and they will be a tough team to beat.
- – Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao are another team that has been consistently near the top of European competition in recent years, and they will be looking to make a deep run in this year’s Europa League. They have a very strong squad, led by captain Iker Muniain, and they will be a tough team to beat.
- Manchester United
- Manchester United – The current Europa League holders, Manchester United, will be looking to retain their title this year. Jose Mourinho’s men had a strong run in the competition last year, and will be hoping to replicate that this time around. With the likes of Paul Pogba, Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku in their squad, they have the quality to go all the way again.
- Arsenal – Another English team to keep an eye on are Arsenal. The Gunners have not been in the best of form lately, but they are still a dangerous team on their day. Arsene Wenger will be hoping his side can put in a good showing in Europe this season, and with the likes of Mesut Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette in their squad, they have the talent to do so.
- Atletico Madrid – One of the favourites for the competition, Atletico Madrid will be looking to go one better than last year and lift the trophy. Diego Simeone’s side were beaten in the final by rivals Real Madrid last season, but they will be determined to go one step further this time around. With stars such as Antoine Griezmann and Diego Godin in their ranks, they have what it takes to win the competition.
- Borussia Dortmund – Another team that will be looking to make a mark in this year’s competition are Borussia Dortmund. The German side have been in good form lately and
- Slavia Prague
- Slavia Prague
Slavia Prague is one of the most exciting teams in the Europa League this season. The Czech side has been in excellent form recently, winning 13 of their last 16 games in all competitions.
In the Europa League, Slavia Prague will be a force to be reckoned with. The Czechs have talented players in their squad, including forwards Tomas Soucek and Peter Olayinka. With these two players leading the line, Slavia Prague will be a tough team to stop.
If you’re looking for a team to keep an eye on in the Europa League this season, make sure you don’t miss out on Slavia Prague.
- Braga
- – Braga
Braga are a team to watch out for in the Europa League this season. They finished 3rd in Group G behind AS Roma and FC Porto, and will be looking to make a deep run in the competition.
Led by manager Jorge Simao, Braga have a strong squad that includes players like Ricardo Horta, Eder Balanta, and Pedro Neto. They also have experience in the Europa League, having reached the quarter-finals in 2011/12 and the semi-finals in 2014/15.
With a tough draw against Rangers in the Round of 32, Braga will need to be at their best if they want to progress further in the competition. But if they can get past Rangers, they will definitely be a team to watch out for in the later stages of the Europa League.
- Slavia Sofia
- Slavia Sofia – The Bulgarian side are no pushovers and will be looking to spring a surprise or two in the Europa League. They have some talented players in their ranks, including former Premier League winger Aleksander Tonev. They will be up against it in their group, however, which also contains Sporting Lisbon and LASK Linz.
Players to Keep an Eye On:
- Players to Keep an Eye On:
With the Europa League round of 32 just around the corner, there are a few teams and players that stand out as ones to watch. Here’s a look at some of the most intriguing matchups and players to keep an eye on during the tournament:
- Manchester United vs. FC Midtjylland: This will be Man United’s first competitive match under new manager Louis van Gaal, and it will be interesting to see how he sets up his team. One player to keep an eye on is striker Radamel Falcao, who will be looking to make an impact in his first European appearance for the club.
- Liverpool vs. Besiktas: Liverpool will be without star striker Mario Balotelli for this matchup, but they’ll still have plenty of firepower in attack with the likes of Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling. One player to watch on Besiktas’ side is winger Gokhan Tore, who has been in excellent form lately.
- Tottenham Hotspur vs. Fiorentina: Spurs are coming off a disappointing loss to Crystal Palace in the Premier League, so they’ll be looking to bounce back against Fiorentina. One player to watch for Tottenham is Harry Kane, who has been in red-hot form lately and will be looking to add to his tally of 19 goals this season.
- Napoli vs. Dynamo Kiev: This should
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic (AC Milan)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a striker for AC Milan. He is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in the world and has won numerous individual awards.
Ibrahimovic began his career at Malmo FF, where he quickly established himself as one of the best players in the Swedish league. He then moved to Ajax, where he won the Eredivisie title and was named Dutch Footballer of the Year. After a successful spell at Juventus, he joined Barcelona for a record fee, winning the La Liga title in his first season.
Ibrahimovic has also enjoyed great success with the Swedish national team, winning the World Cup in 2002 and reaching the final of Euro 2004. He has been named Swedish Footballer of the Year on five occasions.
AC Milan are one of the favourites to win this year’s Europa League, and Ibrahimovic will be key to their chances of success. The Rossoneri will be hoping that the Swede can reproduce his best form and fire them to glory.
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is one of the most exciting players in world football, and he will be looking to lead his team to success in the Europa League this season. The Gabon international has been in sensational form for Borussia Dortmund over the past few years, and he will be hoping to continue that form in Europe.
Aubameyang is a clinical finisher who is capable of scoring all types of goals. He is also a fantastic dribbler and has the pace to trouble any defence. Dortmund will be looking to him to provide the goals this season, and they will be hoping that he can fire them to glory in the Europa League.
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