Manchester United and Manchester City
are well-placed to reach the Europa
League last 16 ahead of this week’s
round-of-32 second legs.
English Premier League champions
United defeated Ajax 2-0 away from home
last Thursday, and it will take a major
surprise in the return fixture for Sir Alex
Ferguson’s experienced European
campaigners not to progress.
United paid a price for their victory at the
Amsterdam Arena, losing Venezuela
international Antonio Valencia for up to
four weeks with a hamstring injury.
Following their embarrassing group-stage exit
from the Champions League, Ferguson is likely
to have designs on winning the Europa League,
demonstrating United’s superiority to the rest of
the field in UEFA’s second-tier tournament.
The same applies to Premier League leaders
City, who hold a 2-1 lead over Europa League
holders Porto following their win in the first leg
at Estadio do Dragao last week.
City stars Mario Balotelli and Yaya Toure were
reportedly subjected to racist abuse by the
home fans in Portugal, and the English club are
likely to offer a heated welcome to the Liga
Sagres champions when they run out at Etihad
Stadium on Wednesday.
With the draw for the last 16 made in advance,
United know they will face either Lokomotiv
Moscow or Athletic Bilbao of Spain in the next
round.
Russian Premier League side Lokomotiv hold a
2-1 lead over Athletic, but the Copa del Rey
finalists are more than capable of overturning
the deficit at their Estadio San Mames fortress.
City will play either Legia Warsaw or another
Portuguese team, Sporting Lisbon, who drew 2-2
away to their Polish opponents in the first leg.
Elsewhere, La Liga side Valencia hold a 1-0
advantage going into their home match against
Premier League team Stoke City, while Turkish
side Besiktas are 2-0 up and at home to Sporting
Braga of Portugal.
Rubin Kazan of Russia must overturn a 1-0
deficit away to Greek club Olympiakos.
AZ Alkmaar, who lead by the same margin, make
the short trip from the Netherlands to Belgium,
where they tackle Anderlecht.
Metalist of the Ukraine appear to be through
already following their 4-0 win away to Red Bull
Salzburg, while Atletico Madrid are in charge
thanks to their 3-1 victory at Lazio.
Steaua Bucuresti of Romania trail 1-0 and must
visit Twente of the Eredivisie.
Another Dutch club, PSV Eindhoven, are 2-1 up
ahead of the arrival of Turkish side Trabzonspor.
Standard Liege of Belgium have home advantage
against Polish outfit Wisla Krakow, with the
score in their tie level at 1-1.
PAOK Salonika of Greece will look to build on
their credible 0-0 draw away to Italian side
Udinese.
And finally, Bundesliga club Hannover take a 2-1
advantage with them in their trip to face Belgian
side Club Brugge.
Europa League preview: Manchester clubs qualify
