Europa Conference League Quarterfinals: Rematches common theme

Europa Conference League pits familiar foes against one another

In what has been an enthralling curtain-raiser for the UEFA Europa Conference League, we have reached the quarterfinal stage. An interesting mix of teams remain, with one team reaching their maiden European quarterfinal. With a pair of rematches from the group stage, the race to Tirana could not be more enthralling.

In the last round, I did not fare as well as in the knockout round playoffs. With Roma, Feyenoord and Slavia Praha progressing, those three are the only teams I managed to correctly predict. It goes to show just how challenging it is to nail all of these matches.

With that out of the way, here are the quarterfinal pairings.

Feyenoord vs Slavia Prague

I commence with one of the aforementioned rematches. The former European Cup winners Feyenoord will face a hungry Slavia team looking to create more noise.

Arne Slot’s Rotterdam-based side are on a good run of form, with four wins in their last five competitive matches. The one defeat came at the hands of Klassieker rivals Ajax before the international break. Sitting in a Europa League place in the Eredivisie, this is the Dutch side’s last chance at a trophy. The only club left that are unbeaten in Europe (excluding qualifiers), they will hope to keep that run going.

Save for an expected elimination of LASK last time out, Slavia are in a bit of a rut. With one win in four, they are playing catch-up to Viktoria Plzen in their league. Their third knockout round campaign in the last four seasons, they fell at this very stage to Arsenal last season in the Europa League. With a chance to reach a European semifinal for the first time in 26 years, the Czechs will hope for to have the last laugh against their Dutch opposition.

On Matchday 2, it was Feyenoord who edged Slavia 2-1 in Rotterdam before a 2-2 stalemate in the Czech capital on Matchday 5. This meeting is a highly fascinating one and therefore a tough one to call. I think Slavia have more on the line here. Plus, the Prague-based side have more recent adventures in European knockout rounds. Keeping that in mind, I am tipping Slavia to exact revenge on Feyenoord.

Bodø/Glimt vs AS Roma

The other quarterfinal to see a reunion from the group stage, the Norwegian champions are out to repeat their magic from last October and November against Jose Mourinho’s Giallorossi.

The story of the inaugural Europa Conference League season has to be Bodø/Glimt. Claiming their second straight Norwegian top flight title last year, they can still complete an unthinkable treble. Playing their 19th and 20th European matches of the season, the Norwegian underdogs will hope to reproduce their stunning results throughout the competition. Bodø are the only one of the quarter-finalists already assured a place in Europe for next season.

Roma find themselves in a much different place from two months ago. The 2018/19 Champions League semifinalists have kept back-to-back clean sheets in victories over Sampdoria and Derbi della Capitale rivals Lazio. As a result, they are now fifth in the Serie A, though it is a four-way battle for the final three European places in Italy. Remarkably, Mourinho’s side ended up top of their group despite the 6-1 hammering they took in Norway on Matchday 3. That is their only loss in Europe this campaign, ending another surprise in Vitesse last time out.

Surely the fairy tale must end for Bodø/Glimt at some point. Going unbeaten against their quarterfinal opponents in the group stage, they certainly fancy another European scalp at the expense of the Italians. Unfortunately for Bodø, I do not forecast lightning striking twice for them. I have Roma to progress and end the Cinderella story.

Olympique Marseille vs PAOK

A confident Marseille head into a first meeting against Greek side PAOK. Two sides who have not always impressed in Europe this season, both will aim for progression.

The first-ever winners of the present-day Champions League, Jorge Sampaoli’s side are riding a five-game winning streakm which has them second in Ligue 1 behind runaway leaders PSG. OM has not always convinced though, evident with their European record this season. Despite winning their last five European matches, they were winless in their first five, dropping them in this tournament. Eliminations of Qarabag and Basel in the previous knockout rounds gives them confidence heading into the two legs.

Also second in their domestic league, PAOK still have cup action left. Second to København and ahead of Slovan Bratislava and Lincoln Red Imps in their group, the Thessaloniki outfit got the better of Midtjylland and Gent to end up here. A second ever European quarterfinal, the Greek side will aim to go one better this time round.

PAOK have been more steady throughout the campaign, but Marseille are in superb form. I think that will make the difference. Of the quarterfinals, I think this is the most lopsided regarding favorites. I am going with Marseille here.

Leicester City vs PSV

Finally, the only match this round to feature two Europa League group stage dropouts, Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes will have a task on their hands. A meeting with former European Cup champions PSV awaits the defending FA Cup winners.

This is the last chance for the East Midlands club to salvage what has been a disappointing season. Unable to defend their FA Cup added to an underwhelming league season, leaving Leicester needing Conference League glory to end up in Europe next season. Toppling Randers and Rennes in their first knockout ties in the competition, they will need to keep it up against their Dutch challengers.

PSV are no strangers to European football. From being two games from a Champions League group stage appearance back in August, to failing to collect the required point in the Europa League on Matchday 6 to ensure progression, PSV found themselves in the Conference League. After a small scare against Maccabi Tel Aviv, they were involved in what just might have been the best match in this tournament’s young history last time out against København. Second in the Eredivisie, an unlucky treble is still on the cards for Roger Schmidt’s men.

This meeting will see teams from the two best national associations in Europe this season at the time of writing. With Dutch football seeing a fruitful campaign from their clubs, it would not shock me to see PSV move on. However, I do not see it happening as Leicester are able to put all their attention to this tournament, I have to go with the Foxes on this one.

The kickoff times for the matches can be found here and here. As we near the final in Tirana, these eight teams will continue their quest to end up in Albania’s capital come May. With a Europa League place attached to winning the tournament, plus this being the last chance at a trophy for most, there will be nerves aplenty for the remaining clubs. The drama from the first ever Europa Conference League is far from over.