Europa League Q-Finals: Man United, Arsenal Get Spanish, Czech Opponents
Fresh from overcoming Italy’s AC Milan 2-1 on aggregate in the round of 16, Manchester United have been drawn to face La Liga opponents, Granada in the last eight ties of this season’s Europa League.
This is as their English counterparts, Arsenal are up against Czech outfit, Slavia Prague, who eliminated Leicester City and Rangers in previous rounds.
Other quarter-finalists are Ajax Amsterdam that are pitched against AS Roma of Italy as well as Dinamo Zagreb of Croatia have a date with Spanish club, Villarreal in the last eight match-up.
Man Utd and Arsenal’s likely paths to the final
If United overcome Granada, they will face the winners between Ajax and Roma, while the victors from Arsenal versus Slavia Prague tie will play either Unai Emery’s Villarreal or Zagreb, who stunned Jose MuoTottenham Hotspur in the last 16 with a comeback 3-2 aggregate win.
With that scenario in mind, it means an all-Premier League final is possible in this year’s Europa League between the Red Devils and the Gunners.
First-leg matches will be played on Thursday, April 8, with the second legs taking place one week after, on Thursday April 15, 2021
The semi-finals are slated for April 29, (first leg) and May 6 (second leg) with the final holding on Wednesday May 26 inside the Gdansk Arena in Poland.
Are English clubs happy with their draws?
United are considered favourites for the Europa League; thanks to their ample firepower provided by Paul Pogba, who scored the second-leg winner in Milan, Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, Edinson Cavani, Anthony Martial and others.
Certainly, Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men are clear favourites against Granada, who are debutants in the Europa League. The Spaniards reached this stage of the competition having started out in the second qualifying round.
Granada’s most recognisable name for Premier League audiences is ex-Spurs striker, Roberto Soldado, who scored their crucial away goal against Molde in the round of 16.
For Arsenal, they must be wary of a Slavia Prague side that have proved adept at eliminating British oppositions. They beat Leicester 2-0 on aggregate in the round of 32 before seeing off Rangers at Ibrox to triumph 3-1 over two legs.
Should Mikel Arteta’s men progress, they may face Spain’s Villarreal in the last four. The La Liga side are managed by former Gunners boss Emery, who was sacked in December 2019 and replaced by Arteta. – With Goal.com reports
