El Kaabi or En-Nesyri: Europa League Potential Goal Scorers for Round of 16 Second Legs
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
Olympiacos vs. Bodo/Gimt - Karaiskakis Stadium
Over in Piraeus, Greece, Olympicos have a mountain to climb after suffering a 3-0 defeat to the Norwegian champions at the Aspmyra Stadion last week. However, Thrylos are certainly not out of contention just yet, as they have already recorded two 3-0 home wins in this competition this season and are unbeaten in their last six European games at this venue (W4 D2 L0).
The hosts’ hopes of turning the tide here were bolstered in the week with Ayoub El Kaabi, who missed the first leg, returning from injury. The Morocco international is the leading scorer in the competition with seven goals, including netting three in his last two starts in the League Phase against Porto and Qarabag.
Check out our Olympiacos vs. Bodo/Gimt prediction!
Man United vs. Real Sociedad - Old Trafford
Manchester United are enduring a very poor season in the Premier League, but they are still well in the title conversation in the Europa League and head into the home leg of their Round of 16 tie against Real Sociedad locked level after playing out a 1-1 draw at Reale Arena last week. You can also stay up to the minute with this match using our Europa League livescore tool
Joshua Zirkzee scored the all-important goal on the road in the first leg and could be crucial to the Red Devils hopes of qualifying if he is to lead the line again tonight. However, the player to watch in this tie is Bruno Fernandes, who has been the backbone of this United side for the last few seasons.
The United skipper scored a stunning free kick to earn a point against Arsenal over the weekend, taking his tally for the term to 12 goals and 13 assists. Fernandes has now been directly involved in 25+ goals in each of the team’s last three seasons - only Mo Salah and Erling Haaland have done likewise for a Premier League club since the start of 2022-23.
Check out our Manchester United vs. Real Sociedad prediction!
Athletic Bilbao vs. Roma - San Mames Barria
One of the early kickoffs this evening will see Roma travel to San Mames Barria to face Athletic Bilbao, and if this match is anything like the first leg, we are in for a real treat. I Giallorossi enter this match with a one-goal lead thanks to Eldor Shomurodov’s stunning curling strike in stoppage time at Stadio Olimpico.
The player we feel could be the difference-maker this week, though, is Inaki Williams. The 30-year-old forward netted Bilbao’s only goal last week, taking his tally in the competition to five - the joint most that a Ghanaian player has scored in a single season of major European competition.
Check out our Athletic Bilbao vs Roma prediction!
Rangers vs. Fenerbahce - Ibrox Stadim
The floodlights will be beaming down at what should be a packed house at the Ibrox Stadium tonight when Rangers look to hold on to their 3-1 advantage over Fenerbahce. Vaclav Cerny bagged a brace after Cyriel Dessers’ opener in Istanbul, but it was the latter that genuinely caught the eye, having two goals ruled out for offside, while he also set up Cerny’s first of the night.
Still, you can never overlook Jose Mourinho, and the ‘Special One’ certainly has enough firepower in his squad to cut this deficit. The Yellow Canaries’ attack features the likes of Edin Dzeko and Dusan Tadic, but they have been led this season by Youssef En-Nesyri, who has six goals in 11 Europa League games, including three in his last four. The 27-year-old will also be well-rested, having not been in league action over the weekend.
Check out our Rangers vs. Fenerbahce prediction!
Spurs vs. AZ Alkmaar - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Like their English rivals Man United, Tottenham Hotspur are having a tough league campaign but are the bookmakers’ second-favourite to win the Europa League this season. However, doing so will require the Lilywhites to overturn a one-goal deficit after losing 1-0 to AZ at the AFAS Stadion in the first leg.
Brennan Johnson and Heung-min Son have both scored three goals apiece in this competition. Johnson, despite missing a handful of games due to injury this season, has caught the eye, having now made 15 direct goal contributions (12 goals; three assists) across all competitions to date, with two of his three strikes in this competition coming here in the English capital.
Check out our Tottenham Hotspur vs. AZ Alkmaar prediction!
