The final four in the UEFA Europa League are set and it is still Manchester United who are running as outright favourites to go and land the title. The Red Devils will have to complete the task though without the services of Zlatan Ibrahimovic who has been ruled out until the end of the season. Will that be a costly loss for them as United look to book safe passage to get to the Stockholm decider, against Spanish opponents Celta Vigo in the semi-finals? The winner of that one will go and face the winner of the Ajax v Lyon tie.
Europa League Outright Winner Odds
Manchester United 10/11, Lyon 14/6, Ajax 13/2, Celta Vigo
Celta Vigo v Manchester United
The Red Devils made pretty hard work of Anderlecht in the quarter-finals but managed to win through thanks to a Marcus Rashford extra-time goal in the second leg at Old Trafford. The first leg of their semi-final is out in Spain against Celta who are a mid table side in La Liga this season. This is actually the first meeting between United and Celta in Europe and this tie out in Spain may be a tight one. The Red Devils are a 17/12 price at Bet365 to win the first leg, however, they have won only two of their 22 European away games against Spanish opponents (W2 D10 L10) so the draw in this one may have more appeal, particularly after drawing out in Belgium against Anderlecht in the first leg of the last round. Overall, Manchester United’s record in 47 meetings with Spanish teams is W12 D19 L16 (W9 D9 L4 in Manchester – W2 D10 L10 in Spain) and included in all of that are three European finals held on neutral territory (W1 L2).
They have played three European semi-finals against Spanish sides before, winning two of them and on both occasions in winning through, they did go on to win the trophy. United are in great form in the Europa League with a W6 D2 record posted in their last eight games and they are W2 D2 L2 out on the road with only an average of a goal per game in that run. So again, the first leg is likely to be tight. Celta have a record of W5 D0 L4 (W2 D0 L2 in Vigo – W3 D0 L2 in England) against English sides and they have lost each of their last three as well, the most recent being a meeting with Newcastle in the 2006/07 UEFA Cup group stage when they lost 2-1. But they are on a five-match unbeaten streak (W4 D1) in the UEFA Cup but have managed to take just the one clean sheet in their six home games in this season’s campaign. This is their first ever European semi-final. Will they have enough to edge United? Will United pack enough punch without Zlatan? Celta Vigo are 5/2 To Qualify at Bet365 with United heavy 2/7 odds on favourites.
Ajax v Lyon
Ajax are the only former winners of the UEFA Cup left in the tournament this year and they will be looking to land a big first leg advantage over french side Lyon. Ajax are 11/8 at Bet365 to win this first leg, but overall in the tie are the underdogs. The Dutch are on a six-match winning streak at home in the UEFA Europa League and their destiny is going to be made or broken in this first leg against the high-scoring Lyon. This will be the fifth meeting between the two clubs, with Ajax W2 D2 from those previous four meetings. Ajax’s overall record in 22 matches against French sides is W10 D5 L7 (W6 D3 L2 in Amsterdam – W4 D2 L5 in France). Overall they are actually unbeaten in 12 European home games now, with seven wins in what sequence. In their current six-match winning streak at home, they have conceded in just one of those fixtures. This is their first semi-final appearance in the UEFA Europa League.
Lyon are a side who can do a lot of damage to defences. The French club are actually 4/7 odds on favourites at Bet365 To Qualify through to the final from this. Lyon’s record in 12 encounters with Dutch clubs is W6 D4 L2 (W3 D2 L1 at home – W3 D2 L1 in the Netherlands). In each of their three previous ties with Dutch sides, both legs of the individual ties saw the same outcome in each of the matches, so for example, both legs of a tie were drawn or both legs of a tie were won by them. They have faced Dutch opposition already this season, winning 11-2 on aggregate in the Round of 32 against AZ Alkmaar, so yes, they have big scoring power. Away from home in Europe they have gone W2 D1 L3 but failed to score in just one of those away games. Going back to their goalscoring threat, Lyon have scored in every one of their league home games this season and only Monaco and PSG have scored more domestic goals than they have this season. Will that tip the balance for them in this semi final clash?
UEFA Europa League Semi Final Promotion
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UEFA Europa League Semi Final Prediction
There should be a comfortable passage through for Lyon in this one because they will be a force to be reckoned with back on home soil in the second leg and Ajax may ultimately suffer under the weight of the French side’s attack. So Lyon look a good bet to got through and you would have to back it to be United in Stockholm with them. Celta Vigo may make life difficult for the Red Devils in the first leg, but United should have enough quality against an average side to make it through to the Final. This could be their guaranteed route to the Champions League next season and they aren’t going to let go of it lightly.
