Arsenal, who are the only English side left standing in the UEFA Europa League this season will be facing up to CSKA Moscow in the final eight. The Gunners did a fantastic job in holding off the strong challenge of AC Milan in the round of sixteen and now they have been rewarded with a fairly nice tie in the quarter finals. With the likes of Lazio and Atletico Madrid still in the mix, there were far worse draws that could have befallen the Gunners. Here is a preview of the Quarter Final ties.
Europa League Quarter Finals Betting Winner Odds*
Atletico Madrid 11/8, Arsenal 3/1, Lazio 15/2, RB Leipzig 9/1, Marseille 10/1, Salzburg 16/1, Sporting Lisbon 25/1, CSKA Moscow 33/1* (betting odds taken on March 16th, 2018 at 10:33 p.m.)
Leipzig (GER) v Marseille (FRA)
This will be the first-ever meeting between the two sides in UEFA competition and for German outfit Leipzig, this is their first ever season in Europe, so that’s why. Leipzig battled their way past Zenit St Petersburg in the last round, winning out 3-2 on aggregate to progress. Meanwhile, Marseille, who are having a fine old season in Ligue 1 took out Athletic Bilbao pretty comfortably in the round of sixteen with a 5-2 aggregate. Marseille don’t have form in Germany though, having only ever won once there (D2 L5). As for Leipzig, they did a great job in bagging four points from their two games against French side Monaco in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League. Those were results which saw them move to the UEFA Europa League. This should be pretty tight, but because of the way Marseille are playing, they should have the edge over the two matches.
First Leg Odds*: Leipzig 10/11, Draw 12/5, Marseille 31/10* (betting odds taken on March 16th, 2018 at 10:33 p.m.)
Arsenal (ENG) v CSKA Moscow (RUS)
The Gunners made pretty light work of AC Milan in the end, the North London side collecting a 5-1 aggregate win over the Rossoneri in the round of sixteen. Arsenal should be comfortable enough in the tie, which they are 4/11 at bet365 to win* (betting odds taken on March 16th, 2018 at 10:33 p.m.). They have come into contact with CSKA Moscow before as they were together in the 2006/07 UEFA Champions League group stage and it was the Russians who came out on top from those encounters, winning 1-0 at home and drawing 0-0 on the road. Actually, Arsenal have been to Russia four times before in their history and have never managed to get out with a win (D1 L3). But then flip the script and you will see that CSKA Moscow are on a five-match losing streak against English sides, most recently going down against Man United in the Champions League group stage this season twice.
First Leg Odds*: Arsenal 4/11, Draw 7/2, CSKA Moscow 17/2* (betting odds taken on March 16th, 2018 at 10:33 p.m.)
Atlético Madrid (ESP) v Sporting CP (POR)
The Spaniards are the favourites to win the tournament outright this season and they are looking pretty strong. They failed miserably in the UEFA Champions League group stage this season for some reason, but have their act together at the moment. They get a comfortable draw for the quarter-finals too. The only previous time that Atletico and Sporting were paired up was in the 2009/10 round of sixteen. The matches produced two draws with Atletico winning through on away goals before going on to win the title. Sporting have failed to come up with victory in any of their last twelve visits to Spain (D3 L9) and they were beaten twice by Barcelona in this season’s Champions League group stage. That’s a five-match losing streak against Spanish sides they are on now, with a W1 D3 L8 in their last twelve against Spanish opponents. It should be a breeze for Atletico.
First Leg Odds*: Atletico Madrid 1/3, Draw 15/4, Sporting Lisbon 9/1* (betting odds taken on March 16th, 2018 at 10:33 p.m.)
Lazio (ITA) v Salzburg (AUT)
Lazio took a 4-2 aggregate win over Dinamo Kiev in the last round to book their spot in the final eight and they will go into this tie against Salzburg looking for some revenge. When the two were paired up in the 2009/10 Group Stage the Austrians won both matches by a 2-1 scoreline. Lazio have actually lost their last three games in a row against Australian opposition. The Serie A side will want to get themselves a good lead going in this first leg which they are 7/10 odds at bet365 to win* (betting odds taken on March 16th, 2018 at 10:33 p.m.), because Salzburg have yet to lose at home in this season’s competition. The danger for Lazio is there having seen Salzburg pull off a huge shock in dumping Borussia Dortmund out of the round of sixteen with a 2-1 aggregate success.
First Leg Odds*: Lazio 7/10, Draw 5/2, Salzburg 17/2* (betting odds taken on March 16th, 2018 at 10:33 p.m.)
Quarter Final First Legs – April 5th, 20118
Lazio v Salzburg
Atletico v SPorting
Arsenal v CSKA Moscow
Leipzig v Marseille
Quarter Final Second legs to be played on April 12th.
To Qualify Odds*
Arsenal 2/9, CSKA Moscow 3/1
Lazio 8/13, Salzburg 6/5
Atletico Madrid 2/9, Sporting Lisbon 3/1
Leipzig 10/11, Marseille 10/11* (all betting odds taken on March 16th, 2018 at 10:33 p.m.)
Predictions
Most of the draw looks pretty easy to call with Arsenal and Atletico Madrid the clear favourites in their respective ties to make it through to the semi-finals. Even though Salzburg covered themselves in glory in dumping out Borussia Dortmund, Lazio should have enough, especially on home soil to edge their way past the Austrian. So that leaves the closest tie, without a doubt, as Leipzig v Marseille. It is pretty much a toss-up between the two of them. They are both pretty good home sides in their own rights, but Marseille slightly edges things in overall quality and the French gets our nod as they are more likely to get something on the road in this tie.
