1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites

Europa League preview

February 25, 2015

Gladbach are looking to keep their Europa League campaign alive on Thursday, hosting defending champions Sevilla, who lead the tie (1-0). Wolfsburg travel to Lisbon, to face Sporting, with a two-goal cushion.

https://p.dw.com/p/1EhBm
UEFA Europa League Sevilla vs Moenchengladbach
Image: picture-alliance/AP/AP Photo/M. Morenatti

The Europa League Round of 32 ties come to a conclusion on Thursday, as Wolfsburg take a comfortable 2-0 advantage to Lisbon to face Sporting Clube de Portugal, whilst Gladbach welcome defending champions Sevilla to Germany, trailing 1-0.

It was the first time that Gladbach had faced Sevilla in European competition, when Vicente Iborra's second-half goal separated the sides in Seville last week. Now the Foals, who are unbeaten at home in seven European games, will be hoping to turn around the Spaniard's slight advantage.

"The tie is still for the taking and we have enough time to score a goal," said Gladbach head coach Lucien Favre at his press conference on Wednesday. The man who has taken Gladbach from the brink of relegation to a European campaign since taking over, added "Both sides were tired after the first game, because of the high pace. We conceded an unnecessary goal and missed chances."

Gladbach's instrumental central midfielder Granit Xhaka predicts a 2-0 win on Thursday evening. He and midfield partner Christoph Kramer were involved in a superb battle with Iborra and Grzegorz Krychowiak, which is expected to resume at Borussia Park. In recent weeks though, the Foals have struggled, needing late goals to grab a derby-win over Cologne, before doing the same to take a point from Hamburg on Sunday.

Sevilla Coach Unai Emery has defenders Nico Pareja and Daniel Carrico fit once more after missing Sunday's 4-3 defeat to Real Sociedad. "The key to the tie will be scoring an away goal, I think," striker Vitolo said about the trip to the Bundesliga's third-best side.

Sevilla's form away from the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan has been shaky - they have not won inside 90 minutes in their last seven away fixtures in European competition.

Wolfsburg title favorites

Bas Dost is the man of the hour for Wolfsburg, who take a 2-0 first-leg lead to Lisbon, to face Sporting. The Dutchman has scored eight goals in three matches in the past week, 11 in 11 Bundesliga matches this season. Dost scored four goals in a 5-4 win over Leverkusen, notched two against Sporting and then got both in a 2-1 victory over Hertha BSC.

UEFA Europa League Sporting Lissabon vs Wolfsburg Dost Tor
Bas Dost is in the form of his career.Image: Lars Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images

"It's all just working out now," Dost told reporters before flying with his team to Portugal on Wednesday morning. "I am having a lot of fun now and I hope it stays that way for a long time."

Wolfsburg are now favorites to win the Europa League with betting company bwin, despite finishing second in their group behind English Premier League side Everton. The Wolves' domestic form in 2015 - four wins and one draw, including 15 goals - sees them second in the Bundesliga, eight points behind Bayern Munich.

"If we're fully focused for the whole game tomorrow, I'm confident we can go through,” said Naldo, before getting on the plane to Lisbon.

"In Lisbon, we will need to play similarly to how we did in the home leg," sporting director Klaus Allofs said. "We need to stick close together, but look for the opportunities to get forward."

Elsewhere in Europe, Inter Milan host Celtic after a thrilling 3-3 first leg, while Fiorentina welcome Tottenham after an even game in London finished 1-1. Liverpool travel to Turkey with a slender 1-0 lead to play Besiktas, and Feyenoord host Roma in the Netherlands amid fears of more fan trouble after clashes during the first leg (1-1).

apc/jh (dpa, AP)