Thursday’s Europa League Tips: Roma can secure an important home victory

The Europa League quarter-finals will reach their conclusion on Thursday, and football tipster Greg Lea has previewed all four second-leg matches set to take place across the continent. 

Roma v Feyenoord 

Kick-off: 8pm Thursday 

Feyenoord will take a slender lead to the Italian capital after their 1-0 win in the reverse fixture. It remains to be seen whether that will be enough, and it is notable that SBK have Feyenoord down as the 1.68 favourites to secure a spot in the semi-finals. 

Roma manager Jose Mourinho will certainly not expect an easy game. Feyenoord are enjoying a fantastic campaign as they close in on the Eredivisie title ahead of Ajax and PSV. But, at what will be a raucous Stadio Olimpico, home advantage could be a decisive factor in the second leg.

This Roma team has plenty of experience of knockout continental competition after winning the Europa Conference League last year. Back them to beat Feyenoord, whom they defeated in the final of that tournament in 2022. 

Prediction: Roma to win @ 1.92 

Sevilla v Manchester United

Kick-off: 8pm Thursday 

With Marcus Rashford out injured, Manchester United were always going to need other players to step up to the attacking plate. Marcel Sabitzer was the unlikely scorer of a brace in the first leg, which ended 2-2, while Antony and Diogo Dalot struck in the 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the weekend. 

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Antony could be an astute selection to find the net in Spain. The Brazilian is playing the best football of his United career and he has become much more effective in the final third. As well as his goal, he teed up Dalot’s strike against Forest with an excellent through ball. 

Sevilla have improved under Jose Luis Mendilibar and this tie looks finely balanced, but the in-form Antony can have his say in the second leg.

Prediction: Antony anytime goalscorer @ 3.55 

Sporting CP v Juventus

Kick-off: 8pm Thursday

Unlike in the Champions League quarter-finals, no team in the final eight of the Europa League was able to establish a significant lead in the first leg. Juventus hold a narrow lead as they make the trip to Lisbon, though, with Federico Gatti notching the only goal of the game last week.

Juventus have a tendency to be cautious and reactive in European away games under Max Allegri, and we could see more of the same here - even though it might not be the best approach.

If Juventus invite Sporting onto them, the Portuguese outfit has more than enough quality to level the aggregate score. Given Juve’s probable tactics, I fancy the home team to draw first blood.

Prediction: Sporting to score first goal @ 1.83

Union Saint-Gilloise v Bayer Leverkusen

Kick-off: 8pm Thursday 

Bayer Leverkusen almost suffered a surprise home defeat in the first leg, but Florian Wirtz found the net with eight minutes left on the clock to salvage a 1-1 draw. Union Saint-Gilloise would certainly have settled for that outcome at the start of the match, but they might be a little disappointed that the tie is all square given the way it played out. 

Union are on a nine-match unbeaten run and will fancy their chances of advancing with a win on home turf. However, a Leverkusen victory might actually be the better selection. 

They too are in good form under Xabi Alonso, who has done a fantastic job since taking charge earlier this season. The Spaniard rested players at the weekend in an attempt to lead Leverkusen into the semi-finals. 

Prediction: Bayer Leverkusen to win @ 2.16 

Thursday’s Europa League Tips

Roma v Feyenoord: Roma to win @ 1.92
Sevilla v Man Utd: Antony anytime goalscorer @ 3.55
Sporting CP v Juventus: Sporting to score first goal @ 1.83
Union S-G v Bayer Leverkusen: Bayer Leverkusen to win @ 2.16