Europa League

Manchester United and Barcelona served up a classic 2-2 draw at Camp Nou in the Europa League and more of the same is expected in the second leg. Barca enjoyed 61 per cent of the possession in Spain, but each team had 18 attempts on goal in an entertaining end-to-end encounter.

Union Berlin were much the better side in last week’s Europa League clash with Ajax in Amsterdam and are fancied to finish the job off in Germany. Although the scores finished level following a goalless stalemate at Johan Cruyff Arena, Geronimo Rulli was by far the busier keeper.

Sevilla have secured a record six Europa League triumphs and made a statement of intent when crushing PSV 3-0 in Spain. The Dutch outfit will look to salvage some pride from the second leg in Eindhoven, but beating Los Rojiblancos in their current mood will be tough.

Real Sociedad and Manchester United have already qualified from Europa League Group E but top spot and an automatic last-16 berth is up for grabs. The Red Devils need to win by more than one clear goal to avoid heading into the knockout round play-offs.

Arsenal have to beat FC Zurich to make sure of topping Europa League Group A and going straight through to the last 16. The Gunners only prevailed 2-1 against the same opponents in Austria on Matchday 1 but did dominate proceedings, having 70% of possession.

Arsenal will be aiming to return to winning ways and complete the double over PSV Eindhoven on Thursday night. The Gunners secured their place in the next round of the Europa League with a 1-0 win over the Dutch side last week, but were held by Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday.

Manchester United cannot afford to ease up if they are to clinch the all-important top spot in their Europa League group. Winning the group would see them go straight through to the last 16 rather than face a team eliminated from the Champions League in the play-off round but they trail Real Sociedad by three points with two games remaining.

Manchester United should close in on qualifying for the Europa League knockout stage by brushing aside Omonia Nicosia at Old Trafford. The Red Devils made hard work of winning last week’s clash in Cyprus 3-2 but are backed to enjoy a much smoother success on home turf.

Even a much-changed Arsenal line-up proved a cut above Bodo Glimt in last week’s 3-0 Europa League victory at Emirates Stadium. However, the Norwegian side did improve after half-time in London and may pose more of an attacking threat in the return fixture on home turf.

Rangers have already knocked two German clubs out of the Europa League and are rated a value bet to beat Eintracht Frankfurt in the final. Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig both finished well ahead of Frankfurt in the Bundesliga this term, so the Glasgow outfit have little to fear.

West Ham’s first-leg clash with Eintracht Frankfurt was an absolute cracker and they are not without hope despite going down 2-1 in London. Both teams hit the woodwork in an end-to-end thriller and more excitement is expected in Germany in this Europa League semi-final tie.

Rangers showed great defensive resolve when only breached late on in a 1-0 loss at RB Leipzig in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final. However, they will now have to come out more at Ibrox and that could leave them open against the German outfit, who do look a class above.