Rangers were good value for their point when drawing 1-1 away to Porto in the Europa League and are fancied to come out on top in the return fixture. Both teams are on four points in what is proving a very tight pool, but home advantage has generally been the deciding factor in this section.
United haven’t been pretty to watch in the Europa League, but they are just about getting the job done and should see off Partizan Belgrade. The Red Devils top the Group L table on seven points after winning 1-0 in Serbia and will be all but through if doing the double over Savo Milosevic’s side.
PSV are going through a rocky patch in the Eredivisie but travelling to Linz to take on LASK in the Europa League could prove a welcome respite. The Dutch outfit were much the better team when these sides played out a goalless draw in Eindhoven a couple of weeks ago and still top the Group D table.
Feyenoord are facing an uphill battle to qualify from Europa League Group G after losing away to Young Boys two weeks ago but can gain quick revenge in Rotterdam. Home advantage has been a decisive factor in the fixtures so far in this pool and we’re hoping that trend continues at De Kuip.
Tottenham were dominant when thrashing Red Star 5-0 in London but their opponents invariably look a different team on home turf in the Champions League. Vladan Milojevic’s side beat Liverpool and drew with Napoli in Belgrade last season, while they have already seen off Olympiakos this term.
Atalanta had the audacity to score first when visiting Man City but went on to suffer a 5-1 Champions League mauling in that match. La Dea will have to go on the offensive again in the return fixture at the San Siro, as they try to recover from three straight Group C defeats, but this looks a lost cause.
Chelsea deserve great credit for their 1-0 Champions League triumph over Ajax in Amsterdam, but that Group H contest could easily have gone the other way. The Dutch giants earlier had a goal ruled out by VAR for the tightest of offside calls and hit the woodwork in a frantic, tetchy encounter.
Liverpool ultimately made light work of what had looked a tricky Champions League trip to Genk when winning 4-1 in Belgium and are hard to oppose in the reverse fixture. However, their opponents did create some decent chances in that first contest and seem determined to be positive.
Napoli shaded a five-goal thriller against RB Salzburg in Austria in the Champions League and can come out on top in another open encounter in Italy. Carlo Ancelotti’s side prevailed 3-0 when these teams met in the Europa League at Stadio San Paolo last term, but the visitors can grab a consolation this time.
Dortmund and Inter look to be battling it out for second place behind Barcelona in Group F of the Champions League and neither will want to give an inch here. They are level on four points after the Nerazzurri secured a solid 2-0 success in Italy a fortnight ago and a tight tussle is expected in Germany.
Arsenal just edged out Vitoria 3-2 in an entertaining Europa League encounter at Emirates Stadium and we’re expecting a similar outcome in Portugal. The Gunners are flying high at the top of the Group F table with nine points from three games, whereas their hosts have yet to get off the mark.
Steven Gerrard has done a sterling job in making Rangers a major force again, but the former Liverpool star knows he now needs a trophy to back up the progress made. That should ensure the Glasgow giants are fully focused on Sunday’s Scottish League Cup semi-final with a struggling Hearts outfit.
Celtic are worthy favourites to beat Hibs in Saturday’s Scottish League Cup semi-final but the Edinburgh outfit do have a decent head-to-head record. The underdogs have secured two wins and four draws from the past 11 meetings, including a 1-1 stalemate at Easter Road this term.
Saturday lunchtime’s Yorkshire derby at Hillsborough has more at stake than just bragging rights with both teams firmly in the mix to finally return to the Premier League. Just one point separates the two teams after Sheffield Wednesday gained ground in midweek with a home win against Stoke while Leeds were held to a 1-1 draw at Preston.