28.04. (Thu) 21:05 Porto - Villarreal

DID YOU KNOW?

* Porto are on an incredible run of form this season. They are unbeaten in the league and have lost just twice in all competitions - to Sevilla and Benfica.

* The recently crowned Portuguese champions have won just one of eight European games at home to Spanish sides since the turn of the millennium.

* Porto have a mixed record from their two European semi-finals against Spanish teams, both in the Champions League. They were knocked out in 1994 by Barcelona but they eliminated Deportivo ten years later.

* Striker Radamel Falcao is the competition's leading scorer with eleven goals and he will line up against Giuseppe Rossi, just behind on ten.

* Villarreal have avoided defeat since going down 1-0 to Greek outfit PAOK in the group stage - a run of eight games.

* This is only the Yellow Submarine's second appearance in a European semi-final - they lost to Arsenal at the same stage in the Champions League back in 2006.

* Surprisingly for such an attacking team, Juan Carlos Garrido's side have yet to score in the opening 15 minutes of a Europa League game this season.

* Highly-rated goalkeeper Diego Lopez is one of just two players to have played all 1080 minutes of action since the competition entered the group stage - his Porto counterpart Helton is the other.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Porto (4-3-3) : Helton; Sapunaru, Rolando, Otamendi, Alvaro Pereira; Guarin, Fernando, Joao Moutinho; Cristian Rodriguez, Falcao, Hulk

Porto coach Andre Villas-Boas will line the team up in his favoured 4-3-3 formation. Cristian Sapunaru will assume the right-back position as Uruguayan full-back Jorge Fucile has been ruled out for the rest of the season with injury. The major selection quandary for Villas-Boas is whether to recall the fit-again Fredy Guarin to midfield or to stick with the in-form Ruben Micael. Cristian Rodriguez should get the nod upfront alongside Hulk and Falcao ahead of Silvestre Varela.

Villarreal (4-4-2) : Diego Lopez; Mario, Marchena, Musacchio, Catala; Santi Cazorla, Bruno, Matilla, Borja Valero; Rossi, Nilmar

After missing the second leg quarter-final in Enschede with suspension, Nilmar is back in this competition to take his place alongside Giuseppe Rossi in one of Europe's best strike partnerships. Experienced campaigner Carlos Marchena has shifted back into defence after a spell in midfield to add some solidity to an otherwise inexperienced back four, which is shorn of Angel and Gonzalo Rodriguez. Marcos Senna will travel to Portugal but is very unlikely to appear. Borja Valero will return to the starting eleven in place of young winger Wakaso
Mubarak.

Prediction
Porto  2-1 Villarreal  

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28.04. (Thu) 21:05 Benfica - Sporting Braga

DID YOU KNOW?

* Benfica have lost just once at Estadio da Luz against Braga insince the 1954-55 season. Their record stands at 42 wins, 11 draws, and 1 defeat. In addition, Benfica have won all four of their encounters at home with Braga in cup competitions.

* The Eagles are on a six-game unbeaten run in Europe since the turn of the year, winning four and drawing two.

* Benfica have scored 13 goals in the Europa League this season, but have conceded six times in six games.

* Carlos Martins celebrates his 29th birthday the day after this fixture.

* Braga have drawn their last three Europa League games.

* The Archbishops have scored just four goals in six games since entering the competition, but have conceded just two.

* Braga's Silvio arrived at the club last summer from Benfica.

* Should the Archbishops win on Thursday, they will inflict on the Eagles their 100th loss in Europe.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Benfica (4-4-2) : Roberto; Pereira, Jardel, Luisao, Coentrao; Garcia, Martins, Aimar, Airton; Saviola, Cardozo.

Jorge Jesus made a few changes to the squad that drew away to PSV on April 14, and fielded an experimental line-up in Benfica's most recent domestic game against Beira Mar. The Eagles tend to use a flexible 4-4-2, relying on former Real Madrid man Javi Garcia's bite in midfield, the prowess of wide defenders Maxi Pereira and Fabio Coentrao, and the prolific duo of Javier Saviola and Oscar Cardozo up front. Jorge Jesus occasionally switches to 4-3-3, sacrificing a midfielder for a striker .

Toto Salvio is definitely out of this game after picking up an injury in the draw against PSV, while Nuno Gomes and Ruben Amorim are long-term casualties.

Braga (4-3-3) : Artur; Paulao, Garcia, Custodio, Silvio; Hugo Viana, Vandinho, Salino; Meyong Ze, Alan, Lima.

Domingos Paciencia likes to tinker with his formation, especially in an attacking sense and occasionally switches from 4-4-2 to 4-3-3. With Paulo Cesar suspended, the coach might stick with the duo of Alan and Lima or add Meyong Ze upfront.

Braga will have to do without the services of Quim, who is still rehabilitating from injury, and Vinicius, who has a thigh problem. As mentioned, key striker Paulo Cesar is suspended after picking up a red card against Dynamo Kiev in the last round of the Europa League.

Prediction

Benfica  1-0  Braga  

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