26.04. (Thu) 21:05 Valencia - Atletico Madrid

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PROBABLE LINEUP

VALENCIA Diego Alves Costa, Rami, Ruiz, Alba Tino Costa, Topal Feghouli, Jonas, Mathieu Soldado

ATLETICO MADRID Courtois Perea, Miranda, Dominguez, Filipe Luis Gabi, Suarez Adrian, Diego, Arda Turan Falcao

On-loan Real Madrid playmaker Sergio Canales made a welcome recovery from a serious ligament injury in the weekend victory over Betis, and may stand an outside chance of starting the match at Mestalla.

Roberto Soldado likely to retain his spot in attack, with Jonas supporting him in the final third. Ever Banega remains Valencia's most notable absentee, while Diego Alves is likely to continue in goa, as he has done for the majority of the European matches this season.

Diego Simeone has selected the same squad of 18 players that successfully negotiated the weekend match against Espanyol. Fran Merida cannot play because he is ineligible, having featured for Braga earlier in the competition.

Defensive duo Antonio Lopez and Silvio also remain absent from the list as a result of injury, while Paulo Assuncao and Pizzi did not travel as part of the match squad. One surprise inclusion is young striker Pedro Martin, who has yet to feature in the competition this season.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Valencia were defeated 4-2 in the first leg last week at the Vicente Calderon, but Ricardo Costa's late away goal gives them hope of progression.

• Los Che have won the Uefa Cup on one occasion in 2004 after beating Marseille in the final.

• Los Colchoneros knocked Valencia out of the competition in 2010 at the quarter-final stage.

• Atletico Madrid have never won a European match away from home on Spanish soil, while Los Che have never been beaten at Mestalla against a La Liga team in Europe.

• The capital club won the competition for the first time in 2010, defeating Fulham in the final.

• Diego Simeone's outfit have won three consecutive games entering the contest, most recently a 3-1 triumph over Espanyol on Sunday.

Prediction

Valencia's home record in Europe is far better than their domestic displays, while Simeone's side do not travel well. Los Che should win, but whether they can keep a clean sheet will be vital to deciding the outcome of this contest.

Editor's Prediction

Valencia 2-1 Atl. Madrid

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26.04. (Thu) 21:05 Athletic Bilbao - Sporting Lisboa

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

ATHLETIC BILBAO Iraizoz Iraola, Javi Martinez, Amorebieta, Aurtenetxe Iturraspe Toquero, Herrera Susaeta, Llorente, Muniain

SPORTING LISBON Patricio Pereira, Xandao, Polga, Insua Carrico Schaars, Matias Carrillo, Van Wolfswinkel, Capel

Athletic Bilbao coach Marcelo Bielsa has been boosted by the news that Javi Martinez is available after he missed the match at the Estadio de Alvalade through suspension. Iker Muniain is expected to feature in the starting XI despite sitting out the weekend contest against Racing Santander because of an eye inflammation.

Oscar de Marcos, on the other hand, will not take part in the match because of suspension, with Gaizka Toquero tipped to deputise for him in midfield.

Sporting coach Ricardo Sa Pinto will not be able to count on Elias, who is ineligible in the Europa League, and on Fito Rinaudo and Alberto Rodriguez, both of whom are injured. Matias Fernandez missed the club's last two games, but the Chilean is ready to feature from the start. Marat Izmailov will have to serve a one-match suspension after reaching his yellow card limit.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Athletic Bilbao have won all of their home matches played against Portuguese opposition.

• Sporting Lisbon, on the other hand, are yet to record a victory in European competitions on Spanish soil.
  
• The Liga club are the second most prolific side still in contention in the Europa League, with 25 goals, six more than Sporting.

• Prior to the first leg, the last time these two clubs faced each other dated back to 1985-86, when Sporting came out on top 4-2 on aggregate in the Uefa Cup third round.

• Sporting have won just one of their last 10 European games on the road, drawing four and losing five of the remaining nine.

• The Spanish club are the only side in the semi-finals who have never won an European competition.

• If Marcelo Bielsa's side progress, they will meet either Atletico Madrid or Valencia in an all-Spanish final.

Prediction

Sporting were very disappointing at the weekend and their defensive frailties may become even more exposed against a well-organised Athletic side who will not want to waste this chance to make history and try to win their first-ever European title.

Editor's Prediction

Bilbao 3-1 Sporting

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Europa League Opta Facts - Semi-Final Second Legs 26th April

Valencia v Atletico Madrid
Atlético are on a run of 10 straight wins in the Europa League. With their victory over Valencia in the first-leg, the Rojiblancos became the first side in the history of the competition to win 10 in a row in the Uefa Cup/Europa League.
These two sides were drawn together in the 2009/10 Quarter-finals of this competition. Atlético went through following a 2-2 draw at Valencia and a 0-0 at home.
Falcao has scored 27 goals in 27 matches in the Europa League.
The Colombian striker has scored in each of his last four appearances in the competition, netting five goals in total.
Atletico have won their last four European games away from home. They have never won five successive away games in European competition.
Los Colchoneros have never won an away game against a fellow Spanish side in Europe (P4 D1 L3).
Valencia, on the other hand, are unbeaten in four previous European home games against Spanish sides (W3 D1).
Despite joining after elimination from the Champions League, Valencia have scored six goals from corners in the Europa League this season, a joint-competition-high.
Atletico are the top scorers in this season's Europa League with 29 goals so far.

Athletic Bilbao v Sporting CP
Athletic have scored in every Europa League match this season.
Bielsa's men have won four of their seven meetings with Portuguese sides in European competitions (exc. Qualfiiers): D1 L2, and all three at home.
Sporting have won only two of their last 11 meetings with Spanish sides in Europe (exc. Qualifiers): D4 L5.
The Portuguese giants have never won away against a Spanish opponent in Europe (exc. Qualifiers), drawing three and losing nine.
Despite their excellent European home form, Sporting have only won two of their last 13 away from home (D4 L7).
The Basques have only lost two of their last 30 home European games (W21 D7, excludes qualifiers) since 1983, and are unbeaten in seven (W4 D3).
Bilbao have won their only previous three home games against Portuguese sides, including a 2-1 win over Sporting CP in September 1956.
Athletic have had more shots (168) and shots on target (78) than any other Europa League side this term.
Sporting Lisbon have won more fouls than any other team in the 2011/12 Europa League (240).

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Ligue 1 Opta Facts - 27-29 April

Toulouse - Montpellier
Toulouse currently post a 12% win ratio against Montpellier in Ligue 1, their lowest percentage against any opposition faced in more than one season.
Montpellier have won 1-0 in their last two league trips to Toulouse, with Souleymane Camara scoring the winning goal in both games.
Montpellier are one of two teams who have yet to draw 0-0 this season in L1.
Toulouse have kept a league-high 17 clean sheets this term.
Montpellier have scored in 91% of their games in L1 this season (30/33).
Montpellier have opened the scoring 23 times in L1 this season (70% of their games), more than any other side.
TFC have only conceded three goals in their last 13 home games in L1.

Lorient - Marseille
Marseille are unbeaten in their last six league encounters against Lorient, winning four and drawing two.
Marseille are winless in 12 games in a single Ligue 1 campaign for the first time since 1962/63.
Lorient and Marseille have both always scored in each of their seven previous meetings at Le Moustoir stadium in Ligue 1.
Marseille have scored the most goals against Lorient at Le Moustoir stadium in Ligue 1: 14.
In seven of the last eight encounters between Lorient and Marseille in L1, the team who scored first has failed to win.
OM have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 13 league games, only Lorient are currently on a longer run without a shutout.
Loïc Rémy has scored six goals in eight appearances against Lorient in L1.

Auxerre - Brest
Brest have only won one of their last 29 away games in L1 (1-0 at Auxerre's Abbé-Deschamps, on May 21st 2011).
Auxerre have suffered 15 defeats in L1 this season, their second-worst tally in a single campaign.
Brest are unbeaten in Auxerre since their return to the top-flight last season (two wins, one draw).
Brest have scored in each of their seven league games against Auxerre.
Brest have scored eight goals in the first 15 minutes, which is best tally in L1 this season alongside Bordeaux.
Brest have lost their last three away league matches, all by the same score line (2-1).
Auxerre have lost all three league matches without Dennis Oliech this season in L1.

Nancy - Caen
Nancy are unbeaten in their last eight league games (five wins, three draws), which is the best current run. It's also Nancy's longest unbeaten sequence in the top flight since 1976/77.
Nancy are unbeaten in their last eight games against Caen in L1, winning five and drawing three.
Nancy have won their last four encounters against Caen in L1
Caen have won one of their last nine L1 games, drawing four and losing four.
Caen have only kept one clean sheet away from home in L1 this season.
Caen have failed to score in seven of their last nine away games in L1.
No team has won fewer home games than Nancy this term in L1 (five).

Rennes - Ajaccio
Rennes are on a run of three consecutive wins in Ligue 1, currently the longest run.
50% of Rennes' home games this season in Ligue 1 have ended 1-1.
Only Toulouse have kept a clean sheet against Rennes at Stade de la Route de Lorient in L1 this season.
Ajaccio have failed to win away this season against teams currently ranked in the upper half.
Ajaccio have drawn five of their last six league games, losing one.
Julien Féret has been directly involved in six of Rennes' last nine goals in all competitions (three goals and three assists).
Féret has scored seven goals in L1 this season, his best tally in a single top flight campaign.

St Etienne - Dijon
St Etienne's 15 victories this term is their best tally in the top-flight since 2007/08 (16 wins).
Only four of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's 19 career L1 goals have been scored in home matches.
St Etienne have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last eight league games.
Dijon are on a run of three consecutive defeats; overall they have lost the most games in L1 this season (17).
Dijon have failed to score in their last three league games, which is the worst current run.
None of the last ten league games at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard have ended as a draw (six wins and four defeats for Saint-Etienne).
A league-high four St Etienne goals this season have been scored by opposition players.

Sochaux - Bordeaux
Sochaux have won just one of their last 10 league encounters against Bordeaux.
Sochaux are on a run of three consecutive home wins in Ligue 1.
The last time Sochaux conceded as many goals after 33 league games, they were relegated (1994/95).
Bordeaux have won just one of their last six league games.
Three of Jussie's five Ligue 1 goals this season have come before the eighth minute, including two goals in the first minute of play.
Modibo Maiga has become the first player this season in Ligue 1 to scorein five consecutive appearances.
Bordeaux are the first team this season in Ligue 1 to win penalty in four consecutive games.
Sochaux have scored in all of their seven league games under Eric Hély's management and have yet to draw since his arrival (four wins and three defeats).


Valenciennes - Nice
Valenciennes have suffered five defeats in their last seven league outings.
Nice's last 11 goals against Valenciennes in Ligue 1 have all come after the half-time break.
A league-high 15 Nice goals have been scored by defenders.
Nice are the only Ligue 1 side this season where defenders have scored more goals (15) than strikers (10).
There have been 28 goals scored in Nice's last eight away league games.
Nice have not kept a clean sheet away from home in Ligue 1 since May 2011.
All seven Fabian Monzon goals in Ligue 1 this term have been penalties.

Lille - Paris SG
PSG are winless in their last 11 trips to Lille in Ligue 1, scoring just twice in the process.
Overall, the Parisians can only boast three wins in 34 trips to Lille in the top flight.
The last three league meetings between these sides have all ended as draws.
Lille have won more games and scored more goals than any other side in Ligue 1 since the appointment of their manager Rudi Garcia in 2008.
PSG are unbeaten in three previous league encounters this season against current top-three teams.
Lille are winless in two previous league encounters this season against current top-three teams.
PSG have now gone 10 consecutive league fixtures without keeping a single clean sheet.
Lille's Stadium Nord has witnessed more goals than any other Ligue 1 venue this season (60).
Eden Hazard has scored at least once in all of his last eight league appearances at Lille's Stadium Nord.
However Hazard has never scored in eight previous league appearances against PSG.
Nenê has never scored in seven previous league appearances against Lille.

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