Thursday's Europa League predictions including Atalanta BC vs Liverpool

Roma vs. AC Milan (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Concluding an all-Italian tie in the Europa League quarter-finals, Roma welcome AC Milan to Stadio Olimpico on Thursday evening, with a slim lead in hand from last week's first leg.

Milan had won both Serie A meetings this season, but the Giallorossi's 1-0 success in the second city puts them closer to meeting either West Ham United or new German champions Bayer Leverkusen in the semi-finals.

We say: Roma 1-1 AC Milan (Roma win 2-1 on aggregate)

The last team to win two away games against Roma in the same season were Fiorentina in 2014-15, and Milan may come up just short in their attempt to do so on Thursday.

While both teams are capable of scoring from several different sources, the hosts have recently shown some resilience at the back and are particularly tough to beat in the capital.

Atalanta vs. Liverpool (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Staring down the barrel of Europa League elimination, Liverpool have a mountainous hill to climb when they visit the Gewiss Stadium for the second leg of their quarter-final with Atalanta BC on Thursday night.

La Dea left Anfield dumbstruck with an astonishing 3-0 success in last week's opening fixture, although the Reds are no strangers to overturning seemingly unassailable deficits on the continent.

We say: Atalanta BC 2-3 Liverpool (Atalanta win 5-3 on aggregate)

Needing to go gung-ho in order to stand a chance of reaching the semi-finals, the time is nigh for Liverpool to rediscover their cutting edge - which the ice-cool Jota should certainly help to provide - and Atalanta's domestic defending has often left a lot to be desired.

Gasperini's men have always been heralded for their scintillating offensive play, though, and while Liverpool might manage a consolation win on the night, Atalanta can capitalise on gaps opening up to ensure that Klopp will leave Anfield without ever lifting the Europa League trophy aloft.

> How Liverpool could line up against Atalanta BC

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West Ham vs. B. Leverkusen (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Proudly sporting their Bundesliga winners' medals, Bayer Leverkusen now seek to finish the job in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final with West Ham United on Thursday evening.

The newly-crowned German champions strolled past David Moyes's men 2-0 in last week's opening battle, although their hosts already have one comeback win over a Bundesliga outfit under their belt in 2024.

We say: West Ham United 1-3 Bayer Leverkusen (Leverkusen win 5-1 on aggregate)

The weekend's energy-sapping title celebrations may be felt by Alonso's men at the London Stadium, but the German champions have a near fully-fit squad and plenty of candidates for rotation, which spells serious danger for a ravaged West Ham outfit.

Conceding shots at an alarming rate and still ruing the absence of star man Bowen, the Irons' continental adventure should end with a whimper, as the indomitable Leverkusen continue their quest for a domestic and European double.

Marseille vs. Benfica (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Marseille seek an end to a wretched losing run when they welcome Benfica to the Orange Velodrome in Thursday's Europa League quarter-final second leg.

Les Olympiens' upswing after Jean-Louis Gasset's arrival is well and truly over, with the Ligue 1 side unable to string results together in recent weeks, and they host an in-form crop that have lost just once in nine games.

We say: Marseille 1-1 Benfica (Benfica win 3-2 on aggregate)

While Marseille have won four and drawn one of their five Europa League games at the Velodrome this season, averaging 3.2 goals per game, the impact of recent defeats and injury worries could hinder Gasset's men. Thus, Benfica are backed to make it into the Europa League semis where they would face Liverpool or Atalanta.