Thursday's Europa League predictions including Real Betis vs. Manchester United

Freiburg vs. Juventus (Thursday, 5.45pm)

Trailing by a goal from last week's first leg, Freiburg aim to overturn their deficit and reach the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday, when they host fallen giants Juventus.

Juve are more accustomed to life among Europe's elite, but having established a lead to take to Germany, they will now try to finish the job in their last-16 tie.

We say: Freiburg 1-1 Juventus (Juventus win 2-1 on aggregate)

In search of redemption for recent off-field misdeeds - and also a first European trophy since 1996 - Juventus are sure to take their task very seriously. As Freiburg have been short of top form for a while, the Bianconeri's greater individual quality and experience at this level - both evident in the first leg - should see them through to the quarter-finals.

Fenerbahce vs. Sevilla (Thursday, 5.45pm)

Sevilla head into the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie with Fenerbahce holding a commanding advantage from the first fixture.

The Spanish outfit ran out 2-0 victors on familiar territory to leave their Turkish hosts up against it at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium on Thursday evening.

We say: Fenerbahce 1-1 Sevilla (Sevilla to win 3-1 on aggregate)

Given Sevilla's away form this campaign, progression to the next round is unlikely to be a formality. Nevertheless, we would be surprised if the visitors do not score in Turkey, with a competitive draw the most likely outcome in our eyes.

Betis vs. Man Utd (Thursday, 5.45pm)

Needing nothing short of a miracle to remain alive in the Europa League, Real Betis welcome Manchester United to the Benito Villamarin Stadium for Thursday's last-16 second leg.

Manuel Pellegrini's side were put to the sword 4-1 by the Red Devils in last week's first leg - the perfect response to their Liverpool embarrassment for Erik ten Hag's XI.

We say: Real Betis 1-2 Manchester United (Man United win 6-2 on aggregate)

With a comfortable three-goal cushion to protect and no reason to go gung-ho on the night, expect a much more low-key second leg from Man United, whose lengthening injury list could see Ten Hag avoid taking many risks on Spanish soil.

How Southampton did not score at Old Trafford is anybody's guess, and a Betis side who have already proven capable of troubling the Red Devils' backline can certainly do so again, but we still have faith in the visitors to come away with victory and a spot in the final eight.

> How Man United could line up against Real Betis

> Man United injury, suspension list vs. Betis

Feyenoord vs. Shakhtar (Thursday, 5.45pm)

Feyenoord and Shakhtar Donetsk meet in Rotterdam for the second leg of their Europa League round-of-16 showdown on Thursday, with the tie finely poised at 1-1.

The Dutch side controlled large spells of the first leg but failed to make the most of their dominance, allowing Shakhtar to set up a winner-takes-all decider at De Kuip.

We say: Feyenoord 2-0 Shakhtar Donetsk

If the first leg is anything to go by, Feyenoord should produce another dominant performance against Shakhtar Donetsk, with the Dutch side expected to reach the quarter-finals in front of the De Kuip faithful.

Union SG vs. Union Berlin (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Union SG and Union Berlin will go head-to-head for a place in the last eight of the Europa League at the Joseph Marien Stadium on Thursday.

The two sides drew 3-3 in the first leg in Germany last week, with Urs Fischer's side coming from behind on three occasions to bring the tie level.

We say: Union SG 1-2 Union Berlin

With both clubs on the cusp of reaching the quarter-finals of European competition for the first time in their history, this is set to be a fiercely-contested second leg.

As last week's tie in Germany proved, Union Berlin are a team who never seem to know when they are beaten, and we can envisage them progressing to the last eight with a tight away victory.

Ferencvaros vs. B. Leverkusen (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Ferencvaros will be aiming to overturn a two-goal deficit when they take on Bayer Leverkusen in their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday.

The Germans won 2-0 at BayArena last week, leaving the Hungarian champions with an almighty task in the second leg.

We say: Ferencvaros 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen

While Ferencvaros should not be written off from carrying out an impressive turnaround with home advantage on their side, we expect Leverkusen to progress on Thursday.

Alonso has hugely improved the club's fortunes since replacing Gerardo Seoane earlier this season, and they undoubtedly have the pace and quality to punish the hosts in transition should they push for a goal too early on.

Arsenal vs. Sporting Lisbon (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Following a chaotic and unpredictable 2-2 draw in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie, Arsenal and Sporting Lisbon reconvene at the Emirates for Thursday's decisive encounter.

Both outfits enter the second leg on the back of 3-0 domestic wins, with the hosts seeing off Fulham while Ruben Amorim's men put Boavista to the sword.

We say: Arsenal 2-1 Sporting Lisbon (Arsenal win 4-3 on aggregate)

As Arteta alluded to after the first leg, the Spaniard's side are conceding too many easy goals at present, and a rejigged defence may not experience much luck against a clinical Sporting frontline.

However, with two crucial pillars in Morita and Coates missing out, Sporting's attacking endeavours may prove futile against an Arsenal side who are the masters at overcoming adversity, and we are backing the Gunners to book their place in the last eight.

> How Arsenal could line up against Sporting Lisbon

> Arsenal injury, suspension list vs. Sporting

Real Sociedad vs. Roma (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Seeking a memorable fightback if they are to reach the Europa League quarter-finals, Real Sociedad welcome Roma to Anoeta on Thursday, in the second leg of their last-16 tie.

As they trail by two goals following last week's opener in Rome, La Real have the odds stacked against them when they meet Jose Mourinho's men.

We say: Real Sociedad 2-1 Roma (Roma win 3-2 on aggregate)

Even if La Real can shake off the shackles of their goalscoring struggles to bring themselves back into the tie, Roma pose enough danger at the other end to score at least once too. The Giallorossi's strikers may be misfiring, but Paulo Dybala is a class apart at this level - and their proficiency from set-pieces could also see them over the line.