Predictions: Europa League last 32

Four English clubs along wide fellow Brits Rangers are in the mix as the Europa League returns this Thursday. 16 first leg ties will take place this week, with the return legs to follow next week. And with Sevilla not "in it to win it", it's a pretty open field field in the race to Gdnask for the Final in May...

Matchday FM looks ahead to the British ties, and predicts who will make it through to the last 16.

REAL SOCIEDAD VS MANCHESTER UNITED

Chris Stott

Like so many ties, at least one of the sides won't have "home advantage", with Sociedad's home leg taking place in Turin but the 2nd tie is still set to be played at Old Trafford. Despite United's form on the road in the Premier League, they did only win the one away fixture as they crashed out of the Champions League - and that was the hardest of them all at PSG! It will be interesting to see how Adnan Januzaj fares against his old club. I for one was disappointed to see the young Belgian fail to deliver with the Red Devils. The Spanish side are going fairly well in La Liga currently lying 5th and will cause United problems. But over the two legs, you'd expect United's attacking quality to see them through.

Prediction: Manchester United

Chris Coughlin

Manchester United are fighting on two fronts for Champions League qualification. They're going well in the Premier League and, on paper, will be one of the favourites to win the Europa League. Could that cause a problem for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer I wonder as he decides which method is his best route back to European Football's top table next season? Real Sociedad were quick out the gates in La Liga but a poor run of form between November and the start of January has seen them slip seven points behind Sevilla in fourth place. David Silva has recently returned from injury as well which will only make any team better given the former Manchester City magician's quality. Overall, however, I expect United to see this through over the two legs.

Prediction: Manchester United

RZ PELLETS WAC VS TOTTENHAM

Chris Coughlin

Jose Mourinho cannot afford to take this tie lightly. Spurs are woefully out of form at the moment and the Europa League may well be their best chance of Champions League qualification. They eventually won their group although it was far from straight forward, needing to beat Royal Antwerp in the final game to overtake the Belgian's into first place. They also made life difficult for themselves against LASK Linz with a 3-3 draw. They come up against a relative unknown in Wolfsberger, however the Austrians did claim an historic 4-0 win away at Borussia Monchengladbach in last season's group stage and that alone is enough cause for concern for the special one. I expect Spurs to make changes in the tie but they should have enough to secure passage to the last 16. Is anything ever straight forward with Tottenham though?

Prediction: Spurs

Chris Stott

Wolfsberger are enjoying their best ever run in the competition, having only ever reached the group stage one before. Spurs were of course beaten finalists in the Champions League in 2019 and are surely one of the favourites to go deep into this competition too. Mourinho's men had a few uncomfortable moments in the group stage, notably that defeat to Antwerp. But, again the away tie is to be played at a neutral venue, which I believe helps Tottenham. They have the strength in depth to rotate as well so I'd expect them too come through - but I wouldn't be surprised if they made hard work of it.

Prediction: Spurs

SLAVIA PRAGUE VS LEICESTER CITY

Chris Stott

I'm sure Leicester are glad that Soucek isn't around at Slavia anymore that's for sure! For me, this is a tie Leicester are more than capable of winning. If they can avoid a bad result in Prague, they have more than enough to score a few goals at the King Power. It will be interesting to see how Brendan Rodgers approaches the first leg, and how many big guns make an appearance. Either way, for me the Foxes are a potential dark horse in the competition and should make it through to the next round.

Prediction: Leicester

Chris Coughlin

The Foxes are flying, especially after that late turnaround against Liverpool at the weekend. Harvey Barnes, James Maddison & Jamie Vardy were all on the scoresheet on Saturday and all three will be key if Leicester are to claim a maiden European trophy this season. Slavia have coped very well this season with the losses of both Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal to West Ham. They are top of the Czech Republic top flight and have won nine of their 10 games since losing 4-0 to Bayer Leverkusen in the final match of the group stage in December. Nigerian international Peter Olayinka will be one to watch for Červenobílí - he scored in the 1-1 draw against Inter Milan in last season's Champions League group stage. Brendan Rodgers, however, will be keen to ensure the feel-good factor remains at Leicester.

Prediction: Leicester

BENFICA VS ARSENAL

Chris Coughlin

In years gone by, you'd just presume this would be a Champions League tie at some stage of the competition. No longer is that the case. Benfica are battling it out with Porto and Braga for second spot in the Primera Liga whereas this is Arsenal's only hope this campaign of both qualification for the Champions League and a trophy. Arsenal were the only team in either the Champions League or the Europa League to have a 100% record in the group stage, however, I think a considerable amount of Premier League teams would fancy having a perfect record against Molde, Rapid Vienna and Dundalk. Saying that, the Europa League has been a chance for Arsenal's youngsters to shine and I think Arteta has the confidence to throw the likes of Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith-Rowe into any scenario. I think Benfica's concerning league position may help Arsenal here, with the Portuguese in a desperate need to get their domestic form back on track. This tie could easily go either way.

Prediction: Arsenal

Chris Stott

Now for me this is the most difficult test any of the Brits face. Benfica are a very capable side who most years get to the knockout stages of either this competition or the Champions League. Of course, they were famously beaten at the death in the Europa League final a few years ago by Chelsea. But, the Portuguese Giants have been off the pace back home, sitting just 4th in the table. And prior to Christmas, Arsenal's best football arguably was being played in Europe with the likes of Smith Rowe putting in performances that forced themselves into the League side. The Gunners will see this trophy as one they can target given their league position and exit from the FA Cup.

Prediction: Arsenal

ROYAL ANTWERP VS RANGERS

Chris Stott

You can't help but be impressed with what Steven Gerrard is doing as the manager of Rangers. Not only have they blitzed the SPL, they have put in a very decent showing in Europe after a number of years of Scottish Clubs flattering to deceive. As mentioned earlier, Antwerp have form in this season's competition beating Spurs at home. The Glaswegians will have it tough but given their form and confidence, they have a real shot here of making the last 16.

Prediction: Rangers

Chris Coughlin

What a season Rangers and Steven Gerrard are having! Only one defeat in all competitions so far, 15 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership and comfortably through to the last-32 of the Europa League having deservedly won their group ahead of Benfica. There will be no chance of the Gers taking their foot off the gas however, with Gerrard keen to ensure their high standards remain both domestically and abroad. Antwerp are performing remarkably well in the Belgian top-flight although they are a distant second to runaway league Club Brugges. They will, however, be without top scorer Dieumerci Mbokani with the former Norwich City striker missing through injury. Rangers reached the last-16 last season before being knocked out by Bayer Leverkusen and I expect them to qualify for the next round this time around as well.

Prediction: Rangers

Other Ties....

Dynamo Kyiv Vs Club Brugges

Chris Stott: Kyiv

Chris Coughlin: Club Brugges

Red Star Belgrade Vs AC Milan

Chris Stott: AC Milan

Chris Coughlin: AC Milan

FK Krasnodar Vs Dinamo Zagreb

Chris Stott: Zagreb

Chris Coughlin: Zagreb

Olympiakos Vs PSV Eindhoven

Chris Stott: PSV Eindhoven

Chris Coughlin: PSV Eindhoven

Sporting Braga Vs Roma

Chris Stott: Roma

Chris Coughlin: Roma FC Red Bull Salzburg Vs Villarreal

Chris Stott: Salzburg

Chris Coughlin: Salzburg Granada Vs Napoli

Chris Stott: Napoli

Chris Coughlin: Napoli Lille Vs Ajax

Chris Stott: Ajax

Chris Coughlin: Lille

Maccabi Tel-Aviv Vs Shakhtar Donetsk

Chris Stott: Shakhtar Donetsk

Chris Coughlin: Shakhtar Donetsk Molde Vs 1899 Hoffenheim

Chris Stott: Hoffenheim

Chris Coughlin: Hoffenheim

Young Boys Vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Chris Stott: Leverkusen

Chris Coughlin: Leverkusen