15 April 2011
The UEFA Europa League quarterfinals wrap up on Thursday evening with second leg fixtures, though only one tie is still in the balance.
The Iberian trio of Porto, Benfica and Villareal all look to have one foot already in the last four after comprehensive first leg victories over Spartak Moscow (5-1), PSV Eindhoven (4-1) and FC Twente (5-1) respectively.
The trio are all away from home in the second legs, but it would take a spectacular collapse for any one of them not to progress into the semifinals.
Portugals Braga will hope to make it a hat-trick of teams from their countrys league into the semis, as they host the Ukraines Dynamo Kyiv at the Estadio Municipal de Braga.
The tie is locked at 1-1, though Braga have the slight edge heading into the second leg thanks to their away goal.
Former Portugal national team midfielder Hugo Viana explained that Braga were backing themselves to progress.
“We are very confident ahead of the second game,” the 28-year-old said. “We will be at home, having scored an away goal.
However, Dynamos Ognjen Vukojevic saw his side progress from a similar scenario against Spanish giants Valencia two years ago in the last 32 round and believes a repeat could be on the cards for the Ukrainians.
“We only need to score once in Braga,” the 27-year-old Croatian international said.
“Two years ago we played Valencia, who at that time were three times stronger than Braga today, and managed to score two away goals after a similar 1-1 draw in Ukraine. The chances are 50-50 and it will be all to play for […] in Portugal.”
UEFA Europa League quarterfinal, second leg fixtures: (First leg score in parenthesis)
Thursday, April 14
Spartak Moscow v Porto (1-5) Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
PSV Eindhoven v Benfica (1-4) PSV Stadion, Eindhoven
FC Twente v Villareal (1-5) FC Twente Stadion, Enschede
Braga v Dynamo Kyiv (1-1) Estadio Municipal de Braga, Braga
