BERLIN-. The Europa League is already in its quarterfinals, with Bayer Leverkusen and Liverpool as the rivals to beat.
This is how the qualifying rounds are presented, the first legs of which will be played on Thursday:
UNDEFEATED
Leverkusen and Xabi Alonso have gone 41 games without losing.
In what is seen as a historic season, the German club has not lost in any competition and will display its undefeated record at home against West Ham.
Leverkusen could become Bundesliga champions for the first time this weekend, after opening up an impressive 16-point lead. They will lift the trophy if Bayern Munich, their runner-up, lose to Cologne on Saturday or otherwise on Sunday if Leverkusen win at home against Werder Bremen.
They will also compete in the final of the German Cup, so they have a hat-trick of titles within reach.
West Ham have once again stood out in Europe after winning the Europa Conference League last year.
KLOPP’S GOODBYE
Another team with ambitions of a treble is Liverpool, in Jurgen Klopp’s last season as their coach.
They have already captured the League Cup title and are fighting neck and neck with Arsenal and Manchester for the Premier League title, the three separated by one point and with seven dates to play.
If Liverpool reach the Europa League final, it will be Klopp’s last game in charge after almost nine years. Reds fans could make the short trip to Dublin, trusting that the German strategist will have a perfect goodbye.
Liverpool will have to deal with Atalanta first. They met in the group stage of the 2020-21 Champions League, with both emerging victorious on the road.
COMPLETE COLLECTION
Winning the Europa League will leave AC Milan with the complete collection of titles in European football.
Seven-time European Cup champions, the Rossoneri also won the now-defunct Cup Winners’ Cup twice, as well as the UEFA Super Cup (with a record five wins). But they have never triumphed in the Europa League or the UEFA Cup, their previous name.
They haven’t even been to the final, something Roma — their quarterfinal rival — achieved twice, losing in 1991 and last year.
Milan knows a lot about Italian crosses. They eliminated Napoli in the Champions League quarterfinals last season before losing to Inter in the semifinals.
MARSEILLES
Marseille’s awakening under the direction of coach Jean-Louis Gasset is over. After victories in his first five games in charge, with 18 goals, Gasset’s team has lost four in a row.
Marseille’s old habits have returned, with defensive lapses, sloppiness in the midfield and lack of success on the part of their forwards. But Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has not lost his punch, with 23 goals this season. The former Arsenal and Barcelona player has shone in Europe, with 11 goals in 11 games. But Gasset needs others to respond when facing Benfica.
Source: AP
