5️⃣ things to look out for in Thursday's European action 👀 | OneFootball

The knockout stages proper in both the Europa League and Conference League get under way on Thursday evening.

Here are five things to watch out for from both competitions.

UEL favourites resume road to Dublin

With 16 teams left vying for Europa League glory, in a tight field it is Premier League leaders Liverpool who remain the narrow favourites.

They resume their bid for a quadruple (having already pocketed one trophy with the EFL Cup) in Czechia against Sparta Prague as they look to ensure Jürgen Klopp's final game in charge will be this competition's final in Dublin.

But this is no foregone conclusion. The Reds' injury list at the moment is concerning (Mo Salah is back in training, but Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson, Diogo Jota, Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones, Thiago, Joël Matip and some promising youngsters remain sidelined) and Sparta have the talent to spring a surprise.

They overturned a 3-2 first leg deficit against Galatasaray in the play-off round to win 4-1 and set up a tie against Liverpool, who will need to keep a close eye on danger man Lukáš Haraslín: finally fulfilling his potential with the Rudí.

De Zerbi v De Rossi

Two exciting young Italian coaches face off with a Europa League quarter-final berth the prize on offer.

Roberto De Zerbi's plaudits for how he has reshaped Brighton have been well documented and well-earned but Italy legend Daniele De Rossi's quietly impressive start to shaking Roma out of the funk they fell into under José Mourinho has perhaps gone a little more under the radar.

In fact, so big an impact has the interim boss had that despite not initially being under consideration for the gig full-time by the Friedkin family ownership group, reports this week indicate they are now wavering on that stance and mulling over a two-year contract offer.

But he will have his work cut out getting one over on one of Italy's most impressive coaching exports who has taken a Brighton side to unprecedented heights - playing some fantastic football while doing so. This is arguably the most fascinating tie of any European competition from the current rounds of action.

An Amsterdam blockbuster

But if Roma-Brighton doesn't quite do it for you, the standout Conference League clash provides a worthy contender for tie of the round as Dutch giants Ajax welcome Unai Emery's high-flying Aston Villa to Amsterdam.

Dutch trips have proven fruitful for the Villans in the past, with the club famously lifting the 1982 European Cup in Rotterdam with victory over Bayern Munich, and they'll be confident with a four-time European trophy winner of their own at the helm this time around.

This is a far cry from the Ajax sides which dominated Europe in the '70s or even the one which reached the Champions League semi-final five years ago, and Villa will be out to capitalise on any perceived vulnerability.

There will also be a familiar face in their ranks, with former Liverpool skipper and England international Jordan Henderson anchoring the Ajax midfield now after a short-lived and ill-fated spell in Saudi Arabia.

Marseille's magic man

If you were asked who the most creative talent in this season's Europa League is, chances are a Marseille player wouldn't come into the thinking.

They have struggled badly, so much so that it cost Gennaro Gattuso his job as coach last month, and are in a competition that has included stars such as Mo Salah and Álex Grimaldo this year.

So it is a surprise to see Amine Harit top the chart for most chances created from open play in this season's competition with 17, while he also has more open play assists (five) than any other player and the most passes for goals following a successful dribble (three).

Look out for him to shine again in his side's intriguing clash with Villarreal: a first ever meeting between the clubs.

Familiar fixtures

There is a real sense of déjà vu about the last 16 fixtures from this year's Europa League ties.

If you feel like you've seen them contested before, and recently too, that is because you have - with three of them involving teams who have already faced off this season alone!

Bundesliga champions-elect Bayer Leverkusen will aim to continue their unbeaten season when they face a Qarabağ outfit who were no match for them just a few months ago, winning 5-1 at home and 1-0 away.

Fellow German side Freiburg will also return to London to take on a West Ham team who were Conference League winners last year and who edged them out for top spot in their group in December, while last night saw Atalanta and Sporting meet for the third time this season.

On this occasion, they drew 1-1 - leaving it all to play for in Bergamo.