4️⃣ big questions ahead of the Europa and Conference League semi-finals | OneFootball

We’re down to the final four in the Europa League and Conference League with a quartet of matches that are bound to whet anyone’s whistle.

Here’s what to expect.

Can Roma stop the unstoppable?

All eyes will be on the Italian capital this Thursday as Roma host Bayer Leverkusen in one of the most intriguing match-ups we’ve seen across any European competition this season.

Leverkusen are enjoying one of the all-time campaigns under Xabi Alonso having secured their first ever Bundeslige title two weeks ago and have gone unbeaten in 46 games.

It’s been a parade of late goals for the Werkself in recent months though that have kept that stretch going with the latest coming this past weekend against Stuttgart.

A 96th minute Robert Andrich strike secured a 2-2 draw on Sunday with Xabi Alonso praising his side’s mentality ahead of their trip to the Stadio Olimpico.

Roma meanwhile have been enjoying their own string of stoppage time goals in recent weeks with Tammy Abraham netting with two minutes to go in their own 2-2 against Napoli last weekend.

Whilst Romelu Lukaku was the hero the week before as Udinese were put to the sword with the Belgian forward’s 95th minute winner.

So whatever happens in the Eternal City, just make sure you’re watching until the very end.

Is this the season Atalanta get what they deserve?

Atalanta have never been considered one of the giants of Italian football, forever living in the shadow of their bigger, more illustrious northerly neighbours.

Situated just 75 kilometres from Milan, the Bergamo-based club have only ever made it to one European semi-final before this week – getting into the last four of the Cup Winners’ Cup back in 1987-88.

But La Dea have a real chance of making it to their first ever final over the next week with a two-legged clash against Marseille.

Gian Piero Gasperini’s side travel to the south of France on Thursday having come off the back of a brilliant quarter-final besting of Liverpool.

The Serie A outfit schooled Jürgen Klopp’s men over their pair of matches with Atalanta’s 3-0 win at Anfield one of the very best of the season across any competition.

Marseille meanwhile are something of a one-man band at the moment with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scoring goals for fun.

The former Arsenal man has scored 27 this term including 10 in 11 games in the Europa League.

Stop him, and Atalanta will have more than a good chance of getting to the final in Dublin.

Will Aston Villa spoil Olympiacos’ home dreams?

With the Europa Conference League final being played in Athens this year, there’s no doubting that Olympiacos will have extra motivation coming into Thursday’s clash with Aston Villa.

With the game also being played at the OpapA Arena – home of their hated rivals AEK Athens – the Thrylos’ determination heading to the west Midlands is likely to be off the scale.

Villa then, need to have some cool heads about them as the Greek giants come to town and the Premier League side look to make their first major European final since 1982.

Under Unai Emery, the Villains have enjoyed a brilliant campaign, currently occupying fourth place in the Premier League and tying the Spanish coach down to a new deal that will last until 2027.

Spirits are high at Villa Park right now but they would be even better if things took a tragic turn for the Greeks this week.

Are Fiorentina ready to go one better?

The 2022/23 campaign was an historic one for Fiorentina.

For the first time in 32 years, the Tuscan side reached a European final as they faced West Ham in Prague for the Europa Conference League title.

After a thrilling semi-final win over Basel and coming from behind to draw with the Hammers in the Czech capital, it seemed like momentum would swing in favour of Fiorentina in their bid to claim only their second ever continental title.

As it was, Jarrod Bowen raced in behind their defensive line and made himself a legend in east London forever more.

And it’s fair to say that Fiorentina have been struggling with that disappointment ever since.

Beat Napoli one week, lose to rivals Empoli the next. Claim a brilliant win over Bologna and then lose away at Lecce.

That has been the pattern of the season for Vincenzo Italiano’s side who are coming off the back of one of their biggest wins of the season.

A 5-1 victory at relegation-threatened Sassuolo would normally be excellent preparation for a side coming into a European semi-final – for Fiorentina though, who knows.

Club Brugge are their opponents with the Belgian side having finished fourth during the regular season in the Jupiler Pro League but now joint-top in the ‘championship round’ of matches.