The draw for the semifinals of the 2017/18 Europa League was conducted today (April 13, 2018) and Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal have been pitted against Diego Simeone’s Atleti in what promises to be a mouth watering last four tie. The EL, which like the CL, features four different teams this year at the SF stage has Marseille take on Salzburg (who upset Lazio in the last eight) in the other semi. With the final set to be held in Lyon, plenty of incentive
Atletico Madrid
Europa League Quarterfinal Draw Result 2018- Arsenal v CSKA & Atletico vs Sporting
Arsenal’s reward for seeing off AC Milan in the round of 16 is a quarterfinal tie against Russian side CSKA Moscow. The draw for the EL quarterfinals were made today (March 16, 2018), just after the Champions League quarterfinal draw was conducted. Arsenal’s hopes of playing CL football next season will probably require the Gunners to do what Man United did in 2016/17- win the Europa League to qualify. The Gunners are currently sixth in the table with 48 points, a whopping 12 points behind fourth place Liverpool.
EL Quarterfinal draw 2017/18
Leipzig v Marseille
Arsenal v CSKA
Atletico Madrid vs Sporting Lisbon
Lazio vs Salzburg
Country distribution: One club each from England, Germany, France, Russia, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Austria
Griezmann to Barca? Reports indicate 100m release clause deal in summer
If reports in Spain are to be believed, Barcelona have agreed a deal with Antoine Griezmann and will sign the French striker in the summer. The 27 year old will be acquired for a fee of 100 million euros (his release clause), but his arrival will mean that the Blaugrana will have a wealth of attacking talent at their disposal- they already have Messi, Suarez, Coutinho and Dembele, and Griezmann at the Nou Camp would effectively make it a “Famous Five” or a “Fantastic Five”. It would also see Griezmann at the same club as his French national teammate Samuel Umtiti.
Atleti have recently sold Nicolas Gaitan and Yannick Carrasco to Dalian in China. Augusto Fernandez has also left for the Far East, while Luciano Vietto has been loaned to Valencia with an option to buy. Veteran Fernando Torres is also likely to depart the Wanda Metropolitano in the summer. Should Griezmann leave, it does raise doubts over whether Los Colchoneros can continue to be a threat to the Real-Barca hegemony in Spain. Atleti are currently second in Spain and have reached the last 16 of the Europa League