This semi-final duel of the Europa League have increasingly bigger importance for both teams as it become more and more clear that will not qualify for the Champions League next year through their respective national leagues. Valencia still have chance to do so although it lags for three points behind team that occupies the fourth place. Arsenal ruined its chance to get hold over the fourth place in the previous round but the Gunners have 3-1 from the first leg with Valencia, which is a great chance to reach the final. Arsenal lost both previous matches in Valencia but those results that would grant it a place in the final.
It is a very interesting finish of season for Valencia and situation is such that everything can turn out in two very different ways; that everyone is very satisfied or to be totally disappointed. The second option is more realistic right now as it is not likely to reach the final of the Europa League after losing the 1st leg in London by 3-1. They should have played better the match as they had a lead early on. It was supposed to be a great moral booster but instead they quickly received two goals, while in the second half they received the third.
Valencia sought console in La Liga where it demolished Huesca away by 6-2. With three new points it stayed in the race for the fourth place although they don’t decide alone about their fate. They will face Barcelona in the final of Copa del Rey which is why we said that the season could easily turn to be a big fiasco. They will firstly resolve situation in the Europa League where will quite certainly play more offensively than in London, although Kondogbi and Cheryshev are still out of action.
Probable lineups Valencia: Neto – Piccini, Garay, G. Paulista, Gaya – Soler, Coquelin, Parejo, Guedes – Santi Mina, Rodrigo
Arsenal dropped chance to reach the Champions League through English championship. It is really incomprehensible how badly they played last four Premier League matches. They didn’t win any of them and have won just one point, which happened in the previous round when they drew at home with feeble Brighton. The team left survival worries behind itself and should have been an easy prey but instead Arsenal merely drew 1-1, which extinguished their hopes. Too bad, as rivals provided plenty of opportunities with weak results and ending of season could have been much nicer, but they still have the Europa League as hope to save the season.
They won Valencia at Emirates stadium after three-game losing streak in the league in which they easily conceded goals. The Gunners didn’t manage to keep their goal intact against the Spanish team but at least they played well in attack. There are no new problems with injuries or suspensions, so manager Emery can play with the starting line-up composition, just as he did before. Cech goes at the goal, as usual, and Koscielny will probably play stopper. Maitland-Niels didn’t play in the league and most probably he goes on the pitch now.
Probable lineups Arsenal: P. Cech – Mustafi, Koscielny, Sokratis – Maitland-Niles, G. Xhaka, Guendouzi, Kolasinac – Iwobi, Aubameyang – Lacazette
Valencia will play at home more bravely and offensively than it did in the 1st leg as they have to score at least two goals in order to qualify for the final. We believe they can do that but with such tactic it is not likely to preserve their goal intact, so we forecast a efficient match at Mestalla.
Pick: over 2.5 goals 1.59 - 6/10
@1XBet