The UEFA Europa League resumes this week, and the business begins to intensify as the knockout stage pits the final 32 teams against one another.
While some of Europe’s top teams will be in action, Fiorentina-Tottenham headlines the pairings, with both teams coming into Thursday’s match sitting in the top-three of Serie A and the English Premier League, respectively.
Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool will face off against German side Augsburg, while Klopp’s former side, Borussia Dortmund, will meet FC Porto for the first of two clashes.
Here is a closer look at the opening matches this week:
TUESDAY
FENERBAHCE VS. LOKOMOTIV MOSKOW, AT ŞUKRU SARACOGLU STADIUM, 12 P.M.
After fending off Sporting Lisbon and Bestikas in Group H play, Lokomotiv Moskow can turn its attention to Fenerbahce, which finished second in Group A.
Former Manchester United stars Nani and Robin Van Persie will make defending difficult for the Russian side, as will Brazilian attacker Fernandão, who leads Fenerbahce with 10 goals in league play this season.
THURSDAY
FIORENTINA VS. TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR, AT STADIO ARTEMIO FRANCHI, 1 P.M.
After a huge 2-1 victory over the weekend against Manchester City, Tottenham will be looking to continue its great run of form against Fiorentina. Spurs, now second in the English Premier League, come into Thursday’s meeting with the Viola on a seven-match win streak in all competitions.
As for Fiorentina, the Italian side is coming off of its own 2-1 win, albeit against Inter Milan. Led by the striker partnership of Josip Ilicic and Nikola Kalinic, the Viola boast a potent attack and will provide a solid test for Tottenham’s back line. Across all competitions, Ilicic and Kalinic have scored a combined 23 goals this season.
MIDTJYLLAND VS. MANCHESTER UNITED, AT MCH ARENA, 1 P.M.
This season hasn’t been one that a typical Manchester United side is used to coping with. Currently fifth in the Premier League, Louis Van Gaal’s team hasn’t been able to find consistency anywhere, thus leading the Red Devils into the Europa League. While the tournament is uncharted territory for Man United, the team has more than enough talent to win it all.
Its opponents, Danish side Midtjylland, had to crawl its way to the knockout round via Group D. The club managed just six goals in six group stage matches and conceded 12. This matchup is something of the David and Goliath form.
ANDERLECHT VS. OLYMPIAKOS, AT CONSTANT VANDEN STOCK STADIUM, 1 P.M.
Anderlecht striker Stefano Okaka Chuka is enjoying his best season as a professional, scoring 12 goals in all competitions for the Belgian side.
Olympiakos will make things difficult though, after cruising in domestic play in Greece thus far. The Greek side has opened up a 16-point advantage over second place AEK Athens and the rest of the field.
ST ETIENNE VS. FC BASEL, AT STADE GEOFFROY-GUICHARD, 1 P.M.
After beating out Fiorentina in Group I, Basel will have confidence heading into its meeting with French side St Etienne.
The Swiss club currently holds a 15-point advantage at the top of its domestic league, while St Etienne has had more than its fair share of struggles keeping pace with Ligue 1 leader Paris Saint-Germain. Despite sitting fourth on the table, St Etienne remains 30 points behind the Parisians.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND VS. FC PORTO, AT SIGNAL IDUNA PARK, 1 P.M.
Dortmund-Porto surely has the makings of being one of the best fixtures in the round of 32. This season, Borussia Dortmund sits second in the Bundesliga, while Porto is third on the Portuguese Liga Primeira table.
For Dortmund, forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is one to watch. The BVB striker has scored 25 goals this season, including leading the Bundesliga with 20 finishes.
VILLAREAL VS. NAPOLI, AT EL MADRIGAL, 1 P.M.
After falling to a surging Juventus on Saturday, Napoli will look to get back on track against a difficult Villareal side. The Yellow Submarine, led by Cedric Bakambu, sits fourth in La Liga and fell just short of winning Group E.
Napoli cruised in Group D play, although the competition wasn’t overly difficult. Villareal will pose a much bigger threat, after facing the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid on a consistent basis.
SEVILLA VS. MOLDE FK, AT RAMON SANCHEZ-PIZJUAN, 1 P.M.
After recently selling prized forward Ola Kamara to Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew SC, Molde will be missing its biggest attacking threat when the side takes on Sevilla.
U.S. goalkeeper Ethan Horvath will likely be faced with many attempts on goal. Frenchman Kevin Garneiro has scored 117 goals this season for Sevilla and the Molde back line will need to be wary of the veteran’s presence.
FC AUGSBURG VS. LIVERPOOL, AT WWK ARENA, 3:05 P.M.
Coming off of a 6-0 thrashing of Aston Villa at the weekend, Liverpool can gear up for Europa League play and set its sights on a title. With the EPL crown well out of the Reds’ reach, the Europa League will be a much more achievable goal for Liverpool in 2015-16.
As for Augsburg, the German club hasn’t found much success in the Bundesliga. The team fell to league leader Bayern Munich on Sunday, 3-1. Liverpool will surely appear the heavy favorite on paper, however, the back-and-forth nature of the competition could provide some assistance for a hungry Augsburg side.
GALATASARAY VS. LAZIO, AT TURK TELECOM ARENA, 3:05 P.M.
The attacking pairing of Burak Yilmaz and Lukas Podolski will be a troubling one for Lazio.
Both players have a plethora of experience on the international stage, which will give Lazio nightmares. Meanwhile, Lazio striker Antonio Candreva has been known to give fits to opposing back lines as well. Both defenses will need to be on high alert.
VALENCIA VS. SK RAPID WEIN, AT MESTALLA, 3:05 P.M.
Valencia hasn’t had the season it is hoping for.
Currently sitting 12th on the La Liga table and exiting the Champions League group stage, the Europa League affords the Spanish side the opportunity to redeem itself. Rapid Wien is tied atop the Austrian Bundesliga standings with Red Bull Salzburg and after clinching Group E, the club will have a great amount of confidence heading into this clash.
SPARTA PRAGUE VS. FC KRASNODAR, AT GENERALI ARENA, 3:05 P.M.
Sparta Prague’s David Lafata will be the biggest challenge for Krasnodar, as the striker has totaled 14 goals in all competitions this season.
Krasnodar, which surprisingly sits 15th on the Russian Premier League table, beat out Dortmund for the top spot in Group C action.
SHAKHTAR DONETSK VS. SCHALKE 04, AT ARENA LVIV, 3:05 P.M.
After bailing out in the Champions League group stage, Shakhtar Donetsk will meet Group K winner Schalke. Former Arsenal striker Eduardo leads the way for Shakhtar, tallying seven goals this season, while Dutch attacker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has guided Schalke with 10 goals.
Shakhtar currently sits tied atop the Ukrainian Premier League, while Schalke holds fifth position in a tough German Bundesliga. After making a splash in recent Champions League seasons, Shakhtar’s experience will surely give the team a leg up against their counterparts.
FC SION VS. SC BRAGA, AT STADE DE TOURBILLON, 3:05 P.M.
In a congested Group B, FC Sion battled hard and advanced along with English club Liverpool. The Swiss side will now have the opportunity to qualify for the last 16 against Portugal’s SC Braga. Braga currently sits fourth on the Liga Primeira table.
Sion, sixth on the Swiss Super League table, has already made it the furthest it has ever gone in this competition. Moussa Konate leads the Sion attack, scoring 10 goals in all competitions, including two in this year’s Europa League.
MARSEILLE VS. ATHLETIC BILBAO, AT STADE VELODROME, 3:05 P.M.
Neither side has performed optimally in league play this season, however, the Europa League provides a window of opportunity for both clubs. Marseille currently sits mid-table in Ligue 1, while Bilbao is on the outside looking in for a top-six position in La Liga.
Aritz Aduriz is the danger man for Athletic Bilbao, scoring 25 goals this season in all competitions. It will be vital for Marseille to keep an eye on Aduriz, who has also tallied eight assists this campaign for Bilbao.
SPORTING CP VS. BAYER LEVERKUSEN, AT ESTADIO JOSE ALVALADE, 3:05 P.M.
Liga Primeira leader Sporting CP will now focus its attention on the Europa League after having tremendous success thus far domestically in 2015-16. Through 22 matches, Sporting has accumulated 55 points and lost just one match.
While Sporting has been hot, Bayer Leverkusen poses a dangerous threat to the Portuguese club. Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, fourth in Bundesliga scoring this season, leads Leverkusen with 13 goals in league play. While the club is heavily reliant on Hernandez to shoulder its goal-scoring load, the Mexican international is the type of player that can take over a match in the blink of an eye.