Five Europa League Knockout Round berths are at stake when the competition continue tonight after some shock results yesterday. Spurs, Celtic, Udinese, Birmingham and AZ Alkmaar are host of clubs looking to seal their places int he next round. Lets take a look at the cruch matches tonight.
Shamrock Rovers vs Tottenham
Austria Vienna vs Malmo
AZ Alkmaar VS Metalist Kharkiv
Udinese vs Celtic
Birmingham City vs NK Maribor
Rubin Kazan, in second, are three points above Tottenham. To qualify Spurs must win in Dublin [against already-eliminated Shamrock Rovers], hope Rubin lose, and make up a goal difference deficit which currently stands at five. If the two teams finish exactly level on goal difference and goals scored, Tottenham will qualify due to their higher coefficient.
AZ Alkmaar will be hoping that Jozy displays all of this technique and more against Metalist Kharkiv, as the Dutch side will advance with a victory over the Ukrainians. If AZ lose? Third-place Austria Wien will advance if they can beat group laggards Mamlo.
Birmingham City can advance to the next round if they defeat Maribor and if Brugge lose to group leaders SC Braga.
Group B and Group C matches will have no effect on the table standings as both have winners and runners up decided. Standard Liege, Hannover and PSV, Legia Warsaw finished first and second respectively in Group B and C.
Celtic have made the trip to Italy without injured quartet Joe Ledley,
Glenn Loovens, Adam Matthew and Kris Commons knowing they must win against Udinese to qualify while Udinese just needs to play a draw to advance. Udinese coach Francesco Guidolin is still in doubts over whether or not to start with Antonio Di Natale.
