Wednesday 6 May 2015 13:42, UK
Zenit St Petersburg and Fiorentina are among the sides aiming to book their place in the UEFA Europa League semi-finals on Thursday evening as the competition begins to near its thrilling climax.
Zenit welcome Sevilla to the Petrovsky Stadium in the second leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final on Thursday evening looking to overturn a one-goal deficit.
Andre Villas-Boas' side led for the majority of the first leg in Spain last week, but two late goals from Carlos Bacca and Denis Suarez wrestled the tie back in favour of the current holders.
Midfielder Aleksandr Ryazantsev's first-half strike may still prove invaluable for Zenit, who are bidding to reach the last four of the competition for the first time since 2008, when they went on to beat Rangers in the final.
Villas-Boas, however, will have to make do without Ryazantsev as well as defender Ezequiel Garay, with both ruled out through suspension.
Sevilla - targeting a record fourth Europa League crown - still have doubts over the fitness of Daniel Carrico. If the Portuguese centre back, who missed the first leg due to a knock picked up in the La Liga clash with Barcelona, is unable to recover in time, he is once again likely to be deputised by Timothee Kolodziejczak.
Elsewhere, Fiorentina host Dynamo Kiev at Stadio Artemio Franchi, with the tie slightly in favour of the hosts after a dramatic 1-1 first leg draw in Ukraine.
Jeremain Lens' first-half strike looked to have given Kiev a slender advantage heading into the second leg. However, it was not to be, with substitute Khouma Babacar popping up in stoppage-time to secure an invaluable away goal for Fiorentina.
It may prove to be the forward's last involvement in the tie, with a knee injury possibly ruling him out of Thursday night's encounter. Midfielders Milan Badelj (nose) and David Pizarro (thigh) are also doubts for Viola boss Vincenzo Montella.
Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk take on Club Brugge at Dnipro-Arena, with the clash delicately poised after a goalless first leg in Belgium.
Brugge, who became the first side in the competition's history to go 11 games unbeaten from the start of the group stage, will need to extend that run if they are to clinch a place in the last four.
Ahead of the match, Brugge boss Michel Preud'homme has concerns over defenders Thomas Meunier (stomach muscle), Oscar Duarte (thigh), Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo (ankle) and midfielder Felipe Gedoz (groin).
Dnipro will make a late check on Brazilian forward Matheus (back and knee) as they aim to secure a semi-final berth for the first time in their 97-year history.
In the other quarter-final tie, Wolfsburg face the unenviable task of attempting to turn around a three-goal deficit against Napoli at the Stadio San Paolo.
Rafa Benitez's side cruised to a 4-1 away victory in Germany last week, with Gonzalo Higuain, Marek Hamsik (2) and substitute Manolo Gabbiadini on target. But having gained such a commanding lead, Benitez could opt to rest leading forwards Higuain and Hamsik, with Gabbiadini and Duvan Zapata the likely replacements.
The late consolation goal from former Arsenal forward Nicklas Bendtner is likely to have given Wolfsburg some hope of completing a remarkable turnaround in Naples. However the Bundesliga outfit, who will be without ex-Chelsea duo Andre Schurrle (shoulder) and Kevin De Bruyne (foot), will need to score four to stand any chance of progressing to the next round.
