Europa League 2016: Live Stream Schedule, TV Info, Predictions for Round of 32
The Europa League will see its legions reduced again this Thursday as a selection of Europe's powerhouses prepare to do battle once more and the round of 32 reaches its climax.
Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund, Porto, Marseille, Galatasaray and many more teams are fighting to advance in the competition, but with only 16 places available, we're set to bid farewell to a host of strong contenders.
Here's a breakdown of the full schedule for Thursday's matches, complete with television information, live stream details, score predictions and discussion of the must-watch meetings on this week's slate:
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| Wednesday, Feb. 24 | 5 p.m. GMT/12 p.m. ET | Braga | 2-1 (4-2) | Sion | beIN Sports 2 (US) | beIN Sports Connect (US) |
| Thursday, Feb. 25 | 4 p.m. GMT/11 a.m. ET | Lokomotiv Moscow | 1-1 (1-3) | Fenerbahce | beIN Sports 1 (US)/BT Sport 2 (UK) | |
| Thursday, Feb. 25 | 6 p.m. GMT/1 p.m. ET | Rapid Wien | 1-2 (1-8) | Valencia | beIN Sports 12 (US)/BT Sport Extra 2 (UK) | Watch ESPN, Fox Soccer 2Go (USA)/BT Sport app (UK) |
| Thursday, Feb. 25 | 6 p.m. GMT/1 p.m. ET | Liverpool | 2-0 (2-0) | Augsburg | beIN Sports 2 (US)/BT Sport Europe (UK) | Fox Soccer 2Go (USA)/BT Sport app (UK) |
| Thursday, Feb. 25 | 6 p.m. GMT/1 p.m. ET | FC Krasnodar | 1-1 (1-2) | Sparta Prague | / | Fox Soccer 2Go (USA)/BT Sport app (UK) |
| Thursday, Feb. 25 | 6 p.m. GMT/1 p.m. ET | Lazio | 3-2 (4-3) | Galatasaray | beIN Sports 3 (US)/BT Sport Extra 4 (UK) | Fox Soccer 2Go (USA)/BT Sport app (UK) |
| Thursday, Feb. 25 | 6 p.m. GMT/1 p.m. ET | Schalke 04 | 1-2 (1-2) | Shakhtar Donetsk | / | Fox Soccer 2Go (USA)/BT Sport app (UK) |
| Thursday, Feb. 25 | 6 p.m. GMT/1 p.m. ET | Athletic Club | 2-0 (3-0) | Marseille | ESPN 3 USA | Watch ESPN, Fox Soccer 2Go (USA)/BT Sport app (UK) |
| Thursday, Feb. 25 | 6 p.m. GMT/1 p.m. ET | Bayer Leverkusen | 3-1 (4-1) | Sporting CP | beIN Sports 8 (US) | Fox Soccer 2Go (USA)/BT Sport app (UK) |
| Thursday, Feb. 25 | 8:05 p.m. GMT/3:05 p.m. ET | Tottenham | 1-0 (2-1) | Fiorentina | ESPN 3 USA/BT Sport ESPN | Watch ESPN, Fox Soccer 2Go (USA)/BT Sport app (UK) |
| Thursday, Feb. 25 | 8:05 p.m. GMT/3:05 p.m. ET | FC Porto | 1-1 (1-3) | Borussia Dortmund | ESPN 3 USA/BT Sport Extra 2 (UK) | Watch ESPN, Fox Soccer 2Go (USA)/BT Sport app (UK) |
| Thursday, Feb. 25 | 8:05 p.m. GMT/3:05 p.m. ET | Olympiacos | 3-1 (3-2) | Anderlecht | / | Fox Soccer 2Go (USA)/BT Sport app (UK) |
| Thursday, Feb. 25 | 8:05 p.m. GMT/3:05 p.m. ET | Manchester United | 1-0 (2-2, Manchester United advance) | FC Midtjylland | Fox Sports 2 USA/BT Sport 2 (UK) | Fox Soccer 2Go (USA)/BT Sport app (UK) |
| Thursday, Feb. 25 | 8:05 p.m. GMT/3:05 p.m. ET | Molde | 1-1 (1-4) | Sevilla | ESPN 3 USA | Watch ESPN, Fox Soccer 2Go (USA)/BT Sport app (UK) |
| Thursday, Feb. 25 | 8:05 p.m. GMT/3:05 p.m. ET | Napoli | 1-0 (1-1, Napoli win on penalties) | Villarreal | BT Sport Europe (UK) | Fox Soccer 2Go (USA)/BT Sport app (UK) |
| Thursday, Feb. 25 | 8:05 p.m. GMT/3:05 p.m. ET | Basel | 2-1 (4-4, Basel advance) | Saint-Etienne | /BT Sport Extra 4 | Fox Soccer 2Go (USA)/BT Sport app (UK) |
To access Watch ESPN, click here. For Fox Soccer 2Go, click here. For beIN Connect, click here. For the BT Sport app, click here.
Spurs Prove Their Class as Fiorentina Fall
Pinching a 1-1 draw in Florence last Thursday is an outcome many Tottenham Hotspur fans might well have taken prior to kick-off, and a valuable away goal puts Mauricio Pochettino's men in the driver's seat for the return trip.
The Times' Rory Smith was among those who admired the north Londoners' courageous performance in Italy, where it was a Nacer Chadli penalty that put them ahead before Federico Bernardeschi equalised for the hosts:
And it just so happens Spurs gave a much better account of themselves when they faced Fiorentina at home last season, drawing 1-1 before suffering a 2-0 defeat in Florence that saw their tournament end.
A year down the road and Spurs look like an improved outfit under Pochettino, but the English side will have to bring an end to one of Fiorentina's impressive records if they're to advance in the competition, per OptaJoe:
Tottenham have conceded just 20 goals in the Premier League this season and boast the best defensive record in England's top flight, but La Viola are unbeaten in their last three trips away from home.
Spurs rested a raft of first-team stars for their 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Crystal Palace on Sunday, and their hopes of shutting Fiorentina out to claim some revenge look bright if recent stinginess has been anything to go by.
Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Fiorentina (Tottenham Advance)
Red Devils Squeak Through in Unflattering Fashion
Manchester United have become hugely unpredictable of late, but the Red Devils bounced back to winning form with a 3-0 throttling of Shrewsbury Town on Monday evening in the FA Cup.
Their chances of overturning a 2-1 deficit against Danish representatives FC Midtjylland have also taken a turn for the better after it was reported first-choice goalkeeper David De Gea could feature, per Sky Sports:
That being said, an ambitious Midtjylland lineup showed United—not for the first time this season—that surprises can happen, and they'll be out to finish the job at Old Trafford.
Unfortunately for them, the Theatre of Dreams has been the site of some of United's most stubborn displays this term, and the Mirror's Liam Canning could be spot on with his prediction of a less-than-inspiring 1-0 win:
"Ed Woodward lacks the ruthlessness to cut LvG. A 1-0 win vs FC Midtjylland will save LvG's job until the summer. It's pathetic.
— Liam (@OffsideLiam) February 20, 2016"
Jesse Lingard has breathed some life into United's attack, but Louis van Gaal's are still far from slick, and Midtjylland proved last time out they're not to be trifled with.
Six of United's 11 Premier League wins this season have come by a margin of just one goal, and three of those have come via a 1-0 scoreline, precisely the kind of outcome we're backing this Thursday.
Prediction: Manchester United 1-0 FC Midtjylland
