The Europa Cup is back: what can we expect from the quarter-finals?
On Wednesday, 11 February, the Europa Cup returns alongside the Champions League, with eight teams set to contest the first legs of the quarter-final ties.
- 12:00 CET Sparta Prague x Austria Wien
- 18:30 CET Eintracht Frankfurt x Nordsjaelland
- 18:30 CET Häcken x Breiðablik
- 20:45 CET Sporting x Hammarby
Swedish sides Hammarby and Häcken will both make their first appearances with their new spring signings, but also without several key players who departed for the WSL during the winter transfer window. Hammarby, for instance, will be without right-back Smilla Holmberg — who scored in their most recent European match against Ajax — as well as Ellen Wangerheim and goalkeeper Moa Edrud, who has joined Rosengård.
Häcken, meanwhile, will be missing keeper Jennifer Falk, currently on loan at Liverpool, along with Matilda Nildén, who has moved to Tottenham. Hammarby, however, can count on new arrivals such as Madison Pogarch, and potentially loanee Vivienne Lia, who could feature for the first time.
Sparta Prague will face Austria Vienna in a morning kick-off. The club is inviting local schools to attend, with crowds of up to 10.000 expected — a figure that would set a new attendance record for women’s football in Czechia.
Sparta have already produced one of the competition’s most dramatic comebacks, losing 0:3 at home to Young Boys Bern in the previous round before scoring four goals in the return leg. Now, they turn their attention to Austria Vienna — the club that eliminated their city rivals Slavia Prague during the qualification rounds in the penalty shotout.
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