The first leg of the Europa League round of 16 took place on Thursday. The results were undoubtedly filled with a plethora of surprises. Here are five things we learned from the first round.
1. Tottenham Hotspur's season has hit rock bottom
No one can deny that the English side is in disarray. The team hit a new low when it was destroyed 3-1 at home by Benfica. The defeat itself should not be a surprise considering the team's form throughout the year. Tottenham is in fifth place in the Premier League and just four points out of fourth place; however, the side is also five points away from seventh place. Tottenham seemingly breezed through the group stage of the tournament but ran into serious trouble in the round of 32 when it lost the first leg at Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk. The side bounced back with a huge win at home. However, the side has been dismantled at home by a Portuguese side that has proven its worth. Another seemingly lost year for the Spurs is underway.
2. Is Juventus still the favorite?
The Italian League leaders looked poised to make a deep run all the way to the final in their home stadium. But alas, that path just got a bit complicated by Fiorentina who managed a 1-1 draw in Turin. Now the Old Lady must find a way to win against a solid side that is on the rise. Fiorentina can simply play for a scoreless tie at home in hopes of eliminating Juventus.
3. Red Bull Salzburg could be a true dark horse contender
The Austrian side had a terrific run in the group stage and then proceeded to dismantle a solid Ajax Amsterdam side by the aggregate score of 6-1. Up against FC Basel, few expected Salzburg to have any hopes by the time the second leg came around in Austria. Afterall, this was a Basel side that had embarrassed Chelsea twice in the group stage of the Champions League and had made a run all the way to the semifinals of the Europa League last season. But Red Bull managed a 0-0 draw in Switzerland and heads home with the advantage.
4. Valencia is in terrific form
It seems like so long ago when Valencia's season was in a tumultuous state. The team seemed doomed in its domestic league and was defeated 3-0 at home by Swansea City. But now the club has turned things around, beat Barcelona at the Camp Nou and has not conceded a goal in this competition in four straight games. The 3-0 away win over Ludogorets Razgrad has essentially vaulted the team into the quarterfinal. This team could be dangerous in the latter rounds.
5. Napoli is not in trouble
The Italian side lost 1-0 at Porto, but the result was definitely nothing to fear. Napoli can reverse that result at home with relative ease and will be taking on a Porto side that has not always had the tightest defense. This is a team that surrendered five goals against Eintracht Frankfurt in the round of 32 but managed to advance on away goals. Napoli is a better side and should be lethal at home.
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