The curtain falls on the Europa League knockout rounds with the verdicts delivering the eight teams to the Nyon ballot box in view of the quarter-finals. Appointment with the draw set at 13 on Friday and, in addition to the next round, the matches for the semi-finals will also be drawn. The quarters will be played on 11 and 18 April, the semi-finals on 2-9 May. Final act in Baku on May 29th.

THE MAGNIFICENT EIGHT - Between the eight qualifiers to the eighths there is only one Italian, the Napoli that eliminated the Salzburg. Two the English, Chelsea and Arsenal, as well as the Spanish, Valencia and Villarreal. A German woman, the Eintracht who took out Inter, a Portuguese, Benfica, and a Czech, the surprise Slavia Praga, close the picture.

ENGLISH DANGER - The most dangerous opponents for Napoli are on paper the two English girls. The challenge with Maurizio Sarri's Chelsea would have a romantic flavor and, at the same time, bitter for having to face the coach who gave so much to the blue square. The Blues, beyond the English borders, have convinced and not little dragged by an overflowing Olivier Giroud. Emery's Arsenal, who risked a lot against Rennes, is the other favorite of the strong competition of an offensive department composed of Aubameyang, Lacazette and Ozil but pierced from the defense point of view.

SLAVIA PRAGUE - Among the bussolotti that could make Naples smile there is that of Slavia Prague, a team with a lot of heart but the bottom of the eight remaining, which eliminated Sevilla after 120 ’infinite and an incredible 4-3.

THE OTHER - Among the teams that could reserve some surprises there is the Villarreal that is sailing in the low zones of the ranking in Liga, but that in Europe is showing to be able to create problems to all. With the "yellow submarine" the previous one would not be favorable: in 2016, in fact, the Spaniards eliminated the Azzurri in the sixteenth rounds of this competition. Pablo Fornals is also among the ranks of Calleja's men: the Naples market objective. Not to be underestimated, of course, is Eintracht Frankfurt, which in this Europa League has already beaten Lazio in the group stage and eliminated Inter, with the attacking pair Jovic-Haller that is enchanting. Eye also to Valencia, training with many young talents in the squad, and Benfica that is experiencing a very positive period, but with a value of the rose not comparable to that of the Azzurri.