UEFA Europa League Preview – Chelsea vs Eintracht Frankfurt/Valencia vs Arsenal, Thursday 9th May 2019

Can Chelsea and Arsenal cap off a remarkable week for English teams in Europe by both securing their places in next month’s Europa League final in Baku?

Not only would it be the competition’s first all-England final since the inaugural UEFA Cup back in 1971/72 – a 2-legged affair between Wolves and eventual victors Spurs – it’d be the first time in history that both the Champions and Europa League finals were contested by 4 teams from the same country.

So, no pressure then.

For Chelsea, it’s a home visit from Eintracht Frankfurt, at 8pm on BT Sport 3. The 1st leg at the Commerzbank-Arena ended in a 1-1 draw, Luka Jovic’s 23rd minute opener cancelled out just before the break by Pedro. That does mean the Blues have the advantage heading into Thursday night, clinging onto a potentially decisive away goal.

Last weekend’s 3-0 win over Watford was the club’s first Premier League victory since the start of April and, combined with the results of those below them, helped them secure a place in the Champions League next season. Frankfurt, meanwhile, are without a Bundesliga win in their last 4 games, though they’ve so far kept their place in the top 4 thanks to their superior goal difference.

Eden Hazard – who may be playing his final game at Stamford Bridge – sits at a Super Mega PGM of 51-59, more than double that of Jovic at 23-28. That’s perhaps because the Blues are yet to lose in Europe this season, a stat that leaves them with a Chelsea/Eintracht Frankfurt Goal Supremacy spread of 1.35-1.55, alongside a Total Goals spread of 3.1-3.3.

As for the Gunners, the semi-final 2nd leg against Valencia – at 8pm on BT Sport 2 – is theirs to blow. Ominously, Arsenal are in the Barcelona/Ajax position; up 3-1 after bouncing back from the Spanish side’s early opener at the Emirates.

While Unai Emery’s lads picked up 3 wins in Europe in April, they’ve been woeful domestically, lossing to Everton, Crystal Palace, Wolves and Leicester, before starting May with a 1-1 draw against previous relegation candidates Brighton. Admittedly Valencia weren’t much better last month, though they did at least hammer Huesca 6-2 at the weekend.

Though Arsenal have Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at a solid Super Mega PGM of 31-37, the Gabonese forward is actually pipped by Rodrigo Moreno, who sits at 35-41. That’s a worry for the Gunners, whose poor form – especially away from home – puts them on the back foot as they travel to Spain, with Spreadex offering a Valencia/Arsenal Goal Supremacy spread of 0.5-0.7/