Porto profit from Liverpool's Euro failure
Thursday was an absolutely miserable night for Britain in Europe as all three Europa League round-of-16 survivors failed to make it through to the quarter-finals.
Manchester City's elimination was expected after a 2-0 first-leg loss to Dynamo Kiev in Ukraine last week but they at least restored some pride with a 1-0 victory, with Roberto Mancini blaming Mario Balotelli for their failure to win more convincing after his first-half dismissal.
Rangers were also outsiders to progress in their tie against PSV Eindhoven and they were punished for a poor start at Ibrox as Jermaine Lens' 13th-minute goal was enough to end their hopes of returning to the final three years after their defeat to Zenit St Petersburg.
Liverpool were favourites to qualify against Sporting Braga though despite a 1-0 reverse in Portugal, yet failed to score in a timid display at Anfield as their visitors ensured that Portugal will have three sides in Friday's quarter-final draw, making the nation [2.2] favourites to provide the winner.
The most interesting thing about the Reds' dire Europa League results under popular interim boss Kenny Dalglish, scoring just once in four matches against the hardly impenetrable Sparta Prague and Braga, is that this competition was the one area in which they truly delivered under Roy Hodgson.
Liverpool must finish in the top five of the Premier League to tour the continent again next season, while Dalglish's record since his return is no longer that different to that of his predecessor, with a point per game average of 1.57 and win rate of 43 per cent to Hodgson's 1.55 and 42 per cent.
But despite claiming a significant scalp, it's not Braga but compatriots FC Porto that are favourites to go all the way after continuing a fantastic campaign under Andre Villas Boas, whose reputation as the next big thing in management keeps growing, with home and away triumphs over CSKA Moscow.
They were [4.6] frontrunners after the first leg in Russia, however the exit of Liverpool has seen their price come in once again, this time to [3.55].
FC Porto v Spartak Moscow
Benfica v PSV Eindhoven
Villarreal v FC Twente
Sporting Braga v Dynamo Kiev
Sporting Braga/Dynamo Kiev v Benfica/PSV Eindhoven
FC Porto/Spartak Moscow v Villarreal/FC Twente
Got any thoughts on Thursday's action? Who do you fancy to lift the trophy? Have your say below...
Published: 18 Mar 2011
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