More prestigious than ever, with glittering and big names, the Europa League will return tonight with the playoffs.
In focus, a year and a half after meeting in the last eight of the Champions League, Barcelona and Napoli will play against each other again, only this time the prize at stake is a place in the last eight of the Europa League.
For the Catalans, this is the first time in 18 years that the team is competing in the second most important factory on the continent, after the team finished the home stage of the Champions League with only two right goals, which gave birth to two insufficient victories over Dynamo Kiev.
Barcelona come to this meeting after a 2: 2 derby against Espanyol and when coach Xavi marks exactly 100 days in office.
"It felt like 100 years," said the Spaniard, "there were injuries, Corona, a transfer window, everything happened from everything, and yet, I'm here to try to help the team get where it's supposed to go."
Tonight Xavi will have to make do without Danny Alves who is not registered for the Europa League, and probably also without the injured Ronald Arauho.
On the other hand, the one who might make his debut in the squad is Pierre-Emerick Obmiang, and Osman Dembele, who refused to leave the team in the January transfer window and already seemed to have finished his way at the club, will also be on the squad for the game.
According to the coach, the discussion of the Frenchman's case is over - and he is part of the team.
"We decided he was a part of us and not to shoot ourselves in the foot," Xavi explained, "he can help us, so we'll use him."
Napoli, on the other hand, come after the 1: 1 against Inter in the game of the season and without the injured Matteo Politano and Stanislav Lubotka.
Those who will attract a great deal of interest are Fabian Ruiz and Calido Coulibaly, whose names were recently mentioned as candidates to come to Barcelona.
This is especially true of the Spaniard, who has previously stated that his most revered player is Xavi.
Fabian Ruiz.
Will try to impress Xavi, Photo: AFP
Dortmund without the Netherlands
Another Champions League representative who has fallen to the Europa League playoffs is Dortmund, who will host the Rangers.
German coach Marco Rosa has confirmed that Arling Holland will be absent once again, hoping he will be fit for the rematch in Glasgow.
Dortmund will also miss the dismissed Amra Chan, while Jiu Reina may return to meet Rangers coach Giovanni Van Bronckhorst, the man he is named after.
Sevilla, who aspired to succeed this season in the Champions League, were also relegated to the tournament they have won six times before.
Tonight she will host Dynamo Zagreb with a list of injured that includes Lucas Occampus, Anthony Martial, Tactito Corona, Ivan Rakitić and Jesus Navas.
In contrast, Papu Gomes, who celebrated his 34th birthday this week, will hope to continue in his great form.
"We love this tournament, and this season too we want to get far."
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