After a spirited but ultimately underwhelming FA Cup semi-final performance against Manchester City, Nottingham Forest now refocus on securing a historic top-five league finish and a first Champions League appearance since the 1980/81 season.

A return to the City Ground offers the perfect platform to reignite their European push. Despite falling to a rare home defeat against Everton last time out, it snapped an otherwise formidable run where Forest had gone unbeaten in 11 home matches across all competitions (W9, D2), a stretch that included a win over Manchester City and draws against both Liverpool and Arsenal. Performances like these suggest Brentford will find it difficult to leave Nottingham with all three points.

Brentford, meanwhile, travel with little at stake as their European ambitions are all but extinguished. Before the new year, they owned the league’s worst away record, collecting just two points from their first ten away matches. Although they have improved since (W5, D1, L1), four of those wins came against sides ranked beneath them. More pertinently, Brentford have not defeated a team starting the day in the top six since beating Manchester City in November 2022.

Forest not only won the reverse fixture but also hold a psychological edge with the last two meetings at the City Ground ending in draws. While Forest look well-positioned to claim all three points, the safety net of the Double Chance selection ensures protection in what could still be a tightly contested encounter.

Another fixture where the home side are favoured, yet taking the safety of 'Double Chance' once again offers a more prudent approach in the case of a draw. Athletic Bilbao have all but confirmed Champions League qualification via their league position but have a unique opportunity to clinch this spot by winning the Europa League. Last weekend’s victory over Las Palmas further showcased their strength at the Estadio San Mamés, extending their unbeaten home run to ten matches across all competitions (W7, D3). During this span, they have dispatched notable European opponents such as Rangers and Roma, boasting a perfect home record in Europe (W6).

Manchester United, meanwhile, have baffled many with their Europa League progression, considering their domestic struggles. Only last-minute heroics in their previous round saved them from elimination. United's performances this season, particularly away from home, offer little encouragement. 

Currently sitting 15th in the Premier League, they are on track for their worst top-flight finish since relegation in 1973/74. Their head coach has even described this as “maybe the worst” United team in the club’s 147-year history. A 96th-minute equaliser at Bournemouth on Sunday salvaged a point in what was another uninspiring away display. Manchester United have won just one of their last eight away games (D4, L3), and even then, the lone victory came against already-relegated Leicester. Even then, when you look season-long, it is just 6 victories in 25 attempts on the road. 

In Europe, they have managed two wins from six away trips, with four draws, but those victories came against modest opposition in Plzeň and FCSB. It’s hard to envision them toppling a Bilbao side that have lost just 3 of their 25 home games this season, where replicating the likes of Barcelona and Atlético Madrid in defeating Los Leones on home soil appears implausible.

With six consecutive wins in Europe this season, Bilbao’s home form and European pedigree make them strong favourites to at least avoid defeat.

Much like Manchester United, Tottenham's progress to this stage has defied their dismal league campaign, currently languishing in 16th place. However, facing a Bodø/Glimt side ranked ten places lower than them in UEFA’s coefficient, Spurs are overwhelming favourites to progress.

If there has been one constant for Tottenham this season, it is their attacking intent. They boast the fifth-best attack in the Premier League and average exactly two goals per game at home, ranking joint-fourth in that metric. At the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, across all competitions, Spurs have averaged a remarkable 6.04 shots on target per match. They have hit this figure in seven of their last nine home games and have an even higher European home average of 7.17.

Bodø/Glimt’s domestic season is still in its infancy, but their European campaign offers enough evidence to support this selection. In the Europa League, they have conceded an average of 5.71 shots on target per game, rising to 7.14 away from home, with five of their last six European hosts hitting this mark.

Given the stylistic emphasis on attack under Ange Postecoglou and the clear gulf in class, Tottenham should comfortably generate the six shots on target needed to land this selection.

If Tottenham are strongly fancied in their tie, Chelsea are even heavier favourites in theirs.

Djurgården’s fairytale run has been historic, they are the first Swedish club to reach a European semi-final since IFK Göteborg lifted the UEFA Cup in 1987. Ranked 54 places below Chelsea in UEFA’s coefficient, Djurgården have admirably battled through early adversity in the group stage and overcome first-leg deficits in the knockout rounds. Yet, this will be by far their sternest test.

Chelsea, with a squad valued close to €1 billion, have treated the Conference League as an obligation, not a luxury. They have won nine of their ten matches in the competition, and their only blemish is a meaningless second-leg defeat to Legia Warsaw after already securing qualification.

Domestically, Chelsea have found form at the right time, extending their unbeaten Premier League run to five matches following a 1-0 victory over Everton. Their European pedigree is also imposing, having lost just once to Swedish opposition in their history (W5, D3) and advancing from 12 of their last 14 two-legged European ties. They have also avoided defeat in 13 of their last 14 European semi-final fixtures.

Given the experience, quality, and momentum Chelsea carry into this match, an away win looks not just likely, but almost inevitable.