European football continues its riveting spectacle this week with the Europa League and the Europa Conference League, boasting the participation of numerous African talents.As the UEFA Champions League progresses sans Algerian representation following Ramy Bensebaïni’s season-ending injury, attention pivots to the Europa League and the Europa Conference League.
Thursday’s clash at the San Siro Stadium headlines the quarter-finals of the Europa League, featuring an all-Algerian encounter.
Ismaël Bennacer of AC Milan will square off against AS Roma’s Houssam Aouar in a showdown encapsulating the essence of Italian football.
Stefano Pioli’s Rossoneri and Daniele de Rossi’s Giallorossi vie for a coveted spot in the semi-finals.
Both teams are in formidable form, with AC Milan riding a wave of success, having triumphed in their last seven outings across Serie A and Europe League competitions, securing a commendable second place in the league standings.
Meanwhile, AS Roma enters the fray buoyed by a stellar victory in the derby against Lazio and boasting five wins in their last seven Serie A fixtures.
Occupying fifth place in the league, Roma remains within striking distance of a coveted UEFA Champions League berth, trailing Bologna by a mere three points.
Notably, AC Milan has prevailed in both encounters against Roma this season, emerging victorious with scores of 2-1 and 3-1 respectively.
Italian media suggests that AC Milan’s midfield maestro Ismaël Bennacer is poised to play a pivotal role, while AS Roma’s coach Daniele de Rossi is yet to fully trust the capabilities of Houssam Aouar, who is expected to begin the match on the substitutes’ bench.
However, Aouar’s presence on the pitch seems inevitable, promising an intriguing twist to the contest.
In the Europa Conference League, Lille OSC, featuring Algerian internationals Nabil Bentaleb and Adam Ounas, braces for a quarter-final showdown against Aston Villa.
Bentaleb, a linchpin in Lille’s midfield, garners praise for his adeptness in controlling the tempo of the game, earning plaudits from former France national team coach Raymond Domenech, who hailed him as the team’s “regulator.”
Meanwhile, Adam Ounas, returning from injury, is set to feature for Lille after a cameo appearance against O. Marseille.
Despite intermittent injury setbacks, Ounas remains a vital cog in Paulo Fonseca’s setup, as Lille aims for a deep run in the Europa Conference League while simultaneously eyeing a UEFA Champions League qualification spot in Ligue 1.
