A Quarter-final with a score to settle

3-1 is the mountain FC Utrecht must climb. Getafe carry that lead into Friday’s second leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final, after winning the first meeting 3-1 on 10 April. The tie is not settled, but Utrecht need to overturn a two-goal deficit to reach the semi-finals. In their domestic leagues, Utrecht lead the Eredivisie with 60 points, while Getafe are 15th in the Spanish First Division with 39 points, eight above the relegation zone. Those league fixtures belong to separate competitions; this is the one that decides who goes through.

Yann Touré, a regular goalkeeper, and Cătălin Medeşan, a regular defender, are injured for Utrecht. Getafe have no injuries listed. The immediate task is plain enough: Utrecht must find a way back into a tie that Getafe have made theirs to protect.

### Fiorentina’s narrow edge

ACF Fiorentina take a 1-0 lead into the second leg against Linzer Athletik-Sport-Klub, also on Friday. The winner reaches the semi-finals. History gives Linzer little comfort, but a one-goal margin leaves the contest open to a single turn in the evening.

In their domestic leagues, Fiorentina are fourth in Serie A with 64 points; Linzer are second in the Austrian Premier Division with 44. Fiorentina’s recent league form is two wins, two draws and a defeat; Linzer’s is four wins and one defeat. Matteo Sarini, a regular defender, is injured for Fiorentina; Marc Wüst, a regular goalkeeper, is out for Linzer. Filippo Riccio now wears Fiorentina’s colours after two seasons with Linzer, where he made 12 appearances and won two trophies. On Friday, that old connection will sit inside a tie still waiting for its decisive moment.

### Lazio bring the lead to Monaco

S.S. Lazio visit AS Monaco with a 2-1 advantage from the first leg. Their win on 10 April gives them the narrowest kind of cushion: enough to make Monaco chase, not enough to make the return leg routine. In their domestic leagues, Lazio are ninth in Serie A with 45 points and Monaco seventh in Ligue 1 Uber Eats, also with 45. Both clubs know the route: win the tie and reach the semi-finals.

Monaco’s recent league form is three wins and two draws; Lazio’s is two draws and three defeats. Mattia Pirrone, a regular defender, and Junior Alarcón, a regular attacking player, are injured for Lazio; no Monaco injuries are listed. Their first-leg result is the only previous meeting supplied, so there is no longer history to lean on. For Monaco, the need is to turn one goal behind into a semi-final place; for Lazio, to carry a slender lead through a demanding away leg.

### Plymouth’s home advantage

Plymouth Argyle welcome LOSC Lille with a 1-0 lead, earned away on 10 April. In their domestic leagues, Plymouth are ninth in the English Premier Division with 44 points; Lille are 11th in Ligue 1 Uber Eats with 36. The second leg offers a place in the semi-finals, not a verdict on either club’s domestic campaign.

Plymouth’s recent league form is three draws and two defeats; Lille’s is two wins and three defeats. Luciano, a regular defender, is injured for Plymouth, and Julian Hefele, a regular goalkeeper, for Lille. Plymouth have the lead and the home leg; Lille have the task of changing the tie. Across these four quarter-finals, that is the distinction Friday will test: which advantage can withstand the pressure of a place in the last four.