AMSTERDAM – With three US internationals set to learn Europa League round-of-32 fates on Thursday, we offer a sneak peak at the matchups. All times are ET.
Sporting Lisbon vs. Rangers
Thursday, 1 pm on DirecTV
American: Maurice Edu ('Gers)
If midfield regular Edu and Rangers are to tame the Lions a third successive time in European play, they will need to gain a favorable road result to go with the 1-1 home draw. They earned a 2-0 win in Lisbon back in 2008 and advanced on their way to a Cup Winners' Cup title despite a 3-2 loss there in 1972. Each side is missing a few cogs; the visitors are missing Lee McCulloch, Steven Naismith and Jamie Ness, while Sporting will be short Marat Izmailov, Jaime Valdés and Simon Vukcevic.
[inline_node:318397]Ajax vs. Anderlecht
Thursday, 3 pm on DirecTV
Americans: Sacha Kljestan (AND)
It's unclear whether the former Chivas USA man will start, but we already know Anderlecht will arrive in miracle search mode. Down 3-0 from the home leg, the Mauves have further troubles with playmaker Mbark Boussoufa ruled out and star striker Romelu Lukaku unable to train on Tuesday. The main Ajax injury woe remains long-term absentee Nicholas Lodeiro. A glimmer of purple hope: In last year's edition, Anderlecht posted a 3-1 group stage victory in Amsterdam.
FC Twente vs. Rubin Kazan
Thursday, 3 pm on DirecTV
American: Oguchi Onyewu (TWE)
Like their Eredivisie adversaries, Twente are sitting pretty after a victory in the away leg, theirs by a 2-0 count. Onyewu looked good at right back last weekend, but he could switch back to the left as the Tukkers aim to make their first continental sweet 16 since 1998. They will try to do so without target master Marc Janko and regular left back Nicky Kuiper. Twente have lost just once in the last 25 home tilts, so a Rubin Kazan side still in their preseason has a tall comeback task here (even if they will be able to feel their extremities this leg).
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