Europa League preview: Destiny looms for big names

The Europa League fates of Sevilla, Dortmund and Napoli will all be among those revealed after their final group stage matches on Wednesday.

While the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, Villarreal and Porto can afford to rest their stars in their Wednesday fixtures – having already clinched progression to the competition’s Round of 32 knockout phase – several big names must earn positive results to avoid an early exit.

La Liga outfit Villarreal confirmed their progression last matchday and will win Group D if they prevail at Club Brugge, with all eyes on the result of PAOK’s trip to Dinamo Zagreb.

The Greek club needs only a point to finish above the Croatians, but a daunting trip to Zagreb – with Dinamo needing victory to progress themselves – will weigh heavily on its mind.

Both sides have struggled to find the back of the net in their group games and have scored four goals each from their five games, with Brazilian frontman Sammir notching half of Dinamo’s group-stage tally.

Ukraine powerhouse Dynamo Kiev and Belarusian side BATE Borisov have both confirmed their qualification from Group E, but top spot is still to be decided.

Dynamo lead the race thanks to their head-to-head advantage, meaning they must merely match BATE’s result with AZ Alkmaar when they host Moldovan club FC Sheriff.

Little weighs on the final matches in Group F, with CSKA Moscow having already sewn up top spot ahead of their trip to Sparta Prague.

The Czech club will join them in the Round of 32, with Lausanne’s hosting of Palermo in the group’s other game a dead rubber.

It is far from as settled in Group J. While French outfit Paris Saint-German need just a point at Ukrainian club Karpaty to finish top, Sevilla and Borussia Dortmund face off in a winner-takes-all encounter in Spain.

Sevilla edged the Bundesliga leaders 1-0 on matchday one in October, but the form guide could not be more different ahead of Wednesday’s encounter.

The Spaniards – despite possessing an array of attacking talent such as Luis Fabiano and Frederic Kanoute – have lost five matches in all competitions in succession, while Dortmund come into to game on a seven-game winning streak.

The German club have several players in hot form, including Paraguay forward Lucas Barrios, 21-year-old Japanese attacker Shinji Kagawa and Germany midfield prospect Kevin Grosskreutz.

A draw will see Sevilla through, but they must arrest a dire run of form if they are to deny Dortmund.

A similar situation exists in Group J, with Serie A club Napoli chasing a win over Romanian outfit Steaua Bucharest in order to join Liverpool in progressing.

Napoli must beat Steaua at home to knock the Romanians from second place, with two points separating the two sides.

Dutch club FC Utrecht are on four points but cannot progress, regardless of the result in their trip to Liverpool.

Porto and Besiktas can afford to rest their stars in their final games of Group L, against CSKA Sofia and Rapid Vienna respectively.

Thanks to seven goals from Colombian hitman Falcao – who struck a hat-trick against Rapid on matchday five and has scored in every group game – Liga Sagres leaders Porto have notched 13 points from five games to easily qualify for the knockout stages.

Turkish club Besiktas have had little more trouble progressing themselves, winning three and drawing one of their five games.

The draw for the Round of 32 will be drawn on Friday, with the first leg of knockout stages on February 17.