Harry Maguire, Dominic Solanke and Cole Palmer could have big roles to play in European semi-finals
Gary Rose
BBC Sport journalist
Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea all moved a step closer to possible European glory by booking semi-final places on a dramatic night.
In the Europa League, Ruben Amorim’s United staged a remarkable extra-time comeback as they scored three late goals to see off Lyon 5-4 at Old Trafford and 7-6 on aggregate.
Tottenham dug deep for a 1-0 win at Eintracht Frankfurt to go through 2-1 on aggregate.
In the Conference League, Chelsea reached the semi-finals despite losing 2-1 at home to Legia Warsaw, after the Blues won the first leg 3-0.
When are the semi-finals and who will English sides face?
The Europa League and Conference League semi-final first legs take place on 1 May, with the second games taking place a week later.
Tottenham are up against Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt as Ange Postecoglou looks to stay on course for a trophy in his second season at the club.
Manchester United will face Spanish side Athletic Bilbao, who knocked out Rangers in the quarter-finals.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are up against Swedish side Djurgarden.
Who are Bodo/Glimt?
With their ground located around 120 miles north of the Arctic Circle, Bodo/Glimt home games often take place in freezing conditions
Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt are one of the most interesting sides left in European competition.
With their home games often taking place in freezing conditions north of the Arctic Circle, facing them can prove a difficult proposition for unacclimatised opposition, as Lazio found out in the quarter-finals.
The Italians lost the first leg 2-0 in Norway, and despite Lazio fighting back to win 3-1 when at home in the second leg, Bodo/Glimt won the subsequent shootout to progress.
Lazio are not the first major team to find themselves upset by Bodo/Glimt, who famously thrashed Jose Mourinho’s Roma 6-1 in the Europa League group stage four years ago.
The Norwegians also achieved a Conference League knockout blow in 2022 against a Celtic side managed by current Tottenham boss Postecoglou.
Bodo is among the most northernmost cities in the world and very isolated from other parts of Norwegian society, with the next nearest major city at least a nine-and-a-half-hour drive away.
Their fans are also famed for turning up with giant yellow toothbrushes for games.
The story goes, external that the tradition was started 50 years ago when a fan was trying to get a chant going and, frustrated at it not taking off, used a toothbrush as a way of ‘conducting’ the crowd.
The image caught on and now fans carrying giant yellow toothbrushes is the norm. The club even have their own brand sold throughout Norway.
Who are Athletic Bilbao?
Athletic Bilbao knocked out Rangers in the quarter-finals
Athletic are a club who traditionally only field players with a Basque background, and as such they are built on emotion and identity.
Their home stadium of San Mames has been chosen to stage the Europa League final, meaning players and fans can sense a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, yet the current squad appear to be carrying the pressure lightly.
Experienced coach Ernesto Valverde is a calming influence and has his side playing disciplined but exciting football.
In Spain’s European Championship winner Nico Williams they also have a star man who will surely cause Manchester United problems in the semi-finals.
Athletic reached the final of the Europa League in 2012 when they were managed by Marcelo Bielsa, who went on to boss Leeds United.
On that occasion they lost 3-0 to Atletico Madrid.
Who are Djurgarden?
Djurgarden island is located in Stockholm
The club’s origins can be traced back to the late 1800s and the island of Djurgarden – which means ‘animal island’ and is located in the centre of Stockholm.
These days their home ground, the 3Arena, is located in the Johanneshov district of the city.
Djurgarden have won their domestic league 12 times, but this is the farthest they have gone in a European competition.
While semi-final opponents Chelsea are nearing the end of their season, Djurgarden’s domestic campaign is only just beginning, but they have not had the best of starts and have won just one of their first three games.
Until joining Tottenham last year, highly rated teenager Lucas Bergvall played for them.
Bergvall made a swift impression at the club, with one of his early performances leading newspaper Aftonbladet to predict he would become “Djurgarden’s biggest transfer ever”.
They beat Rapid Vienna 4-1 after extra time on Thursday for a 4-2 aggregate win to progress to the last four.
