After the Champions League, it’s the Europa League’s turn to bring down the curtain on the preliminary rounds that have kept us company all summer. By Thursday evening, we will know the names of all the participants in the championship phase of the second most important continental competition: Roma and Bologna, the two representatives of our Serie A, who did not have to face the qualifying rounds, are also eagerly awaiting the results.
It is worth remembering that the losers of the play-offs will have the ‘parachute’ of the Conference League: they will end up in the less prestigious European competition, but will continue their adventure in the cups. Panathinaikos need only avoid defeat to avoid relegation: a draw in Turkey against Samsunspor, beaten 2-1 in the first leg – albeit with more difficulty than expected – will see them through to the single-group stage. The feeling is that it will not be a walk in the park for the Greeks, as it was seven days ago, but they should return from their trip to Turkey with a positive result. Another Greek team, PAOK, will be forced to win in front of their home crowd to overturn the 1-0 first-leg deficit against Croatian side Rijeka: in Thessaloniki, in a stadium that is often decisive due to the very passionate fans, it will be a different story and a comeback seems possible against an opponent who has lost their last two league games.
Predictions for the other matches
A comeback is also within reach for Ludogorets, who suffered a surprise defeat a week ago in North Macedonia: Shkendija won 2-1, a result that still leaves everything up in the air.
Home advantage and experience in international competitions could make the difference: we’re backing the Bulgarians in a match that should be just as exciting as the first leg. The match between Genk and Lech Poznan is also likely to be an “over 2.5” affair: the Belgians thrashed the Poles 5-1 in the first leg and already have qualification in the bag. Finally, the match between FCSB and Aberdeen, which ended 2-2 in Scotland, promises to be an exciting one. The old Steaua team has conceded goals in each of its last ten games, while the Scots are scoring with some regularity, as the result of the first leg shows: once again, we predict at least one goal per side.
Europa League: possible winners
Panathinaikos or draw (in Samsunspor-Panathinaikos)
PAOK (in PAOK-Rijeka)
Ludogorets (in Ludogorets-Shkendija)
Matches with at least three goals in total
Ludogorets-Shkendija
Genk-Lech Poznan
Europa League: matches with at least one goal per team
Genk-Lech Poznan
FCSB-Aberdeen
Odds comparison
PAOK’s victory is quoted at 1.55 on Lottomatica and Snai. The “Over 2.5” sign in Genk-Lech Poznan is quoted at 1.45 on Lottomatica and Snai.
- GOLDBET – Up to €3050 sports and casino with 200% on your first sports deposit up to €1000 MORE INFO
- SNAI – €15 free + 50% on your first deposit up to €30 MORE INFO
- LOTTOMATICA – Up to €3050 for sports and casino with 200% on your first sports deposit up to €1000 MORE INFO