Europa League, the second day of the group stage offers several interesting matches: predictions on the other matches.
The Europa League is in full swing, as are the other UEFA competitions. The group stage of the second-largest continental event will end this year in November, about a month earlier than usual. On the horizon are the Qatar World Cup, which for the first time in history will be played in the autumn. No ‘truce’ then for Roma and Lazio, the two representatives of Italian football who both have the objective of winning their group to avoid the play-offs or even a relegation to the Conference League that would be sensational.
Maurizio Sarri’s Biancocelesti got off to a strong start by beating Feyenoord 4-2 on matchday one, making things clear straight away. The Dutch, who in the meantime are doing very well in the Eredivisie, will immediately try to redeem themselves against Sturm Graz, who a week ago won by a narrow margin against Midtjylland. The Austrian opponents can pose a problem for Arne Slot’s men, but after having failed in their debut match, a convincing performance from the Rotterdam club is expected. It would be no surprise if they come out on top in a match with at least three goals in total, as emotions are almost never in short supply when it comes to Feyenoord.
In Group A, on the other hand, Bodo/Glimt do not want to stop impressing and, while waiting for the match between Arsenal and Psv Eindhoven – postponed for public order reasons – to be rescheduled, Kjetil Knudsen’s Norwegians can momentarily take the lead in the standings by beating Zurich. In Norway, on the edge of the Arctic Circle, it was to be a scintillating, high-scoring match between two teams who find the way to goal with great regularity and shine poorly in the non-possession phase.
The predictions for the other matches
AEK Larnaca players in training
Thanks to their success over PFC Lviv in the league, Mircea Lucescu’s Dinamo Kiev were able to break the run of five consecutive defeats between the various competitions they took part in. One of those that hurt the most was the one against Fenerbahçe, in which the Turks came out on top in the dying minutes. Maximum attention, now, to the enterprising Cypriots of AEK Larnaca, who seven days ago came close to obtaining a positive result with Rennes, favourites for first place in Group B. On the neutral pitch in Krakow, we are likely to witness a more balanced match than expected.
Saint-Gilloise, who got the better of Bundesliga leaders Union Berlin in their European debut, seem to be able to repeat themselves. The Belgians also appear to be slight favourites against the Swedes of Malmo. There will be plenty of balance in the match between Trabzonspor and Red Star, two teams who began their Europa League adventure with a defeat and will want to redeem themselves in a match with at least one goal each.
Europa League: likely winners
- Bodo/Glimt or draw (in Bodo/Glimt-Zurich, 21:00)
- AEK Larnaca or draw (in Dinamo Kiev-AEK Larnaca, 21:00)
- Saint-Gilloise (in Saint-Gilloise-Malmo, 21:00)
- Feyenoord (in Feyenoord-Sturm Graz, 18:45)
The matches with at least one goal per team
- Bodo/Glimt-Zürich, 21:00
- Trabzonspor-Red Star, 18:45
Europa League: matches with at least three goals in total
- Feyenoord-Sturm Graz, 18:45
- Bodo/Glimt-Zürich, 21:00
