Europa League: after Champions disappointment, Dinamo Zagreb hosts another relegated side, Sparta Prague. Ajax is also on the pitch.
The picture of participants in the 2023-24 Europa League is not yet complete. The last places will have to wait for the outcome of the play-offs to be decided, not forgetting that teams eliminated from the Champions League play-offs currently in progress will also be relegated to the continent’s second-largest event.
Those who have been “relegated” already since last round are Dinamo Zagreb, surprisingly sent home by Aek Athens at the end of a heated – especially off the field, as a young Greek fan lost his life – doubleheader. An elimination that made noise, forcing the reigning Croatian champion club to make drastic decisions: exonerated coach Igor Biscan and enlisted Sergej Jakirovic, the protagonist of an excellent start with Rijeka. Dinamo Zagreb will face another disappointment, Sparta Prague, in the play-off: the Czechs got the worst of Copenhagen in penalty kicks. Two balanced challenges are expected, along the lines of the one that was staged last July in a friendly and ended in a 1-1 result. Qualification within reach, on the other hand, for the Swedes of Hacken, who arrive at the appointment with the Scots of Aberdeen (first leg in Scotland) on the wings of enthusiasm: in the league two victories in a row have come and in the previous round of the cup the yellow-and-whites scrambled the Lithuanians of Zalgiris.
The predictions on the other games
Ajax also has to pass through the playoff forks. The Lancers, after a disappointing season, must settle for the Europa League. But before they get into the group stages
Qarabag players
In Bulgaria it may not all go smoothly for Ajax, which remains overwhelmingly favored for qualification in any case. A positive result by Qarabag cannot be ruled out either: the Azeris, who a week ago beat Finland’s HJK for the second time in seven days, seem to have something more than Olympia Ljubljana. The same goes for Sheriff Tiraspol, engaged in the Faroe Islands against little Klaksvik, whose “fairy tale” does not give the impression that it can continue. Olympiacos was not unlucky in the draw, and against the Serbs of Cukaricki two wins should come. Union Saint-Gilloise, one of last year’s revelations, is also off to a good start: the Belgians host Lugano Swiss in Brussels in a potentially prolific match.
Europa League: likely winners
- Hacken (in Hacken-Aberdeen, 7 p.m.)
- Dinamo Zagreb or draw (in Dinamo Zagreb-Sparta Prague, 8 p.m.)
- Qarabag or draw (in Olympia Ljubljana-Qarabag, 8 p.m.)
- Union Saint-Gilloise (in USG-Lugano, 8:30 p.m.)
- Sheriff Tiraspol or draw (in Klaksvik-Sheriff Tiraspol, 8:45 p.m.)
- Olympiacos (in Olympiacos-Cukaricki, 9 p.m.)
The games by at least one goal per team
- Dinamo Zagreb-Sparta Prague, 8 p.m.
- Slovan Bratislava-Aris Limassol, 8:30 p.m.
- LASK Linz-Zrinjski Mostar, 9:00 p.m.
Europa League, matches with at least three total goals
- Slavia Prague-Zorya Luhansk, 7 p.m.
- Ludogorets-Ajax, 8:00 p.m.
- Union Saint Gilloise-Lugano, 8:30 p.m.
