Conference League, AEK Larnaca and Maccabi Haifa are a foot and a half out but the Dutch GA Eagles are also at risk: predictions.
With the roundup of matches scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 1, the second preliminary round concludes, spread over several days as was the case in the first leg. As a reminder, the Conference League, along with its “big sisters” the Champions League and Europa League, is also ready for a makeover. No more group stage as we were used to knowing it but a single group in which each team will play six games – three home and three away – against different opponents – which will be decided by drawing lots.
Getting to play in the single group stage is the dream of several clubs currently involved in the preliminaries, including Cypriots AEK Larnaca. The yellow-greens, however, were overwhelmed a week ago by the Hungarians of Paksi (3-0) and will have to pull off a memorable feat at home to avoid elimination: whether they will succeed is all to be seen, but this time they should at least manage to avoid defeat in a match that promises goals. Also called upon to make up another Cypriot club, Pafos: Zalgiris (2-1) came out on top in Lithuania, but the games here seem more open than ever. Perfect balance, on the other hand, between the Norwegians of Brann and the Dutch GA Eagles: in the Netherlands the first round ended in a deadlock and now it will all be decided in Norway, where the hosts appear to be slight favorites. One of the most rounded victories seven days ago was that of the Armenians of Noah against the Maltese of Sliema, buried as many as 7-0: qualification already decided and the Caucasians can be trusted again.
The predictions on the other matches
The Romanians of Cluj, led by former Brescia and Chelsea midfielder Dan Petrescu, have to go for the win in Belarus after the surprising 0-0 draw with Neman Grodno: feat within reach.
Outside success also likely for Zurich, which, as in the first leg (3-0), will make the most of its greater technical content against the Irish of Shelbourne. As for goals, the spotlight will be on the challenge between Inter d’Escaldes, a club from Andorra, and the Greeks of AEK Athens: the team from the Principality in the Hellenic capital scored 3 goals (4-3) and could give the Yellow and Blacks a hard time in the return leg as well. Goals in sight also in the match between Azerbaijan’s Sabah and Israel’s Maccabi Haifa, who were unbelievably overwhelmed 3-0 on the neutral field in Kisvarda: the green-and-whites, who were eliminated by Fiorentina in the knockout stage in the last edition, are a foot and a half out.
Conference League, possible winners
AEK Larnaca or draw (in AEK Larnaca-Paksi, 6 p.m.)
Pafos (in Pafos-Zalgiris, 6 p.m.)
Brann or draw (in Brann-GA Eagles, 7 p.m.)
Noah (in Sliema Wanderers-Noah, 7 p.m.)
Cluj (in Neman Grodno-Cluj, 8 p.m.)
Zurich (in Shelbourne-Zurich, 8:45 p.m.)
The match of at least three goals overall
Ararat Armenia-Zimbru Chisinau, 5:00 p.m.
Levadia Tallinn-Osijek, 6 p.m.
Inter d’Escaldes-AEK Athens, 6:30 p.m.
Vaduz-St. Patrick’s, 7:30 p.m.
HB Torshavn-Hajduk Split, 9 p.m.
Conference League, matches of at least one goal per team
Bravo-Zrinjski Mostar, 5 p.m.
Sabah-Maccabi Haifa, 6:00 p.m.
Torpedo Kutaisi-Omonia Nicosia, 7 p.m.
DAC 1904-Zira, 8:30 p.m.
Share comparison
Noah’s win is listed at 1.80 on Goldbet and Lottomatica and 1.75 on Snai. The “Goal” sign in Sabah-Maccabi Haifa is instead quoted at 1.70 on Goldbet and Lottomatica and 1.67 on Snai.
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