The UEFA Europa League goes on this Thursday as FC Astana meets Slavia Prague, FK Zorya Luhansk travels to Bilbao, and BATE hosts Arsenal.
In this preview, we’ll give you some tips and predictions for these three matches, as we always do here on GetMoreSports. So, let’s start with the first game.
FC ASTANA vs. SLAVIA PRAGUE
Three-Way: 1: FC Astana +158; X: +229 Draw; 2: Slavia Prague +229
Spread 0: FC Astana -130; Slavia Prague +129
Total +2: Over -120; Under +110
FC ASTANA
After a starting defeat against Villarreal at Estadio de la Ceramica, 3:1, FC Astana will host Slavia Prague in the second round of the Europa League. In 15 European home games, FC Astana is still undefeated (8 wins and seven draws), looking to continue this string on a Thursday night. It is going to be their first encounter against Slavia Prague.
In a domestic league, FC Astana is at the second place of the table at the moment, with two points behind Almaty and three games less. They have 11 wins in a row, conceding just three goals in these matches. Forwards Junior Kabananga and Patrick Twumasi are the main threat in the front, scoring 29 goals this season in total. The Blue and Yellows are certainly way over their domestic opponents so that Slavia Prague will be a real test of their strength.
The manager Stanimir Stoilov prefers a 4-4-2 formation, sometimes playing a 4-4-1-1 scheme, particularly away from home. He doesn’t have any serious problems with injured players going into this Europa League game, while a midfielder Laszlo Kleinheisler is the only doubtful player for this game.
SLAVIA PRAGUE
The Eternal Slavia is without a win in their last 18 European away games, with eight draws and ten losses. Against FC Astana they will have a difficult job to get the first victory as a home team is still undefeated in the UEFA fixtures. In the first round of the Europa League group stage, Slavia Prague has beaten Maccabi Tel Aviv at home, 1:0, to grab an important three points in this quite equal group.
Slavia is laying at the third place of the table in their domestic championship, with four wins and four draws from the first eight rounds. However, they are eight points behind the league leaders Viktoria Plzen. In the last three away games, they’ve earned a point in each one. Obviously, they have some psychological problems playing away from home.
The manager Jaroslav Silhavy has a lot of experienced players on the squad – forwards Milan Skoda and Tomas Necid, midfielders Miroslav Stoch, Ruslan Rotan, Halil Altintop, and Danny. The left-back Dusan Svento is doubtful because of the knee problem.
FC ASTANA vs. SLAVIA PRAGUE – Match Prediction
If I have to bet on a winner in this one, I wouldn’t. Both teams are looking ready, as Slavia’s having better players on paper. Hereof, I suggest betting on goals. I expect to see both teams scoring at least one goal in this game.
MY PICK: Both Teams to Score YES (+104)
ATHLETIC BILBAO vs. FK ZORYA LUHANSK
Three-Way: 1: Athletic Bilbao -345; X: +650 Draw; 2: FK Zorya Luhansk +1800
Spread -2: Athletic Bilbao +117; FK Zorya Luhansk -120
Total +3: Over +110; Under -118
ATHLETIC BILBAO
After a goalless draw with Hertha Berlin in the first round of the UEFA Europa League, Athletic Bilbao will be looking for three points at San Mames against Ukrainian side FK Zorya Luhansk. Los Leones have won their last six European games at home, and their fans are expecting another victory on this Thursday.
In the Spanish La Liga Athletic Bilbao is at the 11th place of the table at the moment, with 8 points from the first six rounds, and a 7:6 goal difference. Their form is pretty unstable in the last couple of weeks, earning just four points in the previous four rounds.
Los Leones are creating enough scoring chances but are having some problems with finishing, as they scored seven times out of 47 goal scoring opportunities. However, in the previous match against Malaga they’ve conceded three goals, the same number they’ve allowed in the first five rounds.
The manager Jose Angel Ziganda needs to prepare his team well, as they face the weaker side at home. He can count on all players, besides Oscar de Marcos, who’s still doubtful due to a sprained ankle.
FK ZORYA LUHANSK
The game at San Mames is going to be Zorya’s first match against Spanish clubs, as they’ve lost previous four European clashes. They’ll need their best game if they want to put an end on this losing row, but they have nothing to lose against Athletic Bilbao after the starting defeat against Ostersunds at home.
FK Zorya Luhansk started the domestic championship pretty poorly, earning just 10 points from the first ten rounds, with an 11:11 goal difference. It seems like the last year’s form is far away, whereas they have only one victory at home. The manager Yuriy Vernydub has a lot of problems to tune the play, with 13 new arrivals this summer.
All players are ready to go for their next Europa League game, except the midfielder Vladyslav Kalitvintsev, who has knee problems.
ATHLETIC BILBAO vs. FK ZORYA LUHANSK – Match Prediction
I can’t see Zorya getting anything from this match, albeit the football is the unpredictable game, and upset is always a possibility. However, I’ll put my money on the home team to win in both halves, as they have much better players among the squad, who are capable of deciding the clash with one brilliant move.
MY PICK: Athletic Bilbao to Win at half-time and Full-time (-133)
BATE vs. ARSENAL
Three-Way: 1: BATE +650; X: +380 Draw; 2: Arsenal -156
Spread +1: BATE +102; Arsenal +106
Total +3: Over +110; Under -122
BATE
The Belarus champion is building up the form in the last couple of weeks, winning four games in the row in the domestic league, including a 4:0 victory against their biggest rival Soligorsk. In the first round of the Europa League BATE grabbed a point from the clash with Crvena Zvezda, even though they were a weaker side throughout the game. Now, they face the toughest rival in the group H, hoping for another good performance.
The manager Aleksandr Yermakovich has some young players in the team. The 22-year old Evheni Yablonski and a 24-year old Mirko Ivanic are key players in the midfield. The club’s best player and a top goalscorer in this season is a 27-year old winger Mikhail Gordejchuk. The experienced striker Vitali Rodionov has scored eight times so far.
Aleksandr Yermakovich can count on all players for Thursday’s game, as there are no serious injury worries among the squad.
ARSENAL
The Gunners will play their first Europa League away match since 2000, as they’ll visit BATE at Borisov Arena. It is going to be their first game against Belarusian teams, and Arsene Wenger’s boys are surely huge favorites.
After two consecutive defeats in the Premier League against Stoke and Liverpool, The Gunners have won four games, including the Europa League first round match against FC Koln and the Carabao Cup third round clash against Doncaster at home. Meanwhile, they’ve played a goalless draw with Chelsea at the Stamford Bridge.
Arsene Wenger has already declared he won’t be searching the Champions League place through the Europa League, but he didn’t mix a lot his starting eleven in the first round. Olivier Giroud was playing in the front, along with Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott, and we can expect the same trio against BATE. However, Arsene Wenger has a lot of talented players in the squad, so his starting lineup is always unpredictable.
The midfielders Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin are still out due to injuries, while the forward Danny Welbeck is doubtful with a hip injury.
BATE vs. ARSENAL – Match Prediction
Arsenal is a huge favorite in this game, although the home team has some dangerous weapons to damage the fragile Arsenal’s defense. Everyone is expecting to see a convincing win, and betting on Wenger’s team seems like a sure thing.
For those who like to bet on goals, this could be the right game. I’m looking for both teams to score at least once, but maybe it’s safer to go with the over.
MY PICK: Over 3 Goals (+110)
