Play-off round rematches of the UEFA Europa League will be played during the week and we’re all looking forward to finding out the names of the squads that will join the likes of Arsenal, Lyon, and Lazio in the group stage of this competition.
Altach (Aut) vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv (Isr)
Three-Way: 1: Altach +189; X: +225 Draw; 2: Maccabi Tel Aviv +179
Spread 0: Altach +102; Maccabi Tel Aviv +102
Total +2: Over -128; Under +117
Altach
Altach qualified for the first qualifying round of the Europa League by finishing 4th in their domestic league. In the first round they edged past Georgian side Chikhura Sachkhere, then stormed past Dinamo Brest in the second, and finally swept past Gent as they reached the play-off round for the second time in their history; Altach has never been further in the competition.
Unfortunately for the Austrian side, they have been in terrible league form recently, losing all three of their last three league games. One hope for inspiration against tricky opposition may be forward Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu who has already scored twice during the Europa League qualifiers,
Altach have signed seven players, including midfielder Stefan Nutz winger from SV Ried, while eight have left. Manager Klaus Schmidt will be without Boris Prokopic through an Achilles tendon rupture and Andreas Lukse who has a shoulder injury.
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Another side who started their Europa League journey in the first qualifying round is 21-times Israeli champions Maccabi Tel Aviv. Last season’s Israeli League runners-up easily progressed through each round dispatching Tirana, KR, and Panionios in the last round.
Tel Aviv has been in excellent form this season, unbeaten in every game since the end of the last campaign. Also, the Israeli side has much more experience in Europe than their opponents, having qualified for the Champions League just two seasons ago.
Maccabi Tel Aviv has made five additions to their squad this summer, while twelve players left, notably, winger Tan Ben Haim who joined Sparta Praha for 3 million euros. Manager Aleksandr Uvarov will be without centre-back Tal Ben Haim through a red card suspension but will otherwise have a full squad.
Altach (Aut) vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv (Isr) – Match Prediction:
Maccabi is the team with the history, the form and the quality, but Altach will certainly make a good go of it.
Maccabi Tel Aviv to win looks like too good of an offer to refuse.
MY PICK: Maccabi Tel Aviv to WIN (+179)
Ludogorets (Bul) vs. Suduva (Ltu)
Three-Way: 1: Ludogorets -455; X: +738 Draw; 2: Suduva +2570
Spread -2: Ludogorets -110; Suduva +108
Total +3: Over -102; Under -112
Ludogorets
Ludogorets entered the Europa League play-off round after bowing out of the Champions League third qualifying round on away goals to Hapoel Beer Sheva, having qualified for that round through winning the Bulgarian A Group for the sixth time in a row.
The Bulgarian side has qualified for European Competition in three of the last five season and will be hoping to make it again after drawing relatively easy opposition. Furthermore, Ludogorets are unbeaten in their league so far this season, winning three and drawing once.
During the offseason, Ludogorets have signed two players, while eight men have left the team, including winger Jonathan Cafu to Bordeaux for 7.5 million euros. Manager Georgi Dermendzhiev will be without keeper Vladislav Stoyanov through a Patella rupture while attacking-midfielder will be out through a red card suspension.
Suduva
Not only the first time they’ve qualified past the second round, beating Latvian side Liepaja, but also the first time they’ve won the third, defeating Swiss side Sion including a convincing 3:0 home win.
Unfortunately for Suduva, the end of the road seems close when considering their opponents, saying that they look locked on to repeat their third-place position in their domestic league, so will get another crack at qualification next season.
During the offseason Ostersunds have signed three players, while five have left or pastures new. Manager Vladimir Cherubin will have a full squad selection for Thursday’s game.
Ludogorets (Bul) vs. Suduva (Ltu) – Match Prediction:
Luudogorets will be too much for a gallant Suduva side who have done well to get this far. It won’t be pretty either for the Lithuanian side and expect a big thrashing.
MY PICK: Ludogorets AH -2 (-110)
Panathinaikos (Gre) vs. Athletic Bilbao (Esp)
Three-Way: 1: Panathinaikos +274; X: +238 Draw; 2: Bilbao +127
Spread +0.5: Panathinaikos -133; Bilbao +118
Total +2: Over -128; Under +116
Panathinaikos
The 20-time Greek champions comfortably qualified for the playoffs after defeating opponent Qabala twice to win 3:1 overall on aggregate. Having qualified three times for the Europa League in the last four seasons, Panathinaikos fans will be hoping their side can make it four but will be aware that they have been dealt a tough draw.
Furthermore, having not yet started their league season, players may feel a little jaded, although they have won all five of their last five games.
Panathinaikos’s summer has seen seven new arrivals, while ten have left including centre-back Marcus Berg who left for Al-Ain FC. Manager Marinos Ouzounidis will be without defender Rasmus Thelander through injury but will otherwise have a full squad.
Athletic Bilbao
A seventh-place finish in La Liga meant that Athletic Bilbao qualified straight to the third qualifying round where they met Dinamo Bucaresti, comfortably dispatching them 4:1 on aggregate. The eight-time Spanish League winners have qualified for the Europa League proper for the last six seasons, including reaching the final in the 2011-12 season but ultimately lost to Atletico Madrid to miss out on the trophy.
Therefore, the Spanish side will be expected to progress further than the playoffs. Bilbao’s season, like their opponents, has not yet started but have had a long pre-season winning four, drawing two and losing three.
Zero players have been brought in during the offseason while eight have left for pastures new. Manager Cuco Ziganda will be missing Yeray Alvarez (Testicular cancer, expected back on September 13th), Enric Saborit (Groin), Mikel Rico (Muscle) and Ander Iturraspe (Hamstring) all through injury.
Panathinaikos (Gre) vs. Athletic Bilbao (Esp) – Match Prediction:
I have little doubt that Athletic Bilbao will win the tie overall, but with a home advantage for Panathinaikos, I would go for a draw.
MY PICK: DRAW (+238)
AC Milan (Ita) vs. Shkendija (Mac)
Three-Way: 1: AC Milan -500; X: +800 Draw; 2: Shkendija +3000
Spread -2.5: AC Milan +129; Shkendija -137
Total +3: Over -109; Under +106
AC Milan
The 18-times Italian champions is a club with huge pedigree within European and World football, especially since they have won the Champions League seven times, the most prestigious European club competition. Despite this European success, AC Milan only managed a 6th place position last season, although they have been far off the top for a while, and their finish meant that they qualified for the third qualifying round.
They passed their opposition Universidad Craiova without fuss with a 3:0 aggregate scoreline, as was expected by their fans, and they will expect them to qualify for the group stage and go beyond. Saying that fans have been let down in recent years, with this season being the first chance of qualifying for European competition since the 2013-14 season when they reached the last 16 of the Champions League.
During the offseason, AC Milan has made great moves in the transfer window, signing ten players, including central-defender Leonardo Bonucci from Juventus for 41.5 million euros and attacker André Silva from Porto for 37.5 million euros, while twenty players left the team. Manager Vincenzo Montella will be without Alessio Romagnoli (Meniscus) and Lucas Biglia (Biceps femoris) through injury.
Shkendija
Shkendija qualified for the first qualifying round of the Europa League after finishing as runners-up in the Macedonian League for the second year in a row. In the first round, they smashed Moldovan side Dacia Chisinau, then beat Finnish HJK and finally beat Lithuanian side Trakai to reach the play-off round, only the second time they have achieved this feat, but have never gone beyond. Shkendija have been hard done by to receive such a difficult draw.
The Macedonian side’s summer has seen three players arrive while players have departed. Manager Qatip Osmani will be without defensive midfielder Stephan Vujcic through injury and winger Stenio Junior through suspension, but will otherwise have a full squad.
AC Milan (Ita) vs. Shkendija (Mac) – Match Prediction:
I am expecting AC Milan to progress very far in this competition and couldn’t have been given much of an easier draw to help realize these expectations. With Milan being the home team, and the superior team with lots of attacking potential, I could see a whitewash.
MY PICK: AC Milan AH -2.5 (+129)
