The first round of the UEFA Europa League group stage kicks off this week with a packed schedule. Which clubs would go ahead and notch their first win in this double round robin stage?
Danish club FC København would be facing Lokomotiv Moskva, while FC Fastav Zlín and FC Sheriff Tiraspol will take on each other in this pair of Group F encounters.
FC COPENHAGEN vs. FC LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW
3-Way: 1: FC København +154; X: +239 Draw; 2: FC Lokomotiv Moscow +231
Spread 0: FC København -132; FC Lokomotiv Moscow +134
Total +2: Over -125; Under +120
FC COPENHAGEN
Copenhagen won a double last term, taking the Danish Superliga with 84 points, their 12th top flight title, and beating Brøndby, 3:1, in the final of the Danish Cup, their eighth trophy of the tournament. They reached the round of 16 in the Europa League last season, after having transferred from the UEFA Champions League group stage. They, however, have failed to progress in their last three UEFA Europa League group stage campaigns.
The Løverne started their European campaign for this term in the second qualifying round of the Champions League, edging MŠK Žilina with a 4:3 aggregate, followed by a 4-2 two-legged beatdown of FK Vardar the following round. They were then beaten by Qarabağ in the UEFA Champions League play-off. Save for that 1:2 loss to Žilina, they would have been unbeaten in 11 European home fixtures(W7, D3).
København has lost only one of their five games against Russian clubs (W3, D1; W1, D1 in Copenhagen). Their most recent legs that featured a Russian Premier League side were against FC Rubin in 2010, each taking a 1:0 result in their respective home matches.
Ståle Solbakken’s second coaching tenure at FCK began in 2013. He has won seven Danish titles with his club, including five in his first spell from 2006-11. The former Norway midfielder has also headed Köln and Wolverhampton.
FC LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW
After missing European competition last term, Lokomotiv Moscow is contesting the UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League group stage for a fifth season this year after winning their ninth Russian Cup, making up for their eighth-placed finish at the Russian Premier League. They have failed just once to reach the round of 32, finishing bottom of their group in 2007-08.
Yuri Semin took charge of Lokomotiv for the fourth time in August 2016. He is responsible for his club’s two Russian titles during his second stint from 1992-2005. He also played for them from 1975–77. In addition, he coached Dynamo Kyiv to the 2008-09 Ukrainian championship.
Lokomotiv Moskva have won five of their six games against Danish sides, the exception being that reverse to Københavnin a 2007-08 UEFA Cup group stage game in Moscow. They have lost only one of their last five European games on the road (W2, D2).
The Loko lost the Russian Super Cup against Spartak Moscow, 1:2. They are currently second behind Zenit Saint Petersburg in the league table with 20 points in matches. They will be playing Krylia Sovetov in the round of 32 of the Russian Cup at Metallurg Stadium in Samara on September 21.
On-loan forward Éder scored the extra-time winning goal for Portugal at the UEFA Euro 2016 final against France. During the summer, twins Anton and Aleksei Miranchuk, as well as Taras Mykhalyk, signed to contract extensions. They also signed Nikita Medvedev, Solomon Kvirkvelia, and Igor Denisov from their respective Russian clubs. Finally, they acquired Russian-Armenian Arshak Koryan from Vitesse and Maciej Rybus from Lyon. Meanwhile, Maicon left for Antalyaspor.
FC COPENHAGEN vs. FC LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW – Match Prediction
Memories of a 2007 victory may linger for Solbakken as he leads his side once more against the Krasno-zelyonyye. In his first time in charge, his side beat Rinat Bilyaletdinov’s Lokomotiv, 1:0, Morten Nordstrand’s penalty settling it. For that, the Byens Hold have the psychological advantage.
Nevertheless, the Zheleznodorozhniki are playing well in their domestic league, sixth best in coefficient in the continent. That can be a factor. With the total set at 2, I believe that the two foes will crack that line, which is why I will go with the Over in this one.
MY PICK: Over 2 goals (-125)
FC ZLIN vs. FC SHERIFF TIRASPOL
3-Way: 1: FC Zlín +133; X: +240 Draw; 2: FC Sheriff Tiraspol +280
Spread -0.5: FC Fastav Zlín +131; FC Sheriff Tiraspol -137
Total +2: Over -133; Under +127
FC FASTAV ZLIN
Fastav Zlín made a long-awaited return to the European stage, having not played continental football since 2005, making their group stage debut as well.After unexpectedly hitting the top of the Czech table last season, they were dubbed “Zlíncester”, some predicting they can replicate the English club’s surprising success and win the domestic league. They sputtered to sixth though, but won the Czech Cup nevertheless, their first since garnering the Czechoslovak Cup in 1969-70. Because of that, they got an outright UEL group stage berth and was given an opportunity to compete at the inaugural Czechoslovak Supercup, which they won via penalties, 6:5, against Slovak Cup winners ŠK Slovan Bratislava. Presently, they are sixth on the table with nine points after six matches.
This is FC Zlín’s first experience of Moldovan opposition.They have lost only once in seven European home matches (W3, D3), that one courtesy of Atlético Madrid beating them, 2:4, at the 2004 UEFA Intertoto Cup.
Bohumil Páník started his coaching career with the Ševciin 2000, making his return to the club in 2014.His adventures in between included spells with Lech Poznań and Pogoń Szczecin in Poland.
FC SHERIFF TIRASPOL
Winner of 15 of the last 17 Moldovan league titles, Sheriff Tiraspol has become a common fixture in European club tournaments. They featured in the 2009-11 as well as 2013-14 UEFA Europa League group stages, but are yet to appear in the spring phase of a UEFA competition.They also have yet to win in six meetings with Czech clubs (D4, L2). Their last meeting from a side coming from that country was in 2009, claiming the UCL third round qualifier off SK Slavia Praha via an away goal advantage. They are without a victory in seven UEFA fixtures on the road (D3, L4) as well.
Sheriff bested Dacia Chișinău in the gold match, 3:0 via penalties, after concluding 120 minutes of action deadlocked at 1:1, copping last term’s Divizia Națională. Both clubs finished the league with an equal 69 points, necessitating the gold match.
This summer, the Tiraspol-based side reached the third qualifying round of the Champions League, advancing from the second round off FK Kukësi via an away goal advantage before falling short against Qarabağ FK with a 1:2 aggregate. They then eliminated Legia Warszawa in the UEL playoff by scoring a goal in Warsaw before keeping the home leg a scoreless draw. They have a 4-12-10 overall record at the Europa League.
FC Sheriff is first in their domestic league, which is undergoing a calendar transition, with 23 points in nine matches. The last time they dropped points was in mid-July after settling for successive draws against Dacia Chișinău and Zimbru Chișinău. Vitalie Damașcan pace the club with ten Moldovan league goals.
Last season’s league goalscoring leader Ricardinho is now with Red Star Belgrade. They still have captain Josip Brezovec, who was behind the Brazilian in goals and assists. Also departing are GK Alexei Koșelev, who went to Politehnica Iași, and Zoran Kvržić, who returned to Rijeka after his loan duty here. In return, they got Cristiano on loan from Volta Redonda.
FC ZLIN vs. FC SHERIFF TIRASPOL – Match Prediction
Founded in 1997, Sheriff is now the pre-eminent force in Moldovan football. Despite that, they are looking to make the most of any first-night nerves in Olomouc, which means that outside of their country, they can be considered a minnow. What they have is recent experience in continental competition, something the Czech side does not have. Proceed with caution on this one.
MY PICK: FC ZLIN to win (+133)
