Summer break is already over for the teams that qualified for the UEFA Europa League competition last season as first qualifying round starts on Thursday. Here, we have prepared for you couple of interesting matchups in order to keep the money earning flow constant during this hot summer days so let’s take a closer look.
KLAKSVIK (Fai) vs. AIK (Swe)
3-Way: 1: Klaksvik +1200; X: Draw +650; 2: AIK -323
Spread +1.5: Klaksvik +143; AIK -118
Total +3.5: Over -105; Under +100
KLAKSVIK
The Klaksvik team was the Cup winner in Faroe Islands last season thus qualifying for the qualification round of the UEFA Europa League competition. They are definitely the underdogs in this matchup but because of the fact that Faroe Islands Premier League is currently under way, they might have some reason for optimism as they should be playing their best soccer right now. Currently they rank second in the league table with only one defeat that came ten days ago at home against fourth ranked B36 Torshavn.
In 14 league games played, team scored 24 and conceded 16 goals while 57% of their overall games had over 2.5 goals in total. 43% of their home matches had over 3.5 goals while both teams scored in 43% of the games on their home soil. Biggest threat for the opponents will be centre-forward duo Albert Adu and Pall Klettskard who scored 11 goals this season combined.
AIK STOCKHOLM
The AIK Stockholm ended the last season as the runner-up in the Allsvenskan (Swedish Premier League), six points behind the champions Malmoe FF. Same as in the Faroe Islands, the league competition already started in Sweden and currently, AIK ranks fourth in the league table with 21 points after 12 rounds. First part of the season finished on June 4th meaning that the team had plenty of time to get fresh. They are the clear favorites against this opponent that comes from a semi-pro soccer league.
The Europa League matchup against Klaksvik should also cure the goals scoring inefficiency that troubles the team as they scored only 11 goals in 12 league matches, while conceding seven.
Only 17% of their road matches had over 3.5 goals in total while both teams scored in 50% of their away games. Johan Blomberg and Eero Markkanen top the team in scoring so far with two goals each.
KLAKSVIK (Fai) vs. AIK (Swe) – Match Prediction:
The Swedish team should find their scoring efficiency on Thursday despite playing on the road. Go with the over.
MY PICK: Over 3.5 goals (-105)
CONNAHS Q. (Wal) vs. HJK (Fin)
3-Way: 1: Connahs Q. +1000 ; X: +451 Draw; 2: HJK -250
Spread +1.5: Connahs Q. -101; HJK -102
Total +2.5: Over -143; Under +131
CONNAHS QUAY
The Connahs Quay team is coming from Wales Premier League where they ended the last season as the runner-up team. They collected 58 points in 32 matches, 27 points less than the champions The New Saints. Along with two more squads from the south of the Great Britain, they will have the chance to present their country in the Europa League competition and they will not have an easy job in this first round as they meet HJK from Finland.
During the last season that ended on April 22nd, team scored 45 and conceded 24 goals while 41% of their overall matches had over 2.5 goals in total. England nationals Nick Rushton and Michael Wilde should present the biggest danger for the opponent’s goalie while striker Les Davies might be a threat too.
HJK HELSINKI
The HJK Helsinki team is definitely a favorite in this matchup because they are white hot right now in the Veikkausliiga (Finnish Premier League) being undefeated in last nine rounds. In Finland, like in most of the northern European countries, the league competition is currently under way and HJK will have the advantage over their Welsh opponents because this will be the first game for the Connahs Quay after two months. Team from Finland is also currently riding a six game winning streak in the league.
They scored 36 goals in 15 matches while conceding only six and 38% of their overall games had over 2.5 goals in total. Team scores over 4.5 goals in every fourth road match and both teams manage to score in every third overall game. Colombian striker Alfredo Morelos is on fire as he scored 11 goals in the league so far while Evans Mensah from Ghana and Akseli Pelvas scored six and five so far.
CONNAHS Q. (Wal) vs. HJK (Fin) – Match Prediction:
One of the easier picks that we will make for Thursdays night Europa League matches. Go with the Over offered -143.
MY PICK: HJK over 2.5 goals (-143)
BALA (Wal) vs. Vaduz (Lie)
3-Way: 1: Bala +1114 ; X: +500 Draw; 2: Vaduz -294
Spread +1.5: Bala +117; Vaduz -123
Total +3: Over -104; Under -102
BALA TOWN
The Bala Town is the second team from Wales that will compete in Europa League qualifying round. They’ve ended the last season ranked third in the Premier League of Wales, one point behind Connah’s Quay, but they also won the Cup of Wales. Also, Bala has probably been the luckiest Welsh team in the first round draw as they will face relatively easy opponent that comes from Lichtenstein.
Bala’s players were pretty efficient in the last season as they scored 61 goals (1.91 per match) while conceding 46. 50% of their overall matches had over 2.5 goals in total while both teams scored in 56% of their overall games. If they want to see the second round, forwards Mike Hayes and Lee Hunt will have to step up and make things happen for the team.
VADUZ
The Vaduz team comes from a small European country Liechtenstein (62 square miles) and they are the only representatives of their nation that will play in the Europa League. Liechtenstein doesn’t have a soccer league competition, only cup competition and the winner earns the Europa League entrance. Because of this, the Vaduz team competes in the Swiss Super League but the last season was not very successful as they got relegated to the second Swiss soccer league (Challenge League).
During the last season, they conceded 78 goals (most in the league) and scored 45. 78% of their road matches had over 2.5 goals in total while both teams scored in 61% of their overall games. Argentinean striker Gonzalo Zarate is the player that presents the biggest threat for the opposing goalkeepers.
BALA (Wal) vs. Vaduz (Lie) – Match Prediction:
Although the visitors are favored by the books in this match, the hosts are drawing my attention and I think the money should be placed favoring the Welsh team. I will take the AH 1.5 on the host as it seems to me that they might be in a better shape going into this matchup.
MY PICK: Bala Town AH 1.5 (+117)
VIDEOTON (Hun) vs. BALZAN (Mlt)
3-Way: 1: Videoton -417 ; X: +579 Draw; 2: Balzan +1400
Spread -2: Videoton +108; Balzan -112
Total +3.5: Over +127; Under -139
VIDEOTON
The Videoton team also had a preferable draw in the first qualifying round as they’ll face the Balzan squad from Malta, which has been unable to go past the first round in this competition in the last couple of years. The Hungarians earned the Europa League berth after finishing second in the league table last season, three points behind the champions Honved Budapest. They are the favorites in this matchup, but I’m sure that they are aiming even further as they present one of the strongest squads in this round of the competition.
They scored 65 goals last season (1.97 per game) while conceding 28 and 65% of their home games had over 2.5 goals in total. 29% of their home matches had over 4.5 goals in total while both teams scored in 52% of their overall games. Videoton’s biggest threats are Serbian strikers Danko Lazovic and Marko Scepanovic while goalie Tamas Horvath holds together a very successful defensive end of the squad.
BALZAN
This will be the third straight year in which the Balzan team competes in the Europa League first qualifying round. They didn’t have much success so far as they ended the competition in this stage and things are not looking very good this year as they will lock horns with one of the strongest teams in this stage. They finished second in the Maltese Premier League table last season behind the champions Hibernians.
Currently, squad looks pretty much the same as it did last season as forwards Alan da Silva and Bojan Kaljevic present the biggest danger in front of the opponent’s goal. Midfielders Paul Fenech and Abdelkarim Nafti will have to produce a miracle in the central part of the field if the team wants to have any chance against this opponent
VIDEOTON (Hun) vs. BALZAN (Mlt) – Match Prediction:
Despite having a somewhat easier draw in the first qualifying round of the Europa League, I think that the host will not have it easy on Thursday. The visitors have pretty much the same team from previous two season when they also made the qualifying rounds of the Europa League, so the experience gained should speak for itself. Therefore I will go with the under 3.5 goals and hope that the goalkeepers earn their money!!!
MY PICK: Under 3.5 goals (-139)
