Balkans’ countries will host couple of exciting matchups in the first leg of this years Europa League qualifying round and in this article we bring you the analysis of the clashes that will be played in this south-east part of Europe. Three teams from Serbia and one from Bosnia and Herzegovina are all playing on their home soil on Thursday and there is no doubt that their fans will be on fire. Let’s take a closer look.
VOJVODINA (Srb) vs. RUZOMBEROK (Svk)
3-Way: 1: Vojvodina -161; X: +320 Draw; 2: Ruzomberok +600
Spread -1: Vojvodina +100; Ruzomberok -103
Total +2.5: Over +104 ; Under -118
VOJVODINA
The Vojvodina from Novi Sad is a regular participant in the Europa League competition lately. They have 47 matches in this competition overall (19-12-16 record) with 73-67 goal difference. Team finished the last season ranked third in the Super Liga (Serbian Premier League), just behind Partizan and Crvena Zvezda. They will probably have their hands full against the Slovakian team but I think that they have the upper hand.
They scored 51 (1.70 per game) and conceded 26 goals last season while 50% of their overall games had over 2.5 goals in total. They failed to score in only 13% of their matches in Novi Sad while both teams scored in 40% of their overall games. Strikers Milan Bubalo and Sasa Curko lead the way on the offensive end of the team while Filip Babic and Milan Lazarevic pull the strings in the defense.
RUZOMBEROK
The Ruzomberok team managed to qualify for one of the European team competitions after a four years drought. They finished the last season ranked third in the league table with 52 points in 30 games. Serbian side is a pretty tough opponent in the first round but the Slovaks are not without chances.
They managed to keep the main part of the last year’s team which contains only two foreign nationals, midfielder Erik Daniel (Czech national) and forward Nermin Haskic (Bosnian national). Strikers Stefan Gerec and Milos Lacny will present the biggest threat for Vojvodina’s goalie Emil Rockov.
VOJVODINA (Srb) vs. RUZOMBEROK (Svk) – Match Prediction:
This is one of the more interesting matchups on Thursday with both teams possessing enough strength to come out with a positive result. If anything, I think that the nets will not be endangered too much, which is why I am taking the under 2.5 goals in this contest. Also there is a high possibility that one of the two teams will not score.
MY PICK: Under 2.5 goals (-118)
Additional Pick: Both teams to score NO (-125)
FK CRVENA ZVEZDA (Srb) vs. FLORIANA (Mlt)
3-Way: 1: FK Crvena Zvezda -714; X: +1000 Draw; 2: Floriana +2600
Spread -2.5: FK Crvena Zvezda -102; Floriana -110
Total +3.5: Over -106; Under -105
FK CRVENA ZVEZDA
The FK Crvena Zvezda finished the last season in the Super Liga ranked second, only three points behind the champions Partizan, thus missing the Champions League berth and earning the Europa League berth instead. Fans from the white-red part of Belgrade were not very happy with this outcome but there is no turning back. The first round draw was favorable for the Serbian team as they got the Maltese cup winner, Floriana squad as the opponent.
Team scored unbelievable 93 goals during last season in the league while conceding 33. 73% of their home games had over 2,5 goals in total while both teams scored in 60% of their home matches. They scored at least one goal in every league match at Rajko Mitic Stadion (ex Marakana) while 40% of their overall matchups had over 3.5 goals in total. Richmond Boakye and Srđan Plavsic topped the team in scoring with 20 goals combined.
FLORIANA
The Floriana team is the second most successful Maltese squad as they have 25 national championships, but the last one came in the season 1992-93. They finished the last season ranked fifth in the league table but thanks to the 2:0 win over the Sliema Wanderers in the Maltese Cup Final, they earned the Europa League competition berth.
They will face a very tough assignment in this first round of the Europa League and it’s questionable how much they can do against the former Champions League winner. Argentinean striker Ignacio Varela and Senegalese forward Amadou Samb should represent the biggest threats for the opponent’s defenses.
FK CRVENA ZVEZDA (Srb) vs. FLORIANA (Mlt) – Match Prediction:
This matchup is set up to be a goal fiesta for the fans visiting the Rajko Mitic stadium on Thursday. The hosts should be able to win easily and score plenty. Go with the over and the AH.
MY PICK: Over 3.5 goals (-106)
MLADOST (Srb) vs. INTER BAKU (AZE)
3-Way: 1: Mladost +135; X: +240 Draw; 2: Inter Baku +247
Spread -0.5: Mladost +125; Inter Baku -145
Total +2.5: Over +131; Under -137
MLADOST
The Mladost from Lucani is the third and final team that will compete in the first qualifying round of the Europa League this season from Serbia. They finished the season ranked fourth in the league table with 36 points in 37 matches. This will be the first appearance in one of the European competitions in club history. The opponent is a relatively tough team from Azerbaijan and if Mladost manages to go in the next stage it will be a big accomplishment.
Team scored 35 and conceded 29 goals last season while 70% of their overall matches had under 2.5 goals in total. Both teams scored in 40% of their overall games while they failed to score in only 20% of their home soil matches. Strikers Sasa Jovanovic and Stefan Golubovic should be on the spot if they want to have the chance in this historical clash for Mladost.
INTER BAKU
The Inter Baku team earned the Europa League berth after finishing the last season ranked third in the league table with 43 points in 28 matches. This will be the sixth consecutive European competition appearance for the most successful team from Baku. They have much more experience than their first round opponent and advancing to the next stage is a real possibility.
They scored 39 and conceded 33 goals last season while 54% of their overall matches had over 2.5 goals in total. Every fourth overall game had over 3.5 goals in total while both teams scored in 57% of their away games. Brazilian defender Denis Silva pulls the strings in the defense while Pardis Fardjad-Azad and Rauf Aliyev represent the threat in front of the opponents’ goal.
MLADOST (Srb) vs. INTER BAKU (AZE) – Match Prediction:
The host will be carried by the frantic fans and the fact that this will be their first appearance at the European stage. However, their visitors are coming into this game full of confidence and experience in the international competitions. This is one of those games that could go either way. I expect both teams to score.
MY PICK: Both teams score YES (+100)
ZELJEZNICAR (BiH) vs. ZETA (Mne)
3-Way: 1: Zeljeznicar -204; X: +342 Draw; 2: Zeta +700
Spread -1: Zeljeznicar -116; Zeta +110
Total +2.5: Over +114; Under -127
FK ZELJEZNICAR
The Europa League first leg of the local derby between two teams from two neighboring countries, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro will take place at Grbavica Stadium in Sarajevo, the home soil of Zeljeznicar.
After seeing the championship title falling out of their grasp in the last round of the league competition, the Blues will have the chance to make some impact on the European soccer scene through Europa League. Their first opponent is a very good Zeta team and this might be one of the most unpredictable matchups of this round.
Team finished the last season ranked second in the league table with only two points behind the champions Zrinjski Mostar. They already signed couple of new players including Asim Zec who came from the league rivals FK Sloboda Tuzla. Head coach Slavko Petrovic has total of 29 players in disposal currently but we shall see if he can figure out the starting eleven that can produce a good result in this match.
ZETA
The Zeta team will play in one of the European competitions for the first time since 2013 when they managed to get as high as the Play-off round (fourth round) of this competition. This will be their 22nd game in the European soccer scene (5-3-14 record) and they represent one of the most successful Montenegrin squads in last couple of years.
They finished the last season ranked second in their national league table with the same number of points as the champions Buducnost Podgorica but with a worse goal difference. Strikers Perisa Pesukic and Filip Kukulicic will have to step up and score some goals if they want to advance in the next stage.
ZELJEZNICAR (BiH) vs. ZETA (Mne) – Match Prediction:
It will be a real treat for the soccer fans to see the two teams with long traditions go head-to-head on Thursday night. The hosts are playing at their stadium for the first time in many years in some European competition and it will certainly be an additional booster to get a positive result. However, the team has not been too efficient in the international competitions in the last couple of years, so I would not expect too much from this matchup. Therefore, I will take the under.
MY PICK: Under 2.5 goals (-127)
