Next quartet of UEFA Europa League matchups is just below and it’s time to reevaluate the last week’s first leg duels in order to predict the teams that will see the next stage of the competition. There haven’t been many unexpected results as the home teams dominated last week, winning in more than three quarters of the matchups. We’ll see if the second leg will be more home team’s oriented when it comes to results or the visiting teams have something to say about it.
VADUZ (Lie) vs. BALA (Wal)
Three-Way: 1: Vaduz -385; X: +560 Draw; Bala +1300
Spread –1.5; Vaduz -133; Bala +116
Total +3; Over -133; Under +110
VADUZ
The Vaduz team from Liechtenstein is half way of qualifying to the next stage of the Europa League as they managed to emerge victorious after the first leg in Wales, 2:1. They scored two first half goals in a period of ten minutes when G. Zarate and M. Brunner sent the visitors up on the scoreboard. Perfect result was ruined by the second half score by the Welsh side but Vaduz team managed to stay on top.
Team was very busy during this offseason in the transfer market as eight new players came and 10 guys left the team. All arrivals and departures were free transfer or free agent types and most notable addition is the Serbian midfielder Milan Gajic who played in Swiss side BSC Young Boys last season. Marvin Pfunder (Knee), Moreno Costanzo (Back), Benjamin Siegrist (Plantar fascia) and Daniel Kaufmann (Knee) are unavailable to coach Vrabec in the rematch.
BALA TOWN
The Bala Town from Wales is one of the less known teams that are competing in the first qualifying round of this year’s UEFA Europa League and there are not many information about them. They earned the competition berth after winning Cup of Wales and their first international appearance didn’t go as planned as they got defeated on their home soil.
Their roster is pretty much the same as it was last season with only two players leaving after their loan spells ended. There are also no injured players reported at the moment.
Vaduz (Lie) vs. Bala Town (Wal) – Match Prediction:
Team from Liechtenstein proved that they are a bit stronger team at the moment with a good first leg performance but Welsh side still created some scoring chances. My safe bet here would be under 3 goals in total.
MY PICK: Under 3 (+110)
B36 Torshavn (Fai) vs. Kalju (Est)
Three-Way: 1: B36Torshavn +265; X: +258 Draw; 2: Kalju +114
Spread +0.5: B36 Torshavn -119; Kalju +112
Total +2.5: Over -101; Under -105
B36 TORSHAVN
The B36 Torshavn team is coming off from a solid result in the first leg (2:1 loss) which gives them realistic chances of advancing to the next stage of the Europa League competition. Team from Faroe Islands entered the last week’s game poorly, conceding a goal after only 13 minutes of play but then managed to regroup at the break and enter the second period much better. The effort paid off after only four minutes of play in the second half when P. Johannsen scored an equalizer. They conceded again 15 minutes before the end but as mentioned above, this is a still an open duel.
Only roster addition during the offseason was goalie Trygvi Askham who came back from a loan spell in EB Streymur while no player has left the team during last season. There are no injured players at the moment.
KALJU
Team that finished last season ranked third in the Estonian Premier League, Kalju from Nomme, managed to snatch a home win in the first round but the fact that they allowed the guests to score at their home soil does raise alarm. D. Tjapkin and A. Dimitrijev were the scorers for the Estonian side in the first leg and they will have to be active on the road too if they want to see next stage.
Estonian team also has only one addition compared to the last year as right-back Martin Magi also got back from a loan spell in league rival Paide. Kallju team has no injured players at the moment.
B36 Torshavn (Fin) vs. Kalju (Est) – Match Prediction:
This will be one of the more interesting games when it comes to the next stage traveler but I would go with under 2.5 goals in total.
MY PICK: Under 2.5 goals (-105)
BOTEV PLOVDIV (Bul) vs. PARTIZANI (Alb)
3-Way: 1: Botev Plovdiv -200; X: +342 Draw; 2: Partizani +702
Spread -1: Botev Plovdiv -120; Partizani +108
Total +2.5: Over +104; Under -120
BOTEV PLOVDIV
The Botev Plovdiv, last year’s Bulgarian Cup winner is one of the strongest teams in this stage of UEFA Europa League competition. A 3:1 win in the first leg over the Albanian side on the road goes toward this ascertainment and it would be a real miracle if they don’t go to the second round. Game didn’t start well as Bulgarian team found themselves trailing 1:0 after only five minutes of game but later performance showed that this goal was just a fluke after T. Nedelev’s score and O. Kossoko’s double that sealed the match for visitors.
Team was busy in the transfer market this season as they brought ten new players to the team while eight youngsters were sent to various clubs as part of loan deals. Most notable addition is the twenty four years old left winger Pavel Nedelev who came from FSV Mainz and scored a goal in his official debut for the team. There are no reported injuries in Botev Plovdiv team.
PARTIZANI
The Partizani fans were thrilled after X. Sukaj scored an opener after only five minutes of game at the Qemal Stafa Stadium on Thursday but their team couldn’t hold on to the lead as they conceded three more goals before the final whistle. Last season’s runners-up have a tough and probably impossible assignment in front of them as they have minor chances of advancing to the next round.
Team did strengthen its roster during the offseason with two wingers from KF Teuta, Blerim Kotobelli and Gerhard Progni while five players left the team. Most notable departure is Ylber Ramadani’s transfer to Danish side Vejle BK for reported transfer fee of 200.000 Euros. Left-back Reinaldo Kalari will not be available in the rematch because of the suspension.
Botev Plovdiv (Bul) vs. Partizani (Alb) – Match Prediction:
Home team is a clear favorite in this one and a comfortable win in front of their own crowd is an imperative.
MY PICK: Botev Plovdiv -1 AH (-120)
DIFFERDANGE (Lux) vs. ZIRA (Aze)
Three-Way: 1: Differdange +172; X: +225 Draw; 2: Zira +181
Spread 0: Differdange -111; Zira -101
Total +2.5: Over +138; Under -135
DIFFERDANGE
The Differdange team that represents Luxembourg in the UEFA Europa League this season is also facing a tough assignment prior to the second leg rematch as they recorded a 2:0 loss in the first leg on the road. They are still in the game but with little chance of success as they’ll need a perfect performance at the Stade de la Ville de Differdange if they want to see the second round.
The Luxembourg side was very active in the offseason transfer market as they signed seven new players. Most notable name that strengthened the squad is French striker Nicolas Perez that came as a free agent. On the other side nine players left the team before the start of the season, two of which went league rivals as part of the loan deal (Centre-back Ante Bukvic went to Hamm Benfica amd midfielder Dejvid Sinani went to US Mondorf). There are no reported injuries in the squad at the moment.
ZIRA
The Zira team is on the verge of the next stage after a two goals win in the first leg of the Europa League. R. Gazde and K. Belfort were the scorers for the Azerbaijan side in the first matchup and now they have to calm and play a smart game in order to avoid any surprises. If they manage to advance it will be a quite an accomplishment as it will be the first time in team’s history that they managed to qualify to the next stage of any European competition.
Eleven new players were signed during the offseason, mostly on a free transfer and most vocal addition is the twenty five years old Haitian striker Kervens Belfort who came from Sweden’s side Syrianska FC. Eight players left the team before the season started. Team has its entire roster available.
Differdange (Lux) vs. Zira (Aze) – Match Prediction
My safe bet here would be spread as I sincerely doubt that the home team can advance to the next stage of the Europa League after the first leg loss.
MY PICK: ZIRA 0 AH (-101)
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