Early summer is the time when the teams that earned berths in one of the European club competitions play their international matches in order to secure appearance in group stages of these respective competitions. There are three qualifying rounds and one playoff round before the group stage begins in the UEFA Europa League competition and we will conclude the first qualifying round at the end of the next week.
DUNAV RUSE (Bul) vs. I. PAVLODAR (Kaz)
Three-Way: 1: Dunav Ruse +160 Home; X: +240 Draw; I. Pavlodar +204
Spread 0: Dunav Ruse -133; I. Pavlodar +118
Total +2.5: Over +127; Under -137
DUNAV RUSE
The Dunav Ruse team that entered the UEFA Europa League competition quite unexpectedly recorded a minimal 1:0 loss at Kazakhstan in the first leg. Bulgarian side finished the last season ranked fourth in the league table but after CSKA Sofia, the runners-up from the last season was disqualified from the competition for breaking a three-year rule, UEFA came with the decision that fourth ranked team in the Bulgarian national championship is eligible to compete in Europa League this season.
Six new players were added to the team during the offseason (all Bulgarian nationals) while four players left the team. Goalie Martin Lukov (Knee) will be out until at least August 1st.
IRTYSH PAVLODAR
The Irtysh Pavlodar squad that finished the last season ranked third in the Kazakhstan Premier League table thus qualifying for the UEFA Europa League competition recorded a win in the first leg of this first qualifying round, 1:0 over the rivals from Bulgaria. The lone goal was scored after only five minutes of play by striker Igor Bugaev. This result presents a good foundation for the rematch but they will have to be very careful if they want to advance into the second round.
There were no new arrivals during the offseason while two players left the team after their loan deals ended (Ismale Fofana to Serbian side Cukaricki and Lasha Dvali to Polish Slask Wroclaw). Head coach Dimitar Dimitrov has the entire roster available.
Dunav Ruse (Bul) vs. I. Pavlodar (Kaz) – Match Prediction:
One of the most interesting matchups in the second leg. My safe bet here would be over two goals in total as both teams need to score at least one goal each if they want to secure the next stage advancement.
MY PICK: Over 2.5 goals (-137)
FK SARAJEVO (BiH) vs. ZARIA BALTI (Mda)
Three-Way: 1: FK Sarajevo -385; X: +519 Draw; 2: Zaria Balti +1400
Spread -1.5: FK Sarajevo -120; Zaria Balti +112
Total +2.5: Over -125; Under +110
FK SARAJEVO
The third ranked team from last year’s season of Bosnian Premier League FK Sarajevo will have the chance to neutralize the 2:1 loss from the first leg at the Stadium Koševo on Thursday. Last week’s match on the road started awfully as the team from Bosnian capital found themselves in a two goals trail after only 33 minutes of play. They managed to get back together and M. Mihojevic scored a much needed road goal to raise the chance of advancing to the next round of the Europa League 16 minutes before the final whistle.
The team promoted five players from their U19 squad to the first team and also added three more reinforcements from home league and one big addition in the character of Macedonian international Krste Velkoski who played in Thailand during the last season. Their best player in last couple of years, Haris Duljevic left the team as a free agent. There are no injuries reported at the moment.
ZARIA BALTI
The Zaria Balti was the only team from Moldova that recorded a positive result during the first leg. They started the game furiously with two quick goals by S. Zaginailov and R. Gomez in 7th and 33rd minute but then got a bit tired, allowing the opposite team to regain the control of the pitch and score a very important road goal. Nevertheless, players and fans are still hoping that this narrow home win can be enough to send the team to the second round.
Three new players signed and three players left the team during the offseason, all as part of the free transfers. Most notable arrival is the midfielder Mihail Apostol who came from Ac. Chisinau. Midfielder Alexandru Onica (hand) and winger Alexandru Suvorov (suspension) will not be playing in the rematch on Thursday.
FK Sarajevo (BiH) vs. Zaria Balti (Mde) – Match Prediction:
Also a very interesting matchup with a big question about the name of the team that will advance to the next stage of the Europa league. I think that the Bosnian side has the edge for the win here but I’m not sure if they are going to advance in the second round. Regardless, I am more interested in the total, which is set at 2.5 goals.
MY PICK: Over 2.5 goals (-125)
SLOVAN BRATISLAVA (Svk) vs. PYUNIK YEREVAN (Arm)
Three-Way: 1: Slovan Bratislava -526; X: +652 Draw; 2: Pyunik Yerevan +2200
Spread -2: Slovan Bratislava +106; Pyunik Yerevan -102
Total +3: Over +102; Under -120
SLOVAN BRATISLAVA
Slovakian Cup winners Slovan Bratislava is another team that is 90% sure of qualifying into the next stage of the competition after a dominant 4:1 win over their Armenian opponent. The Slovakian side scored four goals in a row (F. Holosko double, V. Savicevic, A. Shakhanzaryan) after conceding first in the 8th minute of the match. Team’s mind is set for the next stage already and it will be no surprise if head coach Ivan Vukomanovic shuffles the starting eleven deck a bit.
Six new players strengthened the roster during this offseason and most notable addition was Nigerian attacking midfielder Ibrahim Rabiu who came from Belgian side KAA Gent as part of the transfer that was estimated at about 1 Million Euros. Nine players left the club after the last season ended. Seydouba Soumah (Thigh), Michal SUla (Shoulder), Aleksandar Cavric (wound) and Milan Rundic (suspension) are unavailable for the rematch.
PYUNIK YEREVAN
The fourteen times Armenian champions Pyunik Yerevan team doesn’t stand much chance of advancing to the next stage after a 1:4 home loss against Slovan. They opened the game better with P. Avetisyan score from the penalty kick after only eight minutes of play but that was the only positive thing that Armenian squad have shown to us during this duel.
The roster is practically the same it was last season as only one new player was added and there were no departures. Attacking midfielder Volodya Babayan came from Banats II team on a free transfer. Only unavailable player for the rematch is central midfielder Hovhannes Poghosyan who has some knee afflictions.
Slovan Bratislava (Svk) vs. Pyunik Yerevan (Arm) – Match Prediction:
By my opinion, another comfortable win is in order for the home side. They are just far stronger team than their Armenian opponent. I will take the -2 AH on the Slovan.
MY PICK: Slovan Bratislava -2 AH (+106)
TORPEDO KUTAISI (Geo) vs. TRENCIN (Svk)
Three-Way: 1: Torpedo Kutaisi +280; X: +260 Draw; 2: Trencin +106
Spread +0.5: Torpedo Kutaisi -111; Trencin +106
Total +2.5: Over -114; Under -102
TORPEDO KUTAISI
The Georgian Cup Winner Torpedo Kutaisi got torpedoed on the road as part of the first leg matchup with Slovakian side Trencin, 1:5. G. Guruli sent the Georgians to a 1:0 lead after ten minutes of play but a five-goal salvo by Trencin’s players was unleashed before the final whistle. Chances for Kutaisi team to advance to the next stage are obviously very low.
Triple Georgian champions were not really active in the offseason as only one player was added (midfielder David Khurtsidze from Amkar Perm) while two players left the team during summer (Left midfielder Nikoloz Kvaskhavdze who went to FC Meshakhte and striker Nikoloz Sabanadze who went to FC Samtredia). Head coach Kakhaber Chkhetiani has his entire roster available.
TRENCIN
Slovakian teams look pretty dominant in this first qualifying round of the Europa League as Trencin squad also has its mind set to the next stage. Two goals by striker A. Mance. and one each by H. Catakovic, J. Paur and G. Beridze were enough to secure the easy rematch in Georgia on Thursday.
The Trencin team looks much stronger than the last season as they added six more players while only two left the team. Most notable addition is the twenty years old Bosnian striker Hamza Catakovic who came from FK Sarajevo for a reported 120.000 Euros transfer fee, after spending last season in Trencin on a loan deal. There are no injured players at the moment.
Torpedo Kutaisi (Geo) vs. Trencin (Svk) – Match Prediction:
The Slovakian side has the upper hand here no matter where the game is played and another win is a big possibility by my opinion.
MY PICK: Trencin (+106)
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