The teams are entering the second leg of the Europa League qualifications a bit more familiar with each other’s attributes after they locked horns last week during the first leg. As expected some differences in qualities have been revealed but most of the squads are still in the game. Home teams had much more success as they recorded 33 wins of 50 total matches but a big difference wins were pretty rare. After Thursday we’ll be familiar with 50 more squads that will earn the right to perform in the second qualifying round.
FLORA (Est) vs. DOMZALE (Slo)
Three-Way: 1: Flora +236; X: +262 Draw; Domzale +124
Spread +0.5: Flora -137; Domzale +125
Total +2.5: Over -108; Under -105
FLORA TALLINN
The Flora Tallinn team is entering the rematch against the Slovenian side with two goals deficit from the first game (0:2). To be fair, this is a very disappointing result for the team that is currently dominating the Estonian Premier League with undefeated record of 15 wins and two draws in 17 matchups. They entered the first leg of the Europa League qualifications game very carefully, more concerned about keeping their own sheet clean than endangering the host’s goal. First half ended goalless but this unaggressive attitude didn’t pay of as Domzale scored two late goals in 77th and final minute of the game to give the Slovenian team great advantage before their trip to Estonia.
So far high-scoring Flora team (52 goals in 17 matches in the national league this season) will have to show more courage and grit if they want to advance further. Team is looking a bit different than last season as ten, mostly veteran, players left the club while ten new young prospects were added to the first team. Erkki Kubber, twenty two years old attacking midfielder who came from Rakvere Tarvas is the oldest among the arrivals. Nevertheless, the biggest danger for the opposite team will came from Flora’s in-form duo Rauno Sappinen and Zakaria Beglarshvili who scored 20 goals combined this season. There are no injured players at the moment.
NK DOMZALE
The NK Domzale opened their season with a great win in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League qualifying round that gave them a real hope of advancing to the second round. Team held the control of the game in their hands for the entire 90 minutes and managed to break the opponents in the last 15 minutes of the clash with two quick scores by Jan Repas and Zan Zuzek. They will still have to be very careful in Tallinn but two goals difference does provide a big advantage and it would be a surprise if they get eliminated.
Team that earned the UEFA Europa League berth by winning the Slovenian Cup has also been very active in transfer market. They sent their star player from last season, midfielder Zan Majer to Russia where he will play for Rostov for reported 250.000 Euros transfer fee while also three other veteran players left the club after their contracts expired (Alvaro Brachi, Rok Elsner and Adnan Golubovic). On the other side nine players were added to the roster and the most prominent one is Senijad Ibricic who came from FC Koper on a free transfer. He is a 31 years old attacking midfielder who recorded 42 appearances for the Bosnian national selection during his career. Left midfielder Kombi Mandjang and striker Kristijan Sipek are unavailable for next match due to knee afflictions.
FLORA (Est) vs. DOMZALE (Slo) – Match Prediction:
Despite their great form in the domestic league, the Flora team will not be able to bounce back and upset the Slovenian side. Domzale, on the other side, has a lot of experienced players on their squad which should be enough to overcome the first obstacle called Flora and advance into the second round of the Europa League qualifications. I expect a tight game with most of the action happening at the midfield. Go with the under in this one.
MY PICK: Under 2.5 goals (-105)
GANDZASAR (Arm) vs. MLADOST PODGORICA (Mne)
Three-Way: 1: Gandzasar +166; X: +222 Draw; 2: Mladost Podgorica +189
Spread 0: Gandzasar -115; Mladost Podgorica +102
Total +2.5: Over +143; Under -167
GANDZASAR
The Gandzasar team managed to qualify for the UEFA Europa League competition after finishing second in the Armenian Premier League table last season, seven points behind the champions Alashkert FC. After the first leg in Podgorica they are in a one goal disadvantage (0:1) and they certainly have the chance to qualify to the next round. Goal of scoring as visitor was not completed and their prime concern will be not to concede on Thursday because if they do, Armenian squad will have to score three goals in order to advance.
Team has signed couple of new players this offseason, especially addressing the need to improve their flanks as they signed three wingers and one left back. Left-back Haitian national Alex Junior that came from Portugal’s side Boavista should provide some speed and agility on the left flank. During last season, they were pretty inefficient as they scored only 38 goals in 30 matches (1.27 per game) and that trend will have to be improved this year in order to have a successful season. There are no injury reports available about Armenian team.
MLADOST PODGORICA
The Mladost Podgorica team had a solid debut in the first leg of the qualification round in front of their own crowd and managed to get a positive result. Only goal of the game occurred in the 57th minute when Milan Durisic managed to score after the penalty kick was awarded. They are going to Armenia pretty confident after not conceding a goal at home and I’m sure that both the fans and the players are optimistic about advancing to the next stage of the Europa League.
Five players left the team during this offseason but Mladost managed to strengthen their roster a bit by adding six new guys, five of which are 29+ years veterans while only Ivan Milovic who finished his loan spell in FK Drezga can be considered as a young prospect (twenty years old). Nevertheless, Mladost is still relatively young squad (25,5 average age) and I’m sure that they have the power to propel themselves in to the second round. Mladost’s entire roster is healthy.
GANDZASAR (Arm) vs. MLADOST PODGORICA (Mne) – Match Prediction:
Mladost Podgorica will look to keep their net clean, putting some extra focus on their defensive end and waiting for their chances from the counter attacks. There is a high possibility that the first half will end 0:0 so if you are into the half-time betting go for it. However, I am more of a full-time betting type but I am going to stick with the under in this one as well, considering that neither team will open up too much and will look for their chances from break or counter attacks.
MY PICK: Under 2.5 goals (-167)
HJK (Fin) vs. CONNAHS Q. (Wal)
Three-Way: 1: HJK -556; X: +684 Draw; 2: Connahs Q. +2500
Spread -2.5: HJK -114; Connahs Q. +104
Total +2.5: Over -143; Under +125
HJK
One of slightly surprising results was the HJK’s defeat in Wales by Connahs Quay team. The attendees witnessed only one goal during this clash but that was enough to raise the alarm in the Finnish side before the midweek rematch. Team’s head coach Mika Lehkosuo rested couple of players in a Sunday’s match against FC Inter as part of the Estonian Premier League which ended with a 1:1 draw.
Veikkausliiga’s current leaders look poised to make up the one goal disadvantage from the first leg and I think that they have the juice to accomplish that. Prior to Estonian League competition start, HJK sold one of their last season’s best players, Colombian centre-forward Alfredo Morelos to Rangers for estimated 1.2 million Euros while only new addition was young left wing from Ghana, Evans Mensah who played for Ghanaian side Inter Allies last year. HJK has its entire roster available
CONNAHS QUAY
The runner ups in the last season of Wales Premier League, Connah’s Quay team also recorded a pretty successful debut in the international soccer scene as they managed to snatch a win against Finnish side that was and still is considered as a favorite in this duel. Only goal in the game was scored in 40th minute of play by striker Nathan Woolfe that sent the attending fans at the Deeside go frantic. Defense remained steady and with a bit of luck managed not to concede before the final whistle.
In the transfer market the team was not very active during this offseason as they still haven’t provided any additions to their roster while letting midfielder Lewis Short and right-back John Disney go to Altrincham on a free transfer. If the squad manages to advance to the second round it will be the biggest success in the team’s history on the international scene. They don’t have any injured players at the moment.
HJK (Fin) vs. CONNAHS Q. (Wal) – Match Prediction:
HJK is under a lot of pressure going into the 2nd leg of the Europa League first round qualifications. Prior to the first game they were considered as a clear favorite but their alarm flags were raised after the disappointing result last week. I expect them to go out full strength and to show why they were considered as the favorite. With it, I expect the over.
MY PICK: Over 2.5 goals (-143)
Additional Pick: HJK AH -2.5 (-114)
SJK (Fin) vs. REJKJAVIK (Ice)
Three-Way: 1: SJK +197 ; X: +235 Draw; 2: Rejkjavik +160
Spread 0: SJK +110; Rejkjavik -122
Total +2.5: Over +129; Under -149
SJK
This match is a bit hard to predict because the teams are pretty much equal in strength and play a similar tactical scheme that doesn’t include much technique but rather rely themselves on flanking and crossing. First matchup ended goalless, providing us with a big unknown about the traveler to the second round. The SJK team had couple of scoring chances but failed to deliver.
Finish Cup winners will have the chance to prove themselves at home soil but if we take into the consideration their form in the national league this season where they rank ninth after 16 rounds with 5-4-7 record, the things doesn’t look very optimistic for them. Team didn’t sign new players prior to season start while two players left the team (CF Roope Riski, RB Dani Hatakka). Matey Hradecky (Cruciate ligament rupture) and Aristote Mboma (Knee injury) will not be available for next game.
REJKJAVIK
Third ranked team in the Icelandic Premier League last season Rejkjavik will try to follow the steps of the Icelandic national team who was the story of the last year’s European Soccer Championship and record a result that no one expects from them. First leg of the Europa League in front of their own fans went goalless and cards are still open when it comes to the traveler into the next stage.
Team is currently ranked on the top of the second part of the national league table (7th) with eleven points in nine games and this could be the crossroads of the season for the Vikings. No player has left the team during the offseason while midfielders Leifur Thorbjarnarson and Geirlaugur Arni Kristjansson strengthened the squad. They don’t have any injured players at the moment.
SJK (Fin) vs. REJKJAVIK (Ice) – Match Prediction:
The final match preview of this set will see the Scandinavian teams go head-to-head. Although the first game finished goalless, I expect a different scenario in the return fixture, so I will tip on the over and both teams to score.
MY PICK: Over 2.5 goals (+129)
Additional Pick: Both team to score YES (-105)
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