The UEFA Europa League group phase is starting this Thursday, so take a look at our tips and predictions for the Group J matches. With plenty of picks and markets to choose from, don’t waste your time and join the action at Get More Sports.
FK Zorya Luhansk (Ukr) vs. Ostersunds (Swe)
Three-way: 1: Zorya +108; X: +270 Draw; 2: Ostersunds +380
Spread -0.5: Zorya +104; Ostersunds -104
Total +2.5: Over +114; Under -120
FK ZORYA LUHANSK
FK Zorya is playing in the Europa League for the second year in a row, and while they failed to reach the knockout stage in 2016-17, now they have a chance to take a step forward and advance from the group phase. However, their current form is a bit concerning as they recorded only two wins in last eight matches, so they occupy the 7th position in the Ukrainian Premier League at the moment, following the most recent defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk, 1-3.
Zorya played eight games so far in 2018-18, recording two victories, two draws, and four losses, scoring ten and conceding ten goals in the process. All the matches they played were in the domestic championship, and the clash with Ostersunds will be their first one in Europe in this campaign. The Ukrainians scored six goals in four home games so far, but five of them came in a latest 5-0 win over Chernomorets Odessa. They are unable to welcome the Swedes at their own Avanhard Stadium in Luhansk, due to the current political situation in the country, so in the UEL, Zorya will play home matches in Odessa. Nevertheless, it’s going to be a big challenge for Ostersunds to come away with a positive result.
DmytroGrechyshkin, Iury, and ArtemGromov are the club’s top scorers with two goals each, while Gromov also added a pair of assists to his name, so he should be the one to keep a close eye on in this encounter. The left wing, who recently joined from the Russian side KrylyaSovetov could cause a lot of problems to the opposing keeper Aly Keita, while the Brazilians Iury and Paulinho can also create havoc in front of Ostersunds’ goal.
OSTERSUNDS
One of the most pleasant surprises in the qualifying rounds of this year’s Europa League edition, Ostersunds, eliminated Galatasaray, Fola, and PAOK to reach the group stage. Although many thought they will be stopped by the Turks with ease, the Swedes made a huge upset by knocking out the former UEFA Cup champions. Ostersunds won three consecutive games, without conceding a single goal and scoring seven in return, and they are currently in the 6th place in the Allsvenskan, with 12 points behind the leaders Malmo.
The last season’s Svenska Cup winners already played 28 games in 2017-18, recording 12 wins, nine draws, and seven defeats, with the goal difference of 40:31. On average, 2.53 goals were seen in their matches so far, and although they are excellent at home, the away form is a bit problematic. Ostersunds had 14 trips away from their stadium this term so far and suffered defeats on five occasions, but still, they scored 21 goals, so we can expect them to have attacking aspirations in Ukraine as well as they will not travel there to defend.
The 24-year-old striker SamanGhoddos is Ostersunds’ top scorer with 12 goals in all competitions, but he also has eight assists, while Johan Bertilsson (6), BrwaNouri (5), HosamAiesh (5), and Jamie Hopcutt (5) are big contributors as well. The right midfielder Ken Sema is the one who Zorya should be aware of as the 23-year-old recorded 11 assists, so they have to defend the left flank and limit him from sending useful crosses into the box. The visitors don’t have any injury-related issues, so they are ready and eager to play their first Europa League group phase game ever.
FK Zorya Luhansk (Ukr) vs. Ostersunds (Swe) – Match Prediction
Ostersunds are a far more efficient team than the hosts, and given that they already score at Galatasaray and PAOK, both better opponents than Zorya, I believe they can bag at least one here. Also, I think Zorya will find the net, so my selection for this match is both teams to score.
MY PICK: Both teams to score YES (-105)
Hertha Berlin (Ger) vs. Athletic Bilbao (Esp)
Three-way: 1: Hertha +181; X: +235 Draw; 2: Bilbao +195
Spread 0: Hertha -108; Bilbao +104
Total +2.5: Over +125; Under -130
HERTHA BERLIN
Hertha was close to qualifying for the Champions League, but eventually, they finished in the 6th place in Bundesliga last year and had to settle with the participation in the UEFA Europa League. The former semi-finalists of the competition (1978-79) are not very successful in Europe like their counterparts, but they must be considered the favorites to reach the knockout stage from the Group J.
In the previous competitive match, Hertha drew with Werder Bremen at home, 1-1, and they played just four games since the beginning of the season, recording two victories, a draw, and a defeat. The Old Lady scored five and conceded three goals, but the worrying sign could be that they allowed those three goals in the previous two matches. However, in their defense, two of them were at Dortmund, so Bilbao has to do a lot to outsmart Hertha at Olympia Stadion.
The Australian Mathew Leckie currently runs the show for Hertha as he scored three and recorded two assists to his name so far, and the 26-year-old right winger got himself on the score sheet against Werder as well. The captain, Vedad Ibisevic, should be Hertha’s primary target in the visitors’ box, while Vladimir Darida, Salomon Kalou, and Per Skjelbred are also players to watch. A pair of strikers, Davie Selke and Julian Schieber, are injured and unavailable for this clash, so that leaves the Bosnian Ibisevic as the only healthy forward at the moment, so I expect Vedad to be quite busy on Thursday night.
ATHLETIC BILBAO
The Spaniards have a lot of experience in playing the Europa League matches as they are regular participants in the last ten years or so. Bilbao were the runners-up on two occasions (1977 and 2012), and it would be surprising not to see them qualifying for the next phase. However, they had to get past Dinamo Bucharest and Panathinaikos to get here, but the Lions did it without problems.
Athletic have played seven games in the 2017-18, recording five victories and two draws, so the confidence is sky high at San Mames, and they are optimistic about getting a good result in Berlin. Bilbao scored 11 and allowed just three goals, so Hertha is facing a sturdy and well-organized defense. What’s even more concerning for the Germans and encouraging for the visitors is that Bilbao didn’t concede in any of the previous four matches. Still, Athletic did capitulate in both away games in the UEL qualification round, and that is Hertha’s chance to score.
The veteran striker AritzAduriz leads the team in scoring with five goals, and even though he’s 36, the former Valencia player looks ageless and always prepared to create disarray in the opposing box. Iker Muniain and Raul Garcia are behind Aduriz with two goals each, while Inaki Williams and Markel Susaeta are Bilbao’s best assist-makers with four and three, respectively. The right-back Oscar de Marcos (sprained ankle) and Yeray Alvarez (testicular cancer) are sidelined and will not feature at Olympiastadion on Thursday night.
Hertha Berlin (Ger) vs. Athletic Bilbao (Esp) – Match Prediction
Bilbao rarely allows goals at the start of this campaign, while Hertha is not particularly efficient, so I expect a big battle and not plenty of goal-scoring opportunities. My selection for this match is under 2.5, and it could even finish as a scoreless draw.
MY PICK: Under 2.5 goals (-130)
