We present to you a four-match preview involving three clubs that were eliminated in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, as well as one team that started the competition in the first qualifying round of the Europa League. Ajax will host Rosenborg in their first leg encounter, while the Club Brugge versus AEK Athens match will be held in Belgium. Marseille travels to Slovenia to face Domzale and the Viitorul Constanța against Salzburg clash will be held at Stadionul Viitorul.
AJAX (Ned) vs. ROSENBORG (Nor)
3-Way: 1: Ajax -286; X: +470 Draw; 2: Rosenborg +1100
Spread -1.5: Ajax -105; Rosenborg +100
Total +2.5: Over -130; Under +125
AJAX
AFC Ajax has been busy since the latter part of last season. The club finished second behind Feyenoord at the Eredivisie, missing the championship by two points, and came up short against Manchester United in the final of the Europa League.
The Amsterdam-based squad did not last long in the UEFA Champions League, losing to Nice in the third qualifying round via away goals. It was also defeated by Heracles Almelo in the opener of the Dutch top flight.
The club has several loaned players returning while clinching Klaas-Jan Huntelaar via free transfer during the summer. Nevertheless, there are several departures as well, which includes Bertrand Traoré, who is now with Lyon, and Davy Klaassen getting sold to Everton for 27 million EUR.
Those left from last year are Danish Talent of the Year Kasper Dolberg, who had 16 goals in 29 appearances, as well as 2017 Europa League squad members Matthijs de Ligt and Amin Younes. Defender Davinson Sánchez has scored a goal this season.
ROSENBORG
Rosenborg finished on top of the Eliteserien and took the Norwegian Cup as well for a double last season. However, it does not have much continental success, last reaching the group stage of the Europa League two seasons ago and last playing at the Champions League a decade ago.
RBK is currently at first place of its domestic league with 41 points in 19 fixtures. It has also reached the quarterfinal of the 2017 Norwegian Cup while beating Brann at the Mesterfinalen earlier this year.
It hurdled Dundalk before getting eliminated by Celtic in the third qualifying round of the UCL. Matthías Vilhjálmsson and Milan Jevtović combine for the club’s 27 goals in all competitions this season.
AJAX vs. ROSENBORG – Match Prediction
Between the two, Ajax is the bigger club and they were just two conceded goals away from playing in this year’s Champions League group stage without having to go through the trouble of going through qualifiers and playoffs. I expect a comfortable win for the home side with a lot of goals scored in this match.
MY PICK: AFC Ajax AH -1.5 (-105)
Additional Pick: Over 2.5 goals (-130)
BRUGGE (Bel) vs. AEK ATHENS (Gre)
3-Way: 1: Club Brugge -120; X: +260 Draw; 2: AEK Athens +440
Spread -0.5: Club Brugge -125; AEK Athens +110
Total +2: Over -132; Under +119
BRUGGE
Club Brugge finished runner up to Anderlecht in last season’s Belgian Pro League. José Izquierdo, who had 14 league goals in 2016-17, went to Brighton & Hove Albion for a club record transfer fee. That leaves Jelle Vossen at the helm for new manager Ivan Leko.
The club currently paces the Pro League with 9 points in 3 matches, owning a superior goal difference over Charleroi. Brugge succumbed to İstanbul Başakşehir in the third qualifying round of the Champions League.
AEK ATHENS
AEK Athens placed fourth in last season’s Superleague Greece. It then went on to top the Superleague UEFA playoffs to qualify for continental competition. It also reached the final of the Greek Cup, losing to PAOK, 1:2. AEK was blanked by CSKA Moscow in the Champions League third qualifying round, getting relegated to the Europa League.
Tomáš Pekhart finished as the club’s top scorer in both the league and Greek Cup, with a tally of 12 goals in 31 appearances. However, his contract was not renewed as he now plays in Israel. Also leaving the squad are Ilias Vouras and Christos Aravidis. The only good news fans got in the summer was that the construction of the new Agia Sophia Stadium has started.
BRUGGE vs. AEK ATHENS – Match Prediction
Club Brugge has the benefit of getting its feet wet having played several matches this season. AEK Athens is undergoing a major transition and it is not just in the lineup. Therefore, my prediction will be a win for Club Brugge.
MY PICK: Club Brugge to win (-120)
DOMZALE (Slo) vs. MARSEILLE (Fra)
3-Way: 1: Domzale +610; X: +350 Draw; 2: Marseille -175
Spread +1: Domzale +104; Marseille -112
Total +2.5: Over -112; Under +112
DOMZALE
This is the farthest NK Domzale has reached at the Europa League, improving from its UEL third round qualifier performance last year, beating Flora Tallinn, Valur, and SC Freiburg in the first three qualifying rounds.
Last season’s 1. SNL fourth placer and Slovenian Football Cup winner are currently third on the table with 8 points after 5 games, 5 points behind leaders Olimpija Ljubljana and Maribor. Matija Širok and Jure Balkovec were part of the 2016-17 Prva Liga Team of the season.
MARSEILLE
Olympique de Marseille concluded the Ligue 1 at the fifth place last season while reaching the round of 16 in both the Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue. It beat Oostende in the last Europa League qualifying round.
Loanee Bafétimbi Gomis, who had 20 top flight goals last season, is now with Galatasaray. After two seasons with Sevilla, Adil Rami makes his way to France. Meanwhile, Florian Thauvin, who netted 16 Ligue 1 goals in 2016-17, is now a permanent fixture for the squad that also features Patrice Evra and captain Dimitri Payet.
Marseille is one of five clubs with six points in the young 2017-18 Ligue 1. Clinton N’Jie has two goals in Ligue 1, tied for third place on the leaderboard.
DOMZALE vs. MARSEILLE – Match Prediction
Domzale would like to continue its continental run, but it needs to get past an established French side. Last time around, the Slovenian club was stopped by West Ham. They first need to show that they can go through bigger teams and pull a surprise before they are able to turn heads. This could turn out to be a high scoring match, which is why I am playing my bet on the over 2.5 goals.
MY PICK: Over 2.5 goals (-112)
VIITORUL (Rou) vs. SALZBURG (Aut)
3-Way: 1: Viitorul Constanța +395; X: +278 Draw; 2: Red Bull Salzburg -112
Spread +0.5: Viitorul Constanța +110; Red Bull Salzburg -120
Total +2.5: Over +125; Under -133
VIITORUL
Viitorul Constanța is the 2016-17 Liga I titlist, compiling 51 points, four more than next best club Steaua București. This is the first time it won the top division, beating Voluntari in this year’s Supercupa României as well.
Aurelian Chițu had 11 league goals last season and would be backstopped by George Țucudean. Vlad Morar signed a three-year contract with Greek side Panetolikos.
The club is struggling this season, currently on the bottom half of the table at 11th with only 5 points after six matches. Victor Rîmniceanu already has three clean sheets in the Romanian top flight.
SALZBURG
FC Red Bull Salzburg had a double last season, winning both the Austrian Bundesliga and Austrian Cup. It played in the group stage of the Europa League last season but failed to advance to the knockout rounds.
It won over Hibernians before losing to Rijeka due to away goals in the third qualifying round of the Champions League. Hwang Hee-Chan and Takumi Minaino are the club’s one-two punch.
VIITORUL vs. SALZBURG – Match Prediction
Viitorul is not having the best of forms right now. The clash between Chițu and Salzburg’s Asian international duo might provide some watchable highlights in an otherwise run-of-the-mill match. Go with the win for the visiting side.
MY PICK: Red Bull Salzburg to win (-112)
