The first qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League is behind us and we’ve seen 50 teams advance to the next stage. Here, they are mixed with 16 more squads in order to find out which 33 teams will head into the third qualifying round and get one step closer to the group stage that guarantees the autumn on the European competitions theatre.
As usual, we will continue to pay attention to this Europa League summer schedule in order to make some money out of it so let’s take a closer look.
Aberdeen (Sco) vs. Siroki Brijeg (BiH)
Three-Way: 1: Aberdeen -200; X: +340 Draw; Siroki Brijeg +700
Spread -1: Aberdeen -112; Siroki Brijeg +114
Total +2.5: Over +100; Under -108
ABERDEEN (Sco)
The last year’s Scottish Premiership runners-up Aberdeen are one of the 16 teams that are entering the UEFA Europa League competition in the second qualifying round. This will be their first competition game of the season but if they’re to continue the trends from the last year, passing this stage should not be a big problem. Second best team in Scotland recorded 24 total wins last year, averaging 1.95 goals scored and 0.92 goals conceded.
Eleven players left the team during the offseason and three new signed. Most prominent reinforcement should be Ryan Christie, twenty two years old midfielder who came on a loan deal from Celtic. Centre-Forward Jayden Stockley will not be available on Thursday because of indirect card suspension.
Aberdeen has advanced into the second round of the Europa League on a bye.
SIROKI BRIJEG (BiH)
The SIroki Brijeg team, last year’s Bosnian Cup winners advanced to the second qualifying round of the Europa League after defeating Kazakhstan’s side Ordabasy, 2:0 in aggregate (2:0 at home; 0:0 on the road).
Two goals in the first leg from striker Ivan Krstanovic were enough for the two times Bosnian Champions to reach the next stage of the competition. If they somehow manage to pass this stage, it will be the biggest success in team’s history.
Four players left the team during the offseason including midfielder Damir Zlomislic who left to Soligorsk in Belarus, while three guys signed including a young attacking midfielder Luka Grubisic who came from Croatian side RNK Split. Left midfielder Ivan Baraban is unavailable due to unknown injury.
Aberdeen (Sco) vs. Siroki Brijeg (BiH) – Match Prediction
Anything but a sure win by the home side would be a big surprise because the quality gap between the national competitions of Scotland and Bosnia is pretty big. This is a good deal as average odds for Aberdeen AH victory is -112 and that’s where I would go.
MY PICK: Aberdeen AH -1 (-112)
Cork City (Irl) vs. AEK Larnaca (Cyp)
Three-Way: 1: Cork City +212; X: +229 Draw; 2: AEK Larnaca +147
Spread 0: Cork City +120; AEK Larnaca -133
Total +2: Over -141; Under +117
CORK CITY (Irl)
The Cork City team went by Estonian side Levadia Tallinn in the first qualifying round of the Europa League with style, scoring six and conceding two goals in two legs.
In the first leg in Tallinn, Garry Buckley and Steven Beattie scored one goal each while second leg matchup was all about attacker Sean Maguire who recorded a hat-trick while Karl Sheppard scored one. Next stage is on the schedule, and having in mind the easy draw, we might see the Irishmen advance into the third round.
Team wasn’t very busy in the transfer market during the offseason as only two players left and only one player signed as twenty two years old left winger Kieran Sadlier came from Sligo Rovers. Manager John Caulfield has his entire roster available.
AEK LARNACA (Cyp)
The AEK Larnaca team is in the second qualifying round of the Europa League thanks to the pretty easy draw in the first round as they defeated Gibraltar’s semi-pro team Lincoln Red Imps, 6:1 on aggregate. First leg home sweep off with five goals in the opponents net was enough as Florian and Joan Tomas scored two goals each and Ivan Trickovski added one.
Team was very busy in the offseason as ten new players signed and only three left. Most prominent name is the Spanish midfielder Nacho Cases who came from Sporting Gijon on a free transfer. Goalkeeper Ruben Mino is not available for Thursday due to knee afflictions.
Cork City (Irl) vs. AEK Larnaca (Cyp) – Match Prediction
Very interesting matchup but nevertheless I believe that the Irish side has the upper hand here. Cyprus Premier League is not on the level of the Irish Premier League and let’s not forget that the Cyprians are here after defeating semi-pro team in the first round from who they conceded one goal. This should also be a high scoring game, which is why I expect the over!!!
MY PICK: Over 2 goals (+141)
Altach (Aut) vs. Brest (Blr)
Three-Way: 1: Altach -149; X: +294 Draw; 2: Brest +500
Spread -0.5; Altach -149; Brest +138
Total +2.5; Over +114; Under -128
ALTACH (Aut)
The four ranked team from the Austrian Bundesliga, Altach got past the Georgian team Chikhura Sachkere in the first Europa League qualifying round after a very interesting and close matchup.
Aggregate result was 2:1 (0:1 win on the road and 1:1 draw at home). Goal scored by Louis Ngwat-Mahop after only four minutes of play in Georgia proved to be the decisive one as Austrian team barely managed to keep the 1:1 draw at home revealing couple of big weaknesses.
Nine players left the team and nine players signed for the team during the offseason including defensive midfielder Simon Piesinger who came from the Budesliga rivals Sturm Graz. Goalie Andreas Lukse (Shoulder) and backs Andreas Lienhart (Hamstring) and Jan Zwischenbrugger (Knee) are out because of injuries while Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu will not play because of a special leave.
DINAMO BREST (Blr)
Another newcomer in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League is the Belarus side Dinamo Brest who earned the berth after winning the Country’s Cup competition. The Belarusian League competition is already underway and the team is currently ranked in the second part of the table (10th) with a 4-6-5 overall record and 18 points in 15 games.
Things are obviously not going as planned but they might be able to run the table if they can create a good start on the European competitions stage.
Team signed five new players during the offseason while three guys left. Most prominent signing is the Ukrainian striker Artem Milevsky who cam form Russian side Tosno. Manager Vladimir Zhuravel has his entire roster available.
Altach (Aut) vs. Brest (Blr) – Match Prediction
This matchup smells like a very low-scoring one and my safe bet here would be the one that presumes less goals. The total number depends on your courage but my certainly safest bet here would be under 2.25 goals,
MY PICK: Under +2.5 goals (-128)
Apollon (Cyp) vs. Zaria Balti (Mda)
Three-Way: 1: Apollon -526; X: +612 Draw; 2: Zaria Balti +2800
Spread -2: Apollon +108; Zaria Balti -112
Total +2.5; Over -102; Under -108
APOLLON (Cyp.)
The Apollon is the highest ranked Cyprian squad in this stage of the UEFA Europa League qualifying round as they finished the last season ranked second in the Cyprian Premier League. They were also pretty lucky with the draw as they face the Moldavian team whose presence in the second qualifying round presents a big surprise.
Team is practically unrecognizable this season as 19 payers left the team and 12 new players signed for the team. Central midfielder Hamza Berry left to Hajduk Split for a fee of 250.000 Euros while most prominent signing was Brazilian left-back who came from Portuguese side Moreirense. Boss Sofronis Avgusti has his entire roster available for Thursday.
ZARIA BALTI (Mld)
The Moldavian side Zaria Balti were the creators of a big surprise in the first qualifying round as they managed to get past the Bosnian side FK Sarajevo who were considered as a favorites in this matchup.
Matchup ended with and 3:3 in aggregate (2:1 win at home and, 2:1 road loss) and the penalty kicks decided a winner. Oleh Yermak missed a penalty for Zaria but Marko Mihojevic and Mico Kuzmanovic were imprecise on the Bosnian side and Zaria recorded the biggest success in the club’s history.
During the offseason three players left and three players signed on a free transfer basis. Midfielder Mihai Apostol is the most prominent signing, coming from league’s rivals Ac. Chisinau. Alexandru Onica (hand injury) and Alexandru Suvorov (suspension) are not available in the clash against Cyprians.
Apollon (Cyp) vs. Zaria Balti (Mda) – Match Prediction
I think that home side has enough juice to emerge victorious in this first leg but I’m unsure about the team that will advance to the next round. However, Zaria Baltia has not shown too much in their previous matches, except the fact that they give up and score goals. Therefore I will stick with my gut feeling and go with the over.
MY PICK: Over 2.5 goals (-102)
