Croatian clubs Hajduk Split and Osijek will welcome Brondby from Denmark and Dutch club PSV respectively, while Dinamo Zagreb visits Odd in Norway. And on the other side, Sparta Prague will play hosts to FK Crvena Zvezda from Serbia, with all the teams hoping to finalize their progression from this round of the Europa League qualifications.
HAJDUK SPLIT (CRO) vs BRONDBY (DEN)
Three-way: 1: Hajduk Split +102; X: +284 Draw; 2: Brondby +280
Spread -0.5: Hajduk Split +104; Brondby -114
Total +2.5: Over -118; Under +116
HAJDUK SPLIT (CRO)
Hajduk Split has made a good start in the Croatian HNL league. They have played three matches, out of which they have won two and drawn one. In this period, they have scored 7 goals, while conceding 4.
Starting from the second round of the Europa League qulifications, they won that round by efficient performances against Levski Sofia. They won the home leg by 1:0, and the away leg by 1:2. In the first leg of the matchup with Brondby, Hajduk managed to keep their net untouched, giving themselves a positive boost going into the rematch and nice chances of advancing further into the competition.
Their main arrival this transfer window has been the Gambian midfielder Hamza Barry from Limassol for 250 Thousand Euros. They have also managed to sign Josip Radosevic from RB Salzburg on a free transfer, while also bringing in FC Barcelona B defender Borja Lopez for an unknown fee.
BRONDBY (DEN)
Brondby are on the same position currently after three league matches, which they were in last season – 2nd. They have won two of the three matches played this season in the league, while losing the third game. They have scored a massive 11 goals, while conceding 6.
In the previous Europa League round, Brondby just about managed to progress, after winning 2:0 in the home leg, they succumbed to a 2:1 defeat in the away fixture, thus scraping away by just one goal.
They have made some impressive signings so far. They have signed Benfica playmaker Hany Mukhtar for €1.5 million, while bringing midfielders Simon Tibbling from Groningen, Kasper Fisker from Randers, and Benjamin Bellot from Leipzig have also been signed for a combined another 1.2 million Euros.
HAJDUK SPLIT (CRO) vs BRONDBY (DEN)-Match Prediction:
The first leg was a close tie, with both the teams failing to score even one goal. However, considering that Hajduk Split has been better at home than away, they should be the one grabbing all three points. Therefore, my prediction will be a home win in this match. I would also go with the under as I expect another low scoring contest here.
MY PICK: Hajduk Split to win (+102)
Additional Pick: Under 2.5 goals (+116)
ODD (NOR) vs DINAMO ZAGREB (CRO)
Three-way: 1: Odd +300; X: +266 Draw; 2: Dinamo Zagreb +102
Spread +0.5: Odd -111; Dinamo Zagreb -102
Total +2.5: Over -101; Under -106
ODD (NOR)
After finishing third last season, Odd has been poor this season. With more than half of the 2017 season over, they find themselves in tenth position, just 4 points adrift of relegation spots. They have scored just 12 goals in 17 games, while conceding 18.
However, in the Europa League qualifiers, Odd has churned up good performances in all the previous matches this season. In the first leg, they won by 3:0 and 0:2 in both legs against Ballymena, which was followed by two 1:0 wins against Vaduz in the second round.
Their only transfer activity so far has been the sale of talented youngster Rafik Zekhnin to Fiorentina for €1.5 million.
DINAMO ZAGREB (CRO)
Zagreb missed out on the top spot last year by just two points, and has continued to show the same hunger in the first three matches of the season. They have won two, and drawn one of these three league matches.
Their last two results in the league have been impressive home wins by the scorelines of 2:0 and 4:0 against Istra and Cibalia.
In the transfer market, they have signed Toulouse midfielder Tongo Doumbia for 800 thousand Euros, along with left back Jan Lecjacks from BSC Young Boys for 500 thousand Euros. They have earned a decent €13 million from Napoli from the sale of Marko Rog.
ODD (NOR) vs DINAMO ZAGREB (CRO)-Match Prediction:
The first leg match was a positive experience for the Croatian team. Zagreb played well and deserved the 2:1 win, but were unlucky to concede a goal. Looking at the squads of both teams, I would predict an away win for Zagreb.
MY PICK: Dinamo Zagreb to win (+102)
OSIJEK (CRO) vs PSV (NED)
Three-way: 1: Osijek +494; X: +286 Draw; 2: PSV -130
Spread +0.5: Osijek +123; PSV -137
Total +2.5: Over +110; Under -118
OSIJEK (CRO)
Osijek has made a very average start to the league campaign this season. Of the first three matches, Osijek has managed to claim only three points. They have scored and conceded a total of 3 goals each in these matches.
In the previous two Europa League qualification rounds, Osijek has claimed three wins. In the first round they won 0:2 away and 4:0 at home against Santa Coloma, and then a 2:0 win against Luzern was followed by a 2:1 defeat.
They have conducted a double raid on rivals Lokomotiva to sign young wingers Eros Gezda and Petar Bockaj, for a total fee of 1 million Euros. They have also signed keeper Marijan Antolovic on a free transfer.
PSV (NED)
The Dutch club finished third last season, which gave them an entry to the third round of the Europa League qualifiers. They had the best defense in the league last year, as they conceded just 23 goals. Their attack was the third best, as they scored 68 goals in 34 matches.
In the preseason, they have played four club friendlies, out if which they have won two, drawn one, and lost one. Eindhoven managed to score 4 goals in this duration, while keeping three clean sheets.
They have signed Mexican winger Hirving Lozano from Pachuca for €8 million, while also bringing in Derrick Luckassen from AZ Alkmaar to fill in at centre back, in a deal worth €5 million. These two players will be replacing outgoing players Hector Moreno and Jetro Willems.
OSIJEK (CRO) vs PSV (NED)-Match Prediction:
Osijek pulled off something of a shock, when they defeated PSV in the first leg by 0:1. However, PSV are visibly more experienced side in Europe, and hence should be able to overturn this small deficit. So, my prediction for this match will be an away win.
MY PICK: PSV to win (-130)
SPARTA PRAGUE (CZE) vs FK CRVENA ZVEZDA (SRB)
Three-way: 1: Sparta Prague -125; X: +286 Draw; 2: Crvena Zvezda +408
Spread -0.5: Sparta Prague -123; Crvena Zvezda +116
Total +2.5: Over -104; Under -104
SPARTA PRAGUE (CZE)
Sparta were kind of stuck in the 3rd position, as there was a massive gap between them and the 2nd place, and the 4th place. They had the second best attack in the domestic league, with 47 goals scored in 30 matches, and they conceded 26.
In the preseason, they have played six club friendlies. Out of those matches, they have won three, drawn two, and lost one. Sparta has scored 14 goals during this period, while conceding 8 times.
They have done some pretty good transfer business so far. There has been some big name singings like Tal Ben Haim from Macabbi Tel Aviv for €2.9 million and Kaya from Galatasaray for €2 million. They have also signed young players like winger Srdjan Plavis and full back Eldar civic for a combined total of €2.1 million.
SK CRVENA ZVEZDA (SRB)
After missing out the title last year by just three points, Zvezda is certain to make this one a good and successful season. They have made a good start in the league, as they have won their starting two matches, and scored five goals and kept two clean sheets.
In the first round of the Europa League qualifiers, they defeated Floriana by 3:0 at home, then contested a 3:3 goal fest away. In the second round, they first drew away at Irtysh 1:1, then followed it up with an impressive 2:0 win.
They have signed Serbian forward Aleksander Pesic from Toulouse for 750 thousand Euros, while adding winger Nemanja Radonjic from Roma on a free transfer, along with Milan Borjan form Ludogorets.
SPARTA PRAGUE (CZE) vs FK CRVENA ZVEZDA (SRB)-Match prediction:
The first leg was a comfortable victory for Crvena Zvezda, if we look at the scoreline. However, Prague missed a lot of chances that day. Keeping in mind that this is going to be a home game for them, I feel that they will put in a more efficient performance and score at least one goal. However, the Serbian team is also efficient when it comes to scoring goals on unfamiliar soil, so my pick here will be both teams to score.
MY PICK: Both teams to score YES (-111)
