The UEFA Europa League continues this Thursday, September 28th, 2017, and in this preview, the highlight is on three quite interesting matches. FC Koln welcomes Serbian side FK Crvena Zvezda at RheinEnergie Stadium, Konyaspor hosts Guimaraes at Buyuksehir Stadium, while Lazio meets Waregem at Stadio Olimpico.
We would like to take a closer look at these six teams, so we could give you proper information and betting predictions. Don’t forget to check out our other previews for the Europa League matches, here at GetMoreSports.
FC KOLN vs. FK CRVENA ZVEZDA
Three-Way: 1: FC Koln -127; X: +300 Draw; 2: FK Crvena Zvezda +475
Spread -0.5: FC Koln -135; FK Crvena Zvezda +124
Total +2.5: Over +100; Under -110
FC KOLN
The Billy Goats had a nightmare start of the new season as they’ve lost the first five Bundesliga matches and the game of the Europa League first round against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium. On the last Sunday FC Koln got the first point in the German Bundesliga as visitors, playing a 0:0 draw with Hannover. In a domestic league FC Koln has a catastrophic 1:13 goal difference after six rounds, while in the Europa League Arsenal smashed them, 3:1, even the German side had a lead at the halftime.
After a great 2016/2017 season, the Billy Goats doesn’t look like the same team, although they didn’t make a lot of changes in the squad. The only player who left the team was a 29-year old striker Anthony Modeste, but the Frenchman scored 25 goals last season, so his departure turned out to be a fiasco. Jhon Cordoba has arrived from Mainz as a Modeste’s replacement, but he’s playing poorly so far.
The talented 23-year old Leonardo Bittencourt and an experienced 34-year old Matthias Lehmann are still the main guys in the midfield, doing a pretty good job as FC Koln created 50 scoring chances in the first six rounds of the Bundesliga. However, the finishing is a huge issue, as the Billy Goats bagged just once!
The manager Peter Stoger has a lot of problems to pick up the best eleven, as the best player Jonas Hector is sidelined with a syndesmotic ligament tear, while forwards Marcel Risse and Simon Zoller are doubtful due to muscular problems.
FK CRVENA ZVEZDA
The Red-Whites are in a superb form, as they are sitting at the top of the Serbian Super Liga with nine wins and only one draw from the first ten rounds. In the previous derby match against Vojvodina, they easily won, 2:0, in front of the home fans. That is not all, FK Crvena Zvezda has conceded just one goal so far in the Serbian Super Liga!
Maybe they are dominating in a domestic championship, but the Europa League is something different. In the first round, The Star earned a draw, 1:1, against BATE at home, although they were a better team. The midfielder Nemanja Radnonjic brought the lead in the 54th minute, after that the home team had a few chances to finish the game. BATE has survived somehow, and in a 72nd minute, Nikolai Signevich leveled the match.
FK Crvena Zvezda is a young and inexperienced team, with a lot of talented players. The foreigners Guelor Kanga, Richmond Boakye and Mitchell Donald are leading the team, as it seems like the manager Vladan Milojevic is the main force with his great tactical schemes. He made this team a dangerous opponent for anyone. The Serbian coach can count on all players, besides the defensive midfielder Branko Jovicic, who’s out due to an injury.
FC KOLN vs. FK Crvena Zvezda – Match Prediction
Unlike the FC Koln’s, FK Crvena Zvezda’s self-confidence is sky high. I expect to see a tight game, with some tactical outplaying. This kind of games are always ungrateful for predictions, but I’ll put my money on the under. With four rounds to go after this one, both teams can lose a lot on Thursday night.
MY PICK: Under 2.5 goals (-110)
KONYASPOR vs. GUIMARAES
Three-Way: 1: Konyaspor +124; X: +245 Draw; 2: Guimaraes +309
Spread -0.5: Konyaspor +112; Guimaraes -120
Total +2: Over -133; Under +120
KONYASPOR
After the Turkish Cup winners have lost the opening match of the Europa League at Marseille, 1:0, they will be searching for the first points at home, against a similar strength side Guimaraes. Meanwhile, Konyaspor has played two games in a domestic league, beating Akhisar Belediye, 2:0, at home, and loosing as visitors against Besiktas with the same result.
The Anatolian Eagle has some talented players on the squad, as a Bosnian Deni Milosevic and the Turk Omer Sahiner are the creative force in the midfield. The striker Imoh Ezekiel, who arrived from Al-Arabi Sports Club this summer, is still adapting to a new club so that we could see Malick Evouna or Moryke Fofana in the front. The manager Mustafa Resit Akcay prefers 4-5-1 formation, and he has no serious injury worries, as the forward Abdou Traore is the only player out due to a fractured foot.
GUIMARAES
Vitoria Guimaraes is in a pretty good form recently, with two wins and two draws out of the last five games. In the first round of the Europa League, they grabbed a point at home against the favored Salzburg, 1:1. Now they are traveling to Konya, looking to stay undefeated to preserve their chance to qualify for the next round.
The first game against Salzburg was pretty tough, as the Austrians were a better team. However, Guimaraes managed to defend the goal in the second half and deservedly won a point. The Conquerors were always playing better at home, so they will need their best game to succeed at Buyuksehir Stadium, in front of the hellish domestic fans.
Vitoria’s manager Pedro Martins has no injury problems, and all players are ready to go. I’m expecting to see a patient and defensive approach, as he usually does when his team is playing away from the home stadium.
KONYASPOR vs. GUIMARAES – Match Prediction
It is going to be the first game between these two rivals, and both teams will be looking for a positive result. After a starting defeat, Konyaspor is in a worse situation than Guimaraes, so I expect to see a responsible attacking approach from a home team. They are certainly favorites in this clash, but I think one of the two teams will not be able to score.
MY PICK: Both teams to score NO (-111)
LAZIO vs. WAREGEM
Three-Way: 1: Lazio -312; X: +650 Draw; 2: Waregem +1425
Spread -1.5: Lazio -143; Waregem +136
Total +3.5: Over +110; Under -115
LAZIO
After a rollercoaster and a bunch of goals in the first round of the Europa League against Vitesse, Lazio will look for another three points against Waregem. This time they’ll play at home, trying to secure a win before visiting Nice in the third round.
Since the match in Arnhem, Lacio has played three games in the Serie A. They earned six points, beating Genoa and Verona on the road, and losing a home game against Napoli. The striker Ciro Immobile is on fire as he bagged eight goals in the first six rounds of the Serie A, adding one more against Vitesse as well. He should be the main threat for Waregem’s defense on a Thursday night. Lazio’s manager Simone Inzaghi prefers 3-5-2 formation, and against Vitesse Felipe Caicedo was playing along Immobile. His team is the third most effective in the Serie A with 13 goals scored out of 68 created chances.
There are a lot of injury problems among the squad, as Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Stefan de Vrij, Dusan Basta, Felipe Anderson, Wallace, and Bastos are all unavailable for this match.
WAREGEM
Zulte Waregem is having a great season, laying on the third spot of the Belgian Jupiler League with 16 points from the first eight rounds. After a debacle in the first round of the Europa League against Nice at home, 5:1, Waregem had three victories in a row. They’ve beaten Gent, 1:0, in the previous game as visitors, and now they’ll travel to Rome to face the toughest challenge from the start of the season.
The manager Francky Dury prefers a 4-5-1 formation, transforming it sometimes to a 4-3-3. His team is playing an entertaining football, as strikers, Aaron Leya Iseka and Ivan Saponjic are team’s top scorers with four goals in all competitions each. The midfielder Onur Kaya and a winger Nill De Pauw are especially dangerous from the deep. Francky Dury doesn’t have any injury worries, as all his players are ready to go.
LAZIO vs. WAREGEM – Match Prediction
Lazio is a huge favorite in this clash, and I expect to see them attacking from the start. Waregem will look to defend, trying to threaten from counter attacks.
The home win should not come in question. As a matter of fact, the Italians should be able to cover the AH -1.5.
MY PICK: Lazio AH -1.5 (-143)
