The UEFA Europa League group phase continues this Thursday, so take a look at our tips and predictions for the Group G matches. With plenty of picks and markets to choose from, don’t waste your time and enter the action at Get More Sports.
Lugano (Swi) vs. Plzen (Cze)
Three-Way: Lugano +320; X: +270 Draw; 2: Plzen +110
Spread +0.5: Lugano -111; Plzen +100
Total +2.5: Over -106; Under +100
LUGANO
Lugano is in the worst position of all teams in the group G with zero points from the first two matches, and a pair of 1-2 defeats against Hapoel Beer Sheva and FCSB. They have been in a horrendous form of late as they recorded just one win in the previous eight outings, so it isn’t strange why Lugano is at the bottom of the Swiss Super League at the moment. It is hard to expect them to repeat the last season’s success when they ended in the 3rd place in the league, and I don’t think they have chances of getting to the knockout stage in the UEFA Europa League as well.
Lugano has played 15 games so far in the 2017/18, recording four victories, two draws, and nine losses, with a goal difference of 18:25, which is 2.85 goals per contest on average. They have only one home win in seven matches, and the fact that they are playing European games at Swissporarena in Luzern is not helping them, so Plzen must be considered as favorites on this one.
The Swedish forward Alexander Gerndt, Younes Bnou Marzouk, and Carlinhos Junior are the team’s top scorers with three goals each, while the attacking midfielder Davide Mariani is the most creative player with six assists to his name. Head coach, Pierluigi Tami cannot count on Goran Jozinovic (cruciate ligament rupture), Stefano Guidotti (wound), Marco Padalino (unknown injury), while Junior is also sidelined and will not feature in this tilt.
PLZEN
The Czech vice-champions have been in a fantastic form recently as they recorded six consecutive victories and are currently at the top of the 1. Liga with ten wins in ten matches, and are eight points clear of the reigning champs Slavia Prague. The latest 1:0 win at Sparta was particularly pleasing for the fans, and Plzen are in a solid position to continue their participation in the Europa League, but they must get a positive result in Switzerland on Thursday night. Viktoria have three points from the opening two games, and a possible win here would boost their chances to qualify for the knockout stage.
Plzen played 17 games so far in this campaign, recording 13 wins, two draws, and a pair of defeats, with a goal difference of 34:15, which is almost 2.9 goals per contest on average. Plzen suffered only one away loss in eight matches and failed to find the net on just two occasions away from Doosan Arena. Back to back away victories over Mlada Boleslav and Sparta Prague are surely encouraging for Plzen fans, especially considering that they kept a clean sheet in both games.
The striker Michael Krmencik is the team’s leading scorer with nine goals in 13 appearances, while Marek Bakos with five, and Daniel Kolar with four goals are also key contributors. When it comes to creativity, the right-midfielder Jan Kopic leads the team with five assists to his name, while Martin Zeman and Krmencik added four dishes each. The centre-back Jan Baranek is unavailable due to a knee injury, his fellow defender Marian Cisovsky is out with a virus infection, while the left-back David Limbersky is doubtful as he’s recovering from a cheekbone fracture.
Lugano (Swi) vs. Plzen (Cze) – Match Prediction
Lugano have slim chances to advance from this group, while Plzen are looking strong recently, so I am giving the advantage to the visitors.
MY PICK: DC Plzen to win (+110)
Hapoel Beer Sheva (Isr) vs. FCSB (Rom)
Three-Way: Hapoel Beer Sheva +129; X: +252 Draw; 2: FCSB +275
Spread -0.5: Hapoel Beer Sheva +118; FCSB -127
Total +2.5: Over +114; Under -119
HAPOEL BEER SHEVA
The Israeli champions are not having the best of times in the Ligat ha’Al as they are currently in the 5th spot with six points behind the leaders Hapoel Haifa. Beer Sheva won five out of the previous seven matches in all competitions, and have three points from the opening two games in the group G of the Europa League, so this clash with the Romanians is quite significant for Hapoel’s chances of getting to the knockout stage.
Hapoel Beer Sheva played 19 games in the 2017/18 campaign, recording 12 victories, two draws, and five losses, with a goal difference of 32:24, which is 2.95 goals per contest on average. When performing at their Toto Turner Stadium, the Camels suffered just one defeat in eight matches, and that 0-3 loss to Beitar Jerusalem was the only time Hapoel failed to score in front of their own fans.
The Nigerian striker Anthony Nwakaeme is the team’s top scorer with six goals to his name, while the midfielder Dan Einbinder and Tomas Pekhart scored three goals each. The left-winger Maor Melikson is quite dominant when it comes to assist-making as he already recorded eight dishes, while Nwakaeme has four dishes so far in the season. The quartet could create plenty of problems for Nita Florin and FCSB’s defense, so they need to pay special attention to them. Head coach Barak Bakhar will be without the striker Guy Melamed, while the right-back Ben Bitton and centre-back Miguel Vitor are doubtful for this clash.
FCSB
The Romanian vice-champions are in a solid run of seven games without a loss, and they are currently in the 2nd place in the Liga 1 with four points behind the leaders CFR Cluj. FCSB are at the top of the Europa League group G with six points from the opening two matches, thanks to wins over Plzen and Lugano, so they are in an excellent position to qualify for the knockout phase. Of course, that could change in case they suffer a defeat in Israel, but the Red and Blues will be quite satisfied with the point, as they will still have a pair of home matches to play and decide their own fate.
FCSB have played 20 games in the 2017/18 season, recording 11 victories, seven draws, and a couple of losses, with a goal difference of 33:19, which is 2.6 goals per contest on average. They suffered only one defeat away from Arena Nationala in ten outings, so the hosts are facing a tough opponent on Thursday night.
The attacking midfielder Constantin Budescu is the team’s leading scorer with seven goals in 12 appearances thus far, but Harlem Gnohere and Florin Tanase are following Budescu with five goals each. The 19-year-old right-winger Dennis Man is the most creative individual with five dishes, while Tanase, Ovidiu Popescu, Marko Momcilovic, and Denis Alibec recorded three assists to their respective names. Head coach Nicolae Dica is without injury-related concerns as all of his players are in good health and ready to go in this encounter.
Hapoel Beer Sheva (Isr) vs. FCSB (Rom) – Match Prediction
It’s going to be a rather entertaining Europa League game, but I cannot opt for either team, so I would go with both to score as I don’t believe it will be a low-scoring affair.
MY PICK: Both teams to score YES (+100)
