The next Europa League double-header that we’re going to put our attention on will take place in Salzburg (Austria) and Guimaraes (Portugal). Teams in group I that features aforementioned hosts and Konyaspor (Turkey) along with Marseille (France) will lock horns in order to clarify the table rankings further. Red Bull Salzburg is on the top after three rounds with seven points (2-1-0 record) while the French side has six points in total (2-0-1 record). Konyaspor team has one win and two defeats (three points) while Vitoria de Guimaraes has only one point earned (0-1-2 record).
Upcoming week 4 could secure top two spots for Salzburg and Marseille if they emerge victories and these will definitely be two very interesting matchups.
Salzburg (Aut) vs. Konyaspor (Tur)
Three-Way: 1:Salzburg -278; X: +535 Draw; 2: Konyaspor +1258 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -1.5: Salzburg -118; Konyaspor +114
Total 3: Over +110; Under -115
SALZBURG
The Bulls from Salzburg are enjoying a very successful start of the season with only one loss in 16 games in all competitions. In the group I of the Europa League they are currently ranked on the top with seven points and 4-1 goal difference. Team top scorer in the Europe is Munas Dabbur with two goals while Valon Berisha and Fredrik Gulbrandsen have one each. The squad also recorded competition-high four assists as Stefan Lainer, Takumi Minamino, Diadie Samassekou, and Andreas Ulmer all have one each so far.
In the domestic competition, Salzburg ranks at the No. 2 spot in the league table with 28 points in 13 games and 8-4-1 record. Only loss came against No. 1 ranked Sturm Graz three months ago, who they trail in the table by three points. Striker Dabbur is also the leading scorer in the Austrian Bundesliga with nine goals while Hannes Wolf has four in his account.
Left-back Stefan Stangl (strain), centre-back Marin Pongracic (muscle), centre-back Paulo Miranda (muscle) and striker Hee-Chan Hwang (hamstring) are all out for Thursday.
KONYASPOR
The Turks have one win in the competition that came against Guimaraes at home (2:1) and it will be a big surprise if they can set themselves at one of the top two spots in the group that leads to the next Europa League stage. Two other duels with Salzburg at home and Marseille on the road went down badly with no goal scored and three conceded. Only two scorers for the team in the Europa League are midfielders Araz Musa and Deni Milosevic with one each while Patrick Eze and Nejc Skubic collected one assist each.
In Turkish Super Liga, the Konyaspor team is struggling this season as they currently rank at No. 14 spot with 10 total points earned after 10 games and 3-1-6 record. Nevertheless, they’re coming off from a 1:0 home win over Osmanlispor that propelled the team above the relegation line. Musa Araz is also the leading scorer in the domestic league with two goals in his account.
Abdou Traore (fractured foot) and Amir Hadziahmetovic (wound) are not going to be available for the upcoming matchup.
Salzburg (Aut) vs. Konyaspor (Tur) – Match Prediction
The Austrian team is much stronger at the moment and anything besides a solid win would be a big surprise. Also, Konayspor team has a lot of problems with efficiency and for those of you who are aiming on both teams to score pick, be careful. Besides the Bulls’ win, I would go with under 3 goals in total also because as I’ve stated above, I don’t have much confidence in the Turkish side’s attack.
MY PICK: Salzburg AH -1.5 (-118)
Additional pick: Under 3 goals (-115)
Guimaraes (Por) vs. Marseille (Fra).
Three-Way: 1: Guimaraes +376; X: +290 Draw; 2: Marseille -114 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread +0.5: Guimaraes +114; Marseille -120
Total +2.5: Over -111; Under +106
GUIMARAES
The Vittoria Guimaraes squad has only one point earned so far and obviously least chance to advance to the second round but thread carefully because that only draw came at home against top-ranked Salzburg and the Portuguese side still has two matchups against Marseille and Konyaspor in front of their own crowd meaning that they could very much still be in the race for one of the two top spots. Naturally, they’ll need to emerge victorious on Thursday if they want this to come true. Midfielder Paulo Hurtado is the most valuable player for the team in Europa League play so far with one goal and one assist recorded.
In the domestic league, the team currently ranks at No. 8 spot with 14 points after 10 rounds and a 4-2-4 record. They have a negative goal difference (13-18) but they’re coming off from an important 3:1 road win over Aves last weekend. Striker Raphinha is the team’s top scorer in Portuguese Premier League with six goals at the moment.
Goalie Douglas Jesus (knee) and centre-back Pedrao (unknown) are out for Thursday.
MARSEILLE
The Phocians (nickname for the Olympique Marseille team) are undefeated in the last six games in the French Premier League and the good form has been transferred to the Europa League competition as they’ve earned six points after first three rounds of play. A potential road win in Portugal would seal the deal when it comes to the next stage advancement but we’re not going to go ahead of ourselves here, and hopefully, neither will the Marseille players because Guimaraes could be a potential landmine. Three goals in the Europa League play so far were authored by Maxime Lopez, Lucas Ocampos, and Adil Rami while Dimitri Payet and Morgan Sanson have one assist each.
They currently rank at No. 4 spot in the domestic championship with 21 points in 11 games and a 6-3-2 record. The team is coming off from a 1:0 road win over Lille on Sunday. Clinton N’Jie is the top scorer with five goals while Payet and Florian Thauvin have team-high three assists each.
Defender Jordan Amavi (knee) is the only injured player at the moment and he will not be on the roster for Thursday’s duel.
Guimaraes (Por) vs. Marseille (Fra) – Match Prediction
Guimaraes team is pretty solid at home soil this year and the guests from France will have their hands full. Both teams to score is my best bet here and when it comes to the final result, a draw makes the most sense. For the courageous ones, a 1:1 final result is a place to go.
MY PICK: Both teams score YES (-125)
