The UEFA Europa League group phase continues this Thursday, so take a look at our tips and predictions for the Group F matches. With plenty of picks and markets to choose from, don’t waste your time and enter the action at Get More Sports.
Lokomotiv Moscow (Rus) vs. Sheriff Tiraspol (Mda)
Three-Way: Lokomotiv Moscow -154; X: +316 Draw; 2: Sheriff Tiraspol +710 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -1: Lokomotiv Moscow +106; Sheriff Tiraspol -106
Total +2.5: Over +131; Under -133
LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW
The Railroaders are on a mini-run of two consecutive victories, including the most recent vital one against Zenit in St. Petersburg after Jefferson Farfan’s brace and Aleksey Miranchuk scored goals to secure a huge 3-0 win. Lokomotiv is at the top of the Russian Premier League with three points ahead of Zenit, while they are also the leaders of the group F in the Europa League and three points here would likely be enough to qualify for the knockout stage.
Lokomotiv Moscow played 20 games so far in the 2017/18, recording 11 victories, four draws, and five losses, with a goal difference of 30:17, which is 2.35 goals per contest on average. The Railroaders won all three previous matches at RZD Arena, scoring eight and conceding none in return, so the Moldavians will have a lot to do to get one past goalkeeper Guilherme.
The Portuguese midfielder has been in an excellent form this year as he’s currently the team’s top scorer with eight goals in 20 appearances, while Aleksey Miranchuk with six, and Jefferson Farfan with four are following him on a goal-scoring chart. The 22-year-old Miranchuk is the most creative individual with six assists, while his brother Anton and Fernandes added five dishes to their respective names. Yuri Semin will be without a defender Vedran Corluka (Achilles tendon) and the Brazilian striker Ari, who are sidelined and will not feature in this Europa League tilt.
SHERIFF TIRASPOL
The Moldavian champions are without a defeat in the last 17 matches and are at the top of the Divizia Nationala with five points ahead of Milsami. Sheriff recorded three draws in the first three games in the Europa League and has a decent chance to qualify for the knockout stage, but they mustn’t lose in Moscow. The group F is among the most complicated ones in this year’s edition of the UEL, and nothing is decided yet so that both teams will be highly motivated for this encounter.
Sheriff Tiraspol played 26 games in this campaign, recording 15 victories, nine draws, and two losses, with a goal difference of 57:21, which is precisely three goals per contest on average. They won the previous four away matches and kept the clean sheet on two, so the Russians are surely aware of Sheriff’s fine form and will enter this tilt cautiously.
The 18-year-old striker Vitalie Damascan is the team’s leading scorer with 12 goals at the moment, while Stefan Mugosa and Ziguy Badibanga are behind the youngster on a goal-scoring chart. Badibanga scored three goals in the last four appearances, so Lokomotiv defenders must pay particular attention to him on Thursday. Roberto Bording is happy to have all of the players healthy and available for this duel as no new injuries occurred.
Lokomotiv Moscow (Rus) vs. Sheriff Tiraspol (Mda) – Match Prediction
Sheriff proved to be a tough team to beat, and the Russians will not have an easy job here, and I think the visitors will find the back of the net, so I go with goals on both sides.
MY PICK: Both teams to score YES (+134)
FC Copenhagen (Den) vs. Zlin (Cze)
Three-Way: FC Copenhagen -189; X: +387 Draw; 2: Zlin +780 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -1: FC Copenhagen -130; Zlin +131
Total +2.5: Over -111; Under +112
FC COPENHAGEN
The Danish champions won only once in the last six matches, and they are in the 5th position in the Superliga with eight points behind Brondby. Copenhagen drew all three games in the Europa League and are two points behind Lokomotiv Moscow, so a victory here is quite imperative for the hosts. Although another stalemate could keep them in a contention for the knockout phase, the Lions are huge favorites on this one, and anything but a win would be surprising.
FC Copenhagen played 24 games in this season, recording ten victories, seven draws, and seven losses, with a goal difference of 40:24, which is 2.75 goals per contest on average. The Lions are much better at home as they are without a defeat in the past nine matches, keeping the clean sheet in the previous three at Telia Parken.
The Serbian forward Andrija Pavlovic is the team’s top scorer with nine goals in 22 appearances, while Pieros Sotiriou and Benjamin Verbic with eight are also among the key contributors to the attack. The left-back Pierre Bengtsson and Verbic are the best assist0makers with four dishes to their respective names, while Sotiriou, Uros Matic, Nicolai Boilesen, and Peter Ankersen added three assists thus far. Ståle Solbakken cannot count on the center-backs Erik Johansson (cruciate ligament) and Mikael Antonsson (ruptured knee ligament), but also on the striker Federico Santander and midfielder Jan Gregus who are out injured as well.
ZLIN
The Cobblers are not having the best of times this season as they are currently in the 9th position in the 1. Liga, but the Czech Cup winners are still with chances in the Europa League. Zlin collected two points from the first three matches, and a point in Copenhagen would keep them alive, but the Czechs are the huge underdogs, and getting a positive result in Denmark will be tough to achieve.
Zlin played 17 games in the 2017/18 so far, recording six victories, five draws, and six losses, with a goal difference of 18:22, which is 2.35 goals per contest on average. When it comes to matches away from Letná Stadion, the Cobblers didn’t suffer a defeat in the last four, and that improvement on the road is surely encouraging prior to the crucial Europa League clash.
The Nigerian right-winger Ubong Ekpai and the Senegalese striker Dame Diop are the team’s leading scorer with three goals apiece, while Lukas Zeleznik and Mirzad Mehanovic are following them with a pair of goals each. Daniel Holzer and Diop recorded three assists to their respective names, while the Bosnian midfielder Adnan Dzafic has a couple of dishes at the moment. Bohumil Páník is delighted to have his entire team healthy and available for this Europa League encounter as no fresh injuries occurred lately.
FC Copenhagen (Den) vs. Zlin (Cze) – Match Prediction
Copenhagen has an opportunity to save the season with three points here, but their form is far from convincing so that I wouldn’t put a huge amount of money on them – approach it with caution. On the other hand, the Lions are a far better team than the visitors, and although they failed to show it on the pitch in the Czech Republic two weeks ago, it will be a huge disappointment if they don’t beat Zlin now. I believe in Copenhagen and their quality, and although they will have another chance after this clash, a win here is an imperative.
MY PICK: FC Copenhagen AH -1 (-130)
