Matchups in one of the strongest groups in this seasons’ UEFA Europa League competition, group J, will also take place during this midweek. Athletic Bilbao (Spain), Hertha Berlin (Germany), Ostersunds (Sweden) and FK Zorya Luhansk (Ukraine) are the contenders in this “group of death.” At the moment, table rankings in group J look inverted and totally unexpected but if we look at the performances that two top-ranked teams have presented so far, it’s no wonder that Athletic Bilbao and Hertha BSC, two far more famous clubs have only three points earned combined.
Yes, Ostersunds is on the top with seven points after three rounds while FK Zorya Luhansk has six so far and they are the front-runners for the advancement to the eight-finals, not Spaniards or the Germans.
Athletic Bilbao (Esp) vs. Ostersunds (Swe)
Three-Way: 1:Athletic Bilbao -217; X: +388 Draw; 2: Ostersunds +950 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -1.5: Athletic Bilbao +131; Ostersunds -130
Total +2.5: Over -108; Under +104
ATHLETIC BILBAO
Athletic Bilbao can still qualify for the eight-finals but the wins in both home matchups are an imperative. They suffered an unexpected loss at San Mames Stadium against the Ukrainian side (0:1) but managed to stay undefeated on the road with two draws against Hertha Berlin (0:0) and Ostersund (2:2). Centre-forward Aduriz is the most valuable player for the team in the Europa League with one goal and one assist while Inaki Williams has one goal scored too.
In the Spanish Premier League, the team from north of the Spain is struggling and after ten games they are ranked at No. 15 spot with only 11 points earned and 3-2-5 record. They definitely need to step up a notch and start playing because their currently losing the battle on both fronts. Aduriz is also the team’s leading scorer in Primera with four goals while Raul Garcia has two in his account. Inaki Williams is the top assister with three.
Iker Muniain (cruciate ligament) and Iker Undabarrene (cruciate ligament) will be back at the beginning of the next year while Mikel Balenziaga (ankle) and Oscar De Marcos (ankle) are listed as day to day.
OSTERSUNDS
The Ostersunds’ team fairytale is still going forward as the Swedes find themselves at the top of the Europa League Group J ranking with seven points (2-1-0 record) and a 5-2 goal difference. The team that entered the competition in the second qualifying round is near to achieve the greatest result in squad’s history by advancing to the eighth-finals of the UEFA Europa League competition. If they can stay undefeated on Thursday, the dream will be one step closer. Top performers in the international front are Alhaji Gero with two goals, and Curtis Edwards and Brwa Nouri with one each while Saman Ghoddos recorded one goal and one assist too.
The team is raising its form in the domestic competition too as they currently rank at No. 4 spot in the league table with 49 points after 29 rounds and a 13-10-6 record. They are undefeated in last four weeks including three consecutive wins in last three games. Striker Ghoddos is the leading scorer in the national league with eight goals while Ken Sema has eight assists (3rd in the league).
Centre-back Douglas Bergqvist (knee) and winger Hosam Aiesh (groin) are out for Thursday’s matchup.
Athletic Bilbao (Esp) vs. Ostersunds (Swe) – Match Prediction
If the Spaniards don’t snatch a home win here their chances of advancing to the next Europa League stage will drastically decline but to be honest I’m not sure that they have enough juice to do it. My best bet here is at least one goal scored by both teams and I would also go with over 2.5 goals in total because the Swedes obviously know how to score on the road.
MY PICK: Both teams score YES (+122)
Additional pick: Over 2.5 goals (-108)
Hertha Berlin (Ger) vs. FK Zorya Luhansk (Ukr).
Three-Way: 1: Hertha Berlin -132; X: +311 Draw; 2: FK Zorya Luhansk +530 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -1: Hertha Berlin +123; FK Zorya Luhansk -120
Total +2.5: Over +110; Under -115
HERTHA BERLIN
The Blue-Whites from the German capital are recording one of the worse season starts in recent years in the league and those poor performances have been transferred to the Europa League as well. They have only one point in three games but they will play two of the remaining three duels at home and advancement to the next stage is still a possibility. The only goal in the European front was the deed of Davie Selke while Marvin Plattenhardt recorded one assist.
In the Bundesliga, Hertha currently ranks at No. 11 spot with 13 points in 10 games and a 3-4-3 record. Their goal difference is 11-12 and they are undefeated in last two weeks, including the last Saturday’s 2:1 victory over Hamburger SV at home. Striker Mathew Leckie tops the team in scoring with four goals so far while Vedad Ibisevic collected team-high three assists.
Fabian Lustenberger (calf) is listed as day to day while Mathew Leckie’s (thigh) and Vladimir Darida’s (knee) status is unknown. Julian Schieber (knee) is back in training.
FK ZORYA LUHANSK
The second spot in the group table is not undeserved as the Ukrainians have recorded two wins (over Hertha at home and over Bilbao on the road) and one loss (against Ostersund at home). Obviously, both contenders for the No. 2 spot have been defeated once before and there is no reason for that not to be the case again. Still, visit to Berlin could be the crucial showdown and if they can stay undefeated they’ll be one step closer to the spring in the Europa League. Ihor Kharatin, Silas, and Oleksandr Svatok are the authors of three goals for the team so far while Oleksandr Karavayev and Artem Sukhotskiy have one assist each collected.
The squad has been struggling in the domestic league at the beginning of the season but they are now riding a six-game undefeated streak and they currently ranked at No. 7 spot in the league table with 18 points in 14 games and a 4-6-4 record. They’re coming off from a 2:2 home draw against Olexandria last weekend. Iury and Yevhen Opanasenko are the teams’ leading scorers with four goals each.
Andriy Pylyavsky (unknown), Vladyslav Kalitvintsev (knee) and Vasyl Pryjma (hamstring) are out for Thursday’s matchup.
Hertha Berlin (Ger) vs. FK Zorya Luhansk (Ukr) – Match Prediction
My first advice here is not to go for the final result because all three possibilities are wide open. My only reasonable pick here will be under 2.5 goals in total but it can go other way too. I’m also not very sure that there will be at least one goal scored by both teams but the possibility for that is probably exact as the possibility for over 2.5 goals in total. I’ll go with both teams doesn’t score as an additional pick.
MY PICK: Under 2.5 goals (-115)
Additional pick: Both teams score NO (-115)
