In this preview, we’ll check out two matches that are the part of week 1 of the UEFA Europa League group stage that will take place during this midweek.
Group stage of the UEFA Europa League is finally in front of us and we have prepared for you a thorough analysis of the group B showdowns that are on the schedule this Thursday in Swiss capital Bern and Albanian city Korce between home teams and visitors from Serbia and Ukraine. The upcoming matchups in this group will present more than just a soccer matches having in mind the recent history of the countries whose representatives will compete against each other (Partizan is from Serbia and Skenderbeu is from Albania) but let’s start from week 1 duels.
UEFA Europa league group stage competition presents a real gold-mine, especially for the teams that are not often seen qualified this high. It secures assets needed for domination in their respective national championships and is considered to be a very great accomplishment.
Young Boys (Sui) vs. Partizan (Ser)
Three-Way: 1: Young Boys +100; X: +282 Draw; Partizan +345
Spread -0.5: Young Boys -109; Partizan +104
Total +2.5: Over -106; Under +106
YOUNG BOYS
The Swiss Champions in 2016 season, Young Boys team appeared in the Playoff round of the UEFA Champions League competition where they got eliminated by the Russian Champion, CSKA Moscow (3:0 in aggregate, 1:0 loss at home, 2:0 loss on the road). Now they will have the chance to make something happen in the group B of UEFA Europa League group stage. They will compete for two top spots that lead to the knockout stage of the competition along with Partizan from Serbia, Dynamo Kyiv from Ukraine and Skenderbeu from Albania.
In the national championship team currently, tops the league table with 14 points earned after seven rounds (4-2-1 record). They are coming off from a 3:0 home win over Lugano that ended the three-game streak without of victory. Obviously, the Young Boys team still presents the No. 1 candidate for the National League title.
Left midfielder Taulant Seferi (groin), right-back Sven Joss (unknown) and central midfielder Djibril Sow (unknown) are listed as questionable for Thursday’s matchup.
PARTIZAN
The Serbian side group stage qualification represented a positive surprise for most of the soccer-world fans after their elimination in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League by Greek champions Olympiacos (3:5 in aggregate). It was expected that the playoff round of the Europa League is as far as they can go, especially after the goalless draw in the first leg at home against Hungarian representative Videoton. Still, the Black and Whites surprised the entire soccer world and defeated the Hungarians 4:0 on the road thus earning the group stage berth in one of the European competitions for the first time in eleven years.
In Serbian national championship, they currently rank third with 16 points in seven games (5-1-1 record) and they are coming off from a comfortable 3:0 home win over Mladost Lucani. Along with Red Star and FK Spartak, they are the main contenders for Serbian championship title.
Manager Miroslav Djukic will not have central midfielder Nebojsa Kosovic (knee) and center-forward Dusan Vlahovic at his disposal on Thursday.
YOUNG BOYS vs. PARTIZAN – Match Prediction
The Swiss side is a clear favorite here but Partizan team might give some scare to the home team. The difference in class is obvious from the spectators’ perspective but things might not be that simple on the pitch. Young Boys were helpless against CSKA and Partizan proved that they can play on the road with that 4:0 demolition of Videoton. Still, my first guess here is the home team win but I wouldn’t be surprised if it goes by one goal difference.
MY PICK: Young Boys to win (+100)
Additional pick: Young Boys AH -0.5 (-109)
Dynamo Kiev (Ukr) vs. Skenderbeu (Alb)
Three-Way: 1: Dynamo Kiev -417; X: +850 Draw; Skenderbeu +2700
Spread -2: Dynamo Kiev -119; Skenderbeu +117
Total +3: Over -112; Under +110
SKENDERBEU
The Skenderbeu Korce team recorded one of the biggest successes in team’s history by advancing to the group stage of the UEFA Europa League competition. It is the first time that one Albanian team managed to get so high in the competition since its foundation. First, they went by Andorran side Sant Julia in the first qualifying round (6:0 in aggregate) before eliminating Kazakhstani side Kairat (3:1 in aggregate). In the third round they face the biggest challenge so far but managed to win the duel against Mlada Boleslav after penalty kicks (3:3 in aggregate, 4:2 penalties). In the playoff round, they were the constructors of the surprise of the round, when they managed to eliminate the Croatian champion Dinamo Zagreb on an away goal rule (1:1 in aggregate).
Albanian national championship started last weekend and Skenderbeu recorded a 2:0 season opener against Flamurtari team.
Centre-back Tefik Osmani will not be available for Thursday because of the sports court suspension while central midfielder Bakary Nimaga is ineligible because of the indirect card suspension.
DYNAMO KIEV
Similarly like Partizan, Dynamo Kiev team was eliminated in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League by their group B opponent Young Boys team but then managed to defeat the Portuguese representative Maritimo in Europa League playoff round (3:1 in aggregate) thus qualifying for the Europa League group stage. Along with the Swiss, they represent the strongest contenders for one of the two top spots in group B.
In Ukrainian national championship they are currently ranked second in the league table two points behind the league leader Shakhtar but with one match fewer played (6-1-0 record, 19 points earned). These two teams will definitely present top contenders for the Ukrainian League title.
There are no injured players currently on the injury report but two guys, center-back Evgen Khacheridi and central midfielder Sergiy Sydorchuk are in the risk of suspension with three yellow cards each.
DYNAMO KIEV vs. SKENDERBEU – Match Prediction
The Ukrainians are a tough cookie and they should be able to squeeze at least two goals in the opponents net. Skenderbeus has proven that they can play against some very respectable teams (read Dinamo Zagreb). They might even score a goal, which is why I will go with the over and both teams to score.
MY PICK: Over 3 goals (-112)
Additional pick: Both teams score (+175)
