The UEFA Europe League group phase is starting this Thursday, so take a look at our tips and predictions for the Group H matches. With plenty of picks and markets to choose from, don’t waste your time and enter the action at Get More Sports.
Arsenal (Eng) vs. Koln (Ger)
Three-Way: 1: Arsenal -192; X: +450 Draw; 2: Koln +750
Spread -1.5: Arsenal +138; Koln -130
Total +2.5: Over -133; Under +129
ARSENAL
The Gunners failed to qualify for the Champions League, and it is unknown how seriously Arsene Wenger is taking the Europe League. Nevertheless, Arsenal is among the biggest favorites to lift the trophy, which guarantees the direct spot in the UCL, so that could be their motive to play it out at full strength. Arsenal didn’t experience the best of starts this season as they suffered two defeats in the first four rounds of the EPL, both of them away from home. Losing 4:0 to Liverpool and displaying an awful and spineless performance put, even more, pressure on Wenger. The Gunners managed to bounce back last weekend at Emirates in a 3:0 victory over Bournemouth, mostly thanks to Danny Welbeck’s brace, but the situation at the club is far from perfect.
Despite their poor form on the road and zero goals scored, Arsenal is quite efficient at home, scoring seven goals in two matches so we can expect at least couple in Thomas Kessler’s net. The Gunners were particularly effective in the first halves of these matches, averaging a pair for 45 minutes. This matchup will likely suit Arsenal as Koln’s defense is struggling at the moment, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the Germans capitulate early in the game. Wenger’s team didn’t lose a competitive game at Emirates since March and 1:5 embarrassment against Bayern in the UCL, winning seven in a row, with a goal difference 20:4.
Danny Welbeck is currently Arsenal’s top scorer with three goals, and he also added an assist to his name. This summer’s addition Alexandre Lacazette is right behind the England international with two goals, while Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey scored one each. Sead Kolasinac and Granit Xhaka are leading the team in assists as both recorded a pair thus far. Santi Cazorla is a long-term absentee for the hosts as he is still recovering from the Achilles tendon injury, while Alex Iwobi (abdomen) and Calum Chambers (groin) are doubtful for Thursday’s encounter.
KOLN
The Billy Goats entered new season poorly and are currently in the last place in Bundesliga, with three defeats out of the first three games. Apparently, the attack is the biggest problem as Koln scored just one goal and conceded seven, so efficiency is Peter Stoger’s main concern. The latest 3:0 loss at Augsburg added more misery, and the Austrian manager is under a lot of heat since the beginning of the campaign. In the last two away matches, Koln allowed two goals in each, and I don’t think they will manage to keep their net intact at Emirates.
The 1985-86 UEFA Cup runners-up are rather inexperienced when it comes to European matches, and with the current, discouraging mood around the club, Koln could suffer a catastrophe in London when they face the Gunners in the first round of the Europe League group stage. The fact that the defender Frederik Sorensen is the only one who found the net in Bundesliga says a lot about the visitors and their inefficiency. Aside from a 5:0 victory over the amateur football club Leher in the German Cup, Koln’s last away win came in January at Darmstadt. Evidently, they are quite toothless ( or should I say hornless) away from RheinEnergie Stadion, so escaping the Emirates undefeated would be a miracle.
Leonardo Bittencourt, Jhon Cordoba, and Yuya Osako could present a threat to Arsenal’s defense, while the leaders of the team are surely Matthias Lehmann and Jonas Hector, so these are five individuals who can hurt the Gunners. However, the visitors will be without starting goalkeeper Timo Horn, who suffered a hip injury and is definitely out, while the midfielders Milos Jojic and Marcel Risse will probably sit out this duel with knee and muscle injuries, respectively.
Arsenal (Eng) vs. Koln (Ger) – Match Prediction
Wenger sticks with three in the back but he also played with three forwards against Bournemouth, so my opinion is that we’re going to see a bunch of goals at Emirates. Koln’s defense is extremely leaky, and I think they will concede two or three goals minimum. Arsenal has the upcoming London Derby against Chelsea on Sunday, so Wenger will try to settle this match in the opening 45 minutes. The hosts could score two in the first half so I would go with the over +1.5 in the first 45 minutes. Additional pick to go with in this Europe League matchup is the over 2.5 goals in 90 minutes.
MY PICK: Over 1.5 goals in the first half (+163)
Additional Pick: Over 2.5 goals (-133)
Crvena Zvezda (Ser) vs. BATE (Blr)
Three-Way: 1: Crvena Zvezda -128; X: +280 Draw; 2: BATE +530
Spread -0.5: Crvena Zvezda -133; BATE +131
Total +2: Over -130; Under +125
CRVENA ZVEZDA
The Serbian vice-champions are again in the group stage of the Europe League after ten years, and this is considered as a big achievement, giving that they knocked-out the Russian side Krasnodar in the playoffs. Crvena Zvezda is in excellent form at the moment; they recorded 11 wins, three draws and only one loss in 2017-18, scoring 34 goals (2.26 per game), and conceding nine (0.6 per game). They are in the first position in the Serbian Super Liga with 19 points out of seven matches, as their only draw came in a big derby against the arch rivals Partizan, 0-0.
Zvezda scored 16 out of 34 goals at home (8 matches), which means they found the net twice on average at Rajko Mitic, while with only two allowed goals, it is apparent that the Serbians have an outstanding home record, and the visitors will have a lot to do to get past keeper Milan Borjan. The latest 2-0 victory at Javor and domination throughout the entire encounter additionally boosted their morale ahead of the vital Europa League clash, and while BATE is a far more serious opponent than Javor, Crvena Zvezda is more than ready to confront the Belarusian champions.
The Ghanaian international Richmond Boakye leads the team in scoring with nine, while he is also the clubs top assistant with three dishes. Aleksandar Pesic and Slavoljub Srnic are behind Boakye with six goals each, but the Belarusians should be aware of Guelor Kanga’s threat, as the Gabon midfielder bagged screamers against Sparta and Krasnodar already. He possesses a fantastic long range shot, so the visiting keeper Denis Shcherbitski must be careful. The defensive midfielder Branko Jovicic is the only home player who will miss the Thursday’s night clash with a metatarsal fracture.
BATE
BATE is entering this game following the series of three consecutive wins, including the one at Oleksandriya, which was crucial in the Europe League playoffs. The Belarus championship is in full swing, and BATE already played 28 matches so far, recording 18 victories, five draws, and five losses. They scored 50 goals and allowed 18, which means 2.42 goals on their games on average. However, all of BATE’s defeats came in away matches, one of which was the important 0-1 against Slavia in Prague.
While their away form is not perfect, the Belarusian champions are a very experienced squad with plenty of European matches on their feet, as they used to participate in the Champions Leauge in recent years. That has to be a little advantage for the visitors, but considering Crvena Zvezda’s form this season and their lack of respect for the opponents, BATE could be in all kinds of trouble if they concede an early goal. Zvezda is especially good at it, so keeping the net intact in the opening 25-30 minutes must be a primary objective for the Belarusians.
The 27-year-old winger Mikhail Gordejchuk is BATE’s top scorer with 16 goals, while Vitali Rodionov and Igor Stasevich recorded eight and five, respectively. The Serbians are aware of Mirko Ivanic’s quality, as the Montenegro midfielder played in Serbia for Vojvodina, and the 23-year-old became an integral part of BATE’s team with four goals and five assists to his name. Except for Evgeni Yablonski who is suspended for this encounter, all the other players are ready to go for the visitors.
Crvena Zvezda (Ser) vs. BATE (Blr) – Match Prediction
Both teams are quite efficient this year, and although I believe the hosts are closer to the victory, I would opt for both teams to score in this Europe League Group H clash. The braver ones could go with over 2 goals.
MY PICK: Both teams to score YES (+129)
Additional Pick: Over 2 goals (-130)
