Europa League Preview Round-Up: Groups G-L
Group G
Levski Sofia-Lazio Red Bull Salzburg-Villarreal
Since losing to Red Bull Salzburg, it’s been a difficult couple of weeks for Lazio, who have managed only two points from their subsequent three league matches prior to this trip to Bulgaria. The Bulgarians are in a similar position to the Romans, having lost to Villarreal in the opening match of the group. Levski have failed to register a point in their subsequent two league games, including a damaging derby loss to arch-rivals CSKA.
In Austria, meanwhile, the two group leaders meet, with Red Bull Salzburg arguably the favourites for the tie. Huub Stevens’ men are top of the Austrian Bundesliga, whilst Villarreal have had a disastrous start to life under new coach Ernesto Valverde. They find themselves languishing in 19th place in the Primera Division, and yet to win a league match. The Europa League has offered some comfort to Villarreal, so they will be targeting a strong performance to kick-start their domestic form.
Group H
Twente-Steaua Bucharest FC Sheriff-Fenerbahce
It’s been a wonderful start to the season for Twente, who have bounced back magnificently from the heartbreak of conceding that last gasp goal against Sporting, which ended their Champions League dream. They are undefeated overall this season in all competitions, and gave a glimpse of their potential in Istanbul by beating better-fancied Fenerbahce on the opening night of the group. Steaua were disappointed to come away with only a 0-0 draw from their home game with Sheriff, which highlighted their rather sporadic form so far this season. They’ll be looking for a strong performance at the Arke Stadion to get themselves back into contention in the group.
Sheriff may have been pleased with their point in Romania, but it did them little good in the Moldovan league, where they slipped further off the pace set by Iskra-Stal by losing at the weekend to Zimbru Chisanu. They welcome Fenerbahce, who have racked up some big scores in Europe already this season. The Turkish side are top of the Super Lig, and will be expecting to come away with the three points from this match.
Group I
AEK Athens-Benfica BATE Borisov-Everton
AEK have had a tough time of it since their 4-0 hammering at the hands of Everton on the opening night of the group. They’ve lost two of their last three league games, although those defeats did come against Olympiacos and Panathinaikos. They host Benfica, who continue to catch the eye with their goal scoring exploits in the league. They hit five at the weekend to take their tally to 21 in just six matches, and will hope they can exploit AEK’s current poor form.
The defeat BATE suffered in Portugal doesn’t appear to have unduly hampered their league form, as they continue to be the class of the Belarusian league. They’ll have another chance to have a go at one of the big boys when Everton come to town. David Moyes’ men have turned a corner with regard to their league form following that big with against AEK. They’ve since picked up three straight wins in all competitions, scoring eight and keeping clean-sheets in all those games.
Group J
Toulouse-Club Brugge Shakhtar Donetsk-Partizan Belgrade
Toulouse got off to a terrific start, defeating Partizan away, and will be looking to make it two out of two in European competition as they host Club Brugge. Toulouse’s league form has continued to be somewhat indifferent, resulting in a mid-table position at this early stage of Ligue 1. Club Brugge may be forgiven for being distracted ahead of this match. They may have domestic matters on their minds as they play Anderlecht at the weekend, with the chance to go joint top with their arch rivals if they can manage a victory.
The winners of the last UEFA Cup, the forerunner to this competition, Shakhtar Donetsk, got off to a terrific start against Club Brugge a fortnight ago with a resounding 4-1 win in Belgium. They’ll be targeting another three points against Serb side Partizan.
Group K
Copenhagen-Sparta Prague PSV Eindhoven-Cluj
Danish champions Copenhagen look like they’ve got the Matchday 1 defeat at the hands of Cluj out of their system, securing consecutive league wins. They welcome Sparta Prague optimistic of getting some points on the board in Group K. Sparta were twice pegged back by PSV in the opening group game and have followed that result up with two more league draws. As a result, they have fallen off the pace in their domestic league. They host city-rivals Slavia at the weekend.
PSV, the current Eredivisie table-toppers, needed the intervention of substitute Jonathan Reis against Sparta to rescue a share of the points in Matchday 1, but since then they have continued their largely excellent form in domestic competition. Cluj used their win against Copenhagen as something of a springboard in the Romanian league, winning their next two games and shooting up from mid-table to sit joint top with Unirea, so this encounter certainly pits two in-form sides together.
Group L
Werder Bremen-Athletic Bilbao Austria Vienna-CD Nacional
Werder Bremen host Athletic Bilbao at the Weserstadion, with both sides having made promising starts to their league and European campaigns. Both picked up wins in the opening matches of the group, and whilst Werder sit fifth in the Bundesliga, Athletic are just a position further back in La Liga. However, Athletic will be looking to get their first league losses out of their system, after consecutive defeats to Tenerife and Sevilla.
The second match of the group sees the two losing sides from Matchday 1 come up against each other. Both conceded three in their opening match, although Nacional made arguably the better fist of the two by giving Werder a fright. The Portuguese side may just have turned a corner with regard to their league form, beating Maritimo recently. Meanwhile, Austria are still shadowing Salzburg at the top of the Austrian table.
Walter Townsend, Goal.com
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FK Atyrau
Gyori ETO
Gyori ETO
X
3,10
Beograd
Torpedo Zhodino
Torpedo Zhodino
1
1,37
Elfsborg
Iskra Stali
Iskra Stali
1
1,20
Mypa
Sant Julia
Sant Julia
1
1,04
FC Differdange
FK Spartak Zlatibor
FK Spartak Zlatibor
2
1,25