On September 24, the UEFA Europa League gets exciting with another awesome night of league phase games. The early matches at 18:45 feature Midtjylland going up against Sturm Graz, while PAOK takes on Maccabi Tel Aviv in Thessaloniki.
At 21:00, all eyes are on Europe with a busy schedule: Real Betis will play against Nottingham Forest, Braga will face Feyenoord, and Crvena zvezda will clash with Celtic in Belgrade. Dinamo Zagreb will challenge Fenerbahce in a heated match, Freiburg will welcome Basel, Malmo FF will meet Ludogorets, and Nice will go up against AS Roma in one of the biggest matches of the night.
With the new 36-team format, every goal and every point could be super important for teams aiming for European success.
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Midtjylland vs Sturm Graz
Last season, Midtjylland finished in 2nd place in the league and enters this first round of the Europa League with a lot of confidence. The team is in great shape, and after playing 16 matches in all competitions since the season started, they have only one loss. They show strong scoring ability and solid defense. Their home ground in Herning is like a fortress, where Midtjylland rarely drops points. On their way to this stage of the Europa League, they defeated Hibernian, Fredrikstad, and KuPS.
On the other hand, the Austrian team Sturm Graz is experienced on the European stage. Even though they regularly fight for the top in their domestic league, they often struggle to keep up with stronger opponents in Europe. They started in the Champions League but were beaten by Bodo/Glimt. However, their disciplined tactics and fighting spirit mean they shouldn’t be underestimated. In their home league, they are currently in 2nd place after 6 matches, with 4 wins and 2 losses.
Midtjylland has the advantage of playing at home and their current form is excellent. We expect an offensive match with chances on both sides, but we still give the edge to the home team.
1 (Midtjylland to Win)
Predicted CS: 2:1
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PAOK vs Maccabi Tel Aviv
The Greek giant PAOK is back on the European stage with hopes of going far. The team is doing well in the domestic league, having won three matches and drawn one in their last four games. PAOK has a strong defense and a disciplined midfield, and they play with a lot of energy and aggression in front of their fans. Last season, they finished in third place, and they made it to the League phase by defeating Wolfsberger AC and Rijeka.
Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv comes into this match with an impressive streak of four consecutive wins. Their 4-0 victory away against Hapoel Petah Tikva was particularly remarkable. Maccabi managed to overcome Dynamo Kyiv and Hamrun in the qualifiers, showing they have the quality and mental strength for tough matches. They previously started in the Champions League but were defeated by Pafos. They usually play an open style, focusing on quick attacks and efficiency in front of the opponent’s goal.
The hosts will rely on the support of their fans and their defensive stability, while the visitors will take advantage of their offensive form. Goals from both sides are possible.
GG (BTTS-Yes)
Predicted CS: 2:1
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Betis vs Nottingham
Betis, under the leadership of Manuel Pellegrini, shows great stability and tactical maturity. They enter this match boosted by their 3-1 victory over Real Sociedad, which confirmed their offensive strength.
Betis regularly participates in the Europa League and has the experience to manage these matches. At their home stadium, they are known for their dominance and strong support from fans. Last season, they reached the semifinals of the Conference League but were defeated by Fiorentina in a penalty shootout.
On the other hand, Nottingham is experiencing a historic moment, marking their first European participation in nearly three decades. In recent years, they have struggled to stabilize in the Premier League. Currently, they are in mixed form, having started the season with a win but then going four matches without a victory in the Premier League. This match will be a huge test for their new squad and mentality.
We give Betis a slight advantage due to their home ground and consistency in Europe. Forest will rely on a solid defense and counterattacks, but it will be tough for them to stop Betis’s creative offense.
1 (Betis to Win)
Predicted CS: 2:1
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Braga vs Feyenoord
The Portuguese team Braga regularly competes in Europe, but this time they are facing one of the strongest Dutch clubs Feyenoord, who is in great shape. Braga didn’t start the season very well and after 6 matches in the league, they have two wins, 3 draws, and one loss. They haven’t won in their last 3 matches, and inconsistency remains a problem. On their way to the League phase, they defeated Levski Sofia, CFR Cluj, and Lincoln Red Imps.
On the other hand, Feyenoord is on a great streak with three matches without a loss. Under the leadership of Robin van Persie, the team plays an offensive and modern style of football. They started the league excellently and are still unbeaten after 6 matches, with 5 wins and a draw. The fact that they scored 14 goals and conceded only 4 in these 6 matches shows how dangerous their offensive line is.
They failed to secure a spot in the Champions League after being defeated by Fenerbahce. With quality attackers and a solid midfield, Feyenoord enters the match with optimism, even though playing in Portugal is never easy.
Braga will rely on their home crowd, while Feyenoord will use their current excellent form and offensive approach to secure a victory.
3+ (Over 2.5)
Predicted CS: 1:2
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Crvena zvezda vs Celtic
Crvena zvezda, the Serbian champion, is in amazing form, consistently dominating the domestic league every season, and it seems like there’s no real competition. The Belgrade “Marakana” is traditionally a tough place for any opponent, and the fans create an atmosphere that gives the home team a real advantage. After playing 7 matches in the league, they have 7 wins, scoring 35 goals and only conceding 5.
They started in the Champions League where they defeated Lincoln Red Imps and Lech Poznan, but were outplayed by the Cypriot team Pafos.
On the other hand, the Scottish champion Celtic, under the leadership of Brendan Rodgers, is playing steadily and also dominating at home. After 5 matches in the league, they have achieved 4 wins and a draw, scoring 8 goals and conceding just one. Even though they have experience and routine on the European stage, they often struggle under pressure when playing away.
They failed to secure a spot in the Champions League after being defeated by Kairat Almaty from Kazakhstan.
The home team will rely on their offensive energy and support from the crowd, while Celtic will try to achieve a positive result through discipline and experience. However, the home field could be a decisive factor.
1 (Crvena zvezda to Win)
Predicted CS: 2:0
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D. Zagreb vs Fenerbahce
Last season, Dinamo Zagreb finished in 2nd place, but this season they are a top contender for the title in the Croatian top league. After playing 7 matches at home, they have 5 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss. Dinamo enters this match boosted by their 2-0 victory in the derby against Hajduk Split, who are their main rivals for the title, which has lifted the team’s spirits. Under the guidance of Mario Kovacevic, Dinamo plays in an organized manner, with a strong midfield and fast attackers.
On the other hand, Fenerbahce, led by Domenico Tedesco, has a strong squad that combines experienced players with young talents. After 6 matches played in the league this season, they remain unbeaten, with 3 wins and 3 draws. However, in 4 of these matches, they have conceded at least one goal, revealing some defensive issues.
Last season, they faced disappointment when they were eliminated on penalties by Rangers. They started in the Champions League where they beat Feyenoord, but then they were defeated by Benfica.
Considering the form and the home advantage, Dinamo will try to secure three points, but we expect a tough match with few goals.
0-2 (Under 2.5)
Predicted CS: 1:1
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Freiburg vs Basel
The German team Freiburg is making a comeback on the European stage, hoping to improve their past performances. Under the guidance of Julian Schuster, the team has shown mixed results in their domestic league, with two wins and two draws after four matches. Recently, they celebrated a 3-0 victory against Werder Bremen, showcasing their strong defense and effective offense. At the “Europa-Park Stadion” they consistently play aggressively and maintain control of the ball, which will be crucial against such an opponent.
On the other hand, the Swiss club Basel is one of the most experienced teams in the region when it comes to European competitions. They started their campaign in the Champions League but were outplayed by FC Copenhagen. In their last friendly match against Freiburg, they suffered a heavy defeat of 6-0, a score that still weighs heavily on their reputation. Basel will rely on discipline in the midfield and the experience of their international players, but they will face a tough challenge on German soil.
We expect Freiburg to take advantage of their home ground and current form, but Basel has enough experience to score a goal.
1 (Freiburg to Win)
Predicted CS: 2:1
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Malmo FF vs Ludogorets
The Swedish champion Malmo FF enters this season of the Europa League with big ambitions, but in their last home match, they lost 0-1 to Djurgarden. The team generally struggles with efficiency in European matches. However, in front of their home crowd, Malmo is always a tough opponent, with a dynamic attack and high pressing.
They started in the Champions League and defeated Iberia 1999 and RFS, but were beaten by FC Copenhagen. Then, in the Europa League, they overcame Sigma Olomouc and advanced to a later stage of the competition.
The Bulgarian champion Ludogorets comes after a 0-0 draw with Levski in a derby, a result that shows some limitations in their attack. After playing 8 home matches, they have 5 wins and 3 draws. The team is an experienced participant in the group stages of European competitions.
They began in the Champions League, defeating Din. Minsk and Rijeka, but lost to Ferencvaros. Then, in the Europa League, they beat Macedonian Shkendija and moved on to a later stage of this tournament.
Both teams have experience on the European stage, and we expect a tough and competitive match with few goals, where a draw seems like the most realistic outcome.
X (Draw)
Predicted CS: 1:1
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Nice vs AS Roma
The French team Nice is set to face the Italian giant AS Roma at the “Allianz Riviera“.
Nice has been inconsistent lately, and in their last league match, they were completely outplayed, losing 4-1 to Brest. Last season in the Europa League, they also struggled, finishing the group stage without a win, recording 5 losses and 3 draws after 8 matches. This season, they started in the Champions League but were defeated by Benfica. Their home ground is their biggest hope for a positive result.
On the other hand, Roma, under the guidance of Gian Piero Gasperini, is one of the favorites for the trophy. Even though they narrowly lost 0-1 to Torino in Serie A, they quickly bounced back by defeating Lazio away. Their form in Europe is solid, last season, they were eliminated in the round of 16 by Ath Bilbao.
Roma has a wealth of experience in such matches and consistently fields a strong attacking line and solid defense. In Serie A, after 4 matches, they have 3 wins and 1 loss.
Roma appears more organized on the field and enters the match as the favorite. Nice will try to use their speedy wingers and discipline, but the class and experience of the Italians will likely prevail.
2 (Roma to Win)
Predicted CS: 1:2
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Kindly be advised that all odds are accurate as of the publication date and time indicated, and they may be subject to alterations.