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Ferencvaros welcome Viktoria Plzen to the Groupama Arena in Budapest for the first leg of their Europa League playoff tie on Thursday evening
The winners of this two-legged contest will face either Lazio of Athletic Bilbao in the last 16 next month.
We know: Books 1-1 Victoria Plzen
First legs can often be cagey affairs and the mercurial nature of Ferencvaros, in particular, this season makes this contest even more difficult to predict. Both sides will back themselves to find the net, but they may have to settle for a share of the spoils before going all out for the victory in next week’s second leg.
> Europa League preview: Ferencvaros vs Plzen
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Real Sociedad will travel to Denmark for Thursday’s first leg of their Europa League knockout round playoff clash against FC Midtjylland.
The hosts finished the League Phase in 20th place, while the visitors were two points better off in 13th position, securing them home advantage for the second leg.
We say: FC Midtjylland 1-1 Real Sociedad
Midtjylland will be looking to make full use of home advantage on Thursday, but after winning just one of their four home games in the league phase, we think that they could experience more frustration in front of their own supporters because we believe that Real Sociedad will do enough to hold their hosts to a draw.
> Europa League preview: Midtjylland vs Real Sociedad
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After both edged into the Europa League playoffs last month, Union SG and Ajax will clash at Stade Roi Baudoin on Thursday evening.
The Dutch giants step across the border to Brussels for this week’s opening leg – which marks the clubs’ first competitive meeting – with a last-16 tie against either Lyon or Eintracht Frankfurt at stake.
We say: Union SG 1-1 Ajax
While both sides are improving, neither score bucket loads of goals, so a tight contest could unfold across the two legs.
An away draw would set Ajax up as favourites to progress after next week’s return, and they should be able to keep in-form Union at arm’s length.
> Europa League preview: Union SG vs Ajax
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Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce welcome Anderlecht to the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in the Europa League playoff round on Thursday evening.
The Turkish giants crept into the top 24 by the skin of their teeth on matchday eight, and must improve if they are to reach the last 16.
We say: Fenerbahce 2-0 Anderlecht
Fenerbahce know they can do much better than what they showed in the league phase, and after some eye-catching signings in January, Mourinho’s men should still be considered as one of the favourites if they can navigate this tie successfully.
Anderlecht’s league phase campaign unravelled right at the business end when they really should have sealed a direct spot in the last 16, and this is a very tough assignment for the visitors, who could face an uphill task when they take the Turks back to Belgium next week.
> Europa League preview: Fenerbahce vs Anderlecht
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Vying for a place in the Europa League’s last 16, Portuguese giants Porto and Serie A side Roma will meet for the first leg of their playoff on Thursday.
The Giallorossi head for Estadio do Dragao having lost all three previous ties between the two clubs; this time, the winners will face either Athletic Bilbao or Roma’s arch-rivals Lazio.
We say: Porto 1-1 Roma
Unbeaten in eight Serie A matches – after losing seven of the previous nine – Roma have certainly turned a corner, but they still lack resilience on the road.
Now adapting to the tactics of another new coach, Porto are enduring a tough time themselves, so the Dragons may have to settle for a first-leg draw.
> Europa League preview: Porto vs Roma
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Dutch outfit The alkmaar welcome Turkish giants Galatasaray to the AFAS Stadion for the first leg of their Europa League playoff tie on Thursday night.
Whoever comes out on top in this two-legged contest will face either Manchester United or Tottenham Hotspur in the last 16 next month.
We say: az alkmaar 1-1 galatasaay
Both teams have scored in all eight of Galatasaray’s Europa League fixtures this season, with their games seeing more goals than any other teams in the League Phase (35), while both sides have scored in four of AZ Alkmaar’s last five matches in the competition.
Goals at both ends are therefore expected, but as these two teams are keen to not lose and remain in the tie ahead of next week’s second leg, we can see the spoils being shared once again at the AFAS Stadion.
> Europa League preview: AZ vs Galatasaray
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Fcsb will travel to Thessaloniki in Greece for Thursday’s meeting with Paok in the Europa League knockout playoff round.
The teams are set to face each other for the second time in this season’s Europa League after FCSB picked up a 1-0 win when the two sides faced off in the league phase.
We say: PAOK 1-1 FCSB
PAOK avoided defeat in three of their four home matches in the league phase, although that solitary loss took place against Thursday’s opponents.
While we do not expect a repeat of October’s 1-0 scoreline, we still believe the visitors will do enough to hold their hosts to a draw in the first leg.
> Europa League preview: PAOK vs FCSB
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Aiming to extend their unbeaten run across all competitions to five matches, FC Twente will welcome They will/glymth to De Grolsch Veste for a Europa League knockout phase play-off match on Thursday night.
The Tukkers were cruelly denied three points during the final stages of an Eredivisie contest on the weekend, whilst Den Gule Horde wrapped up another domestic crown at the conclusion of 2024.
WE SAY: FC Twente 2-1 Bodo/Glimt
Boasting an excellent record at De Grolsch Veste this term, Twente should be confident of putting Bodo/Glimt to the sword on Thursday night.
The Norwegians have taken it to some of the Europa League’s biggest sides this term, although we feel that they will suffer a narrow defeat in the first leg.
> Europa League Preview: FC Twente vs Bodo/GLIMT
