UEFA Europa League Matchday Three Preview

Peter’s Olympique Lyonnais could Bosz Group A come Thursday Evening

On the back of a comprehensive 3-0 home victory over Brondby on Matchday Two, Olympique Lyonnais have put themselves in prime position to qualify from Group A of the 2021/22 UEFA Europa League. Les Gones, coached by Dutchman Peter Bosz struggled early doors in France’s top flight, however are currently riding the crest of a wave being unbeaten in the last four Ligue 1 matches.

After a 2-0 home victory over AS Monaco last weekend, Lyon now face a trip to the Czech Republic taking on Sparta Prague at Generali Arena. A victory over the most successful Czech club will all but guarantee progression for the knockout rounds of the Europa League. The man in form for Les Gones is striker Karl Toko Ekambe. The Zimbabwean striker scored in the aforementioned domestic fixture against Monaco, hit a brace last time out against Brondby IF and will be looking to maintain his current purple patch against Sparta.

In the other group match, one gets the feeling it is “do or die” for Steven Gerrard and his Rangers FC outfit in their Matchday 3 contest against Danish champions Brondby at Ibrox. A loss here for The Gers on the back of defeats at home to Lyon and away to Sparta will leave their Europa League knockout qualification chances on the brink. In addition, even third in the group and dropping into the Europa Conference League pre-Christmas could prove tricky with a defeat.

A Match of the Round contender in Group B with PSV Eindhoven taking on AS Monaco

Group B is nicely poised after the two opening matches, PSV Eindhoven and AS Monaco currently sit joint top of the group both on four points each. After two draws from their opening two matches, Real Sociedad currently sit third, whereas Sturm Graz from Austria prop up the group after two losses from their opening two matches.

The two group leaders face off against each other at Phillips Stadium in Eindhoven on Matchday Three. Roger Schmidt’s PSV go into the match on the back of a 3-1 home win against PEC Zwolle on Matchday Nine of the Dutch Eredivisie, a result which leaves the Eindhoven outfit 2^nd in the Eredivisie. Despite this being a huge match when it comes to qualification, one might think that PSV could have their eyes on this weekend’s crunch clash against Eredivisie leaders Ajax Amsterdam.

Could Monaco therefore take advantage of this to win and finally get their domestic season going? With 4 wins, 2 draws and 4 defeats from their opening 10 matches in Ligue 1 so far, Monaco have started their domestic campaign in 2021/22 in a similar fashion to last season. Both sides will also have an eye on the score from the other match in the group at Liebenauer Stadium, Graz where Sturm host Real Sociedad.

Despite failure to take a victory in their opening two matches Imanol Alguacil’s La Real are well positioned to still qualify for the knockout rounds. However, they will ideally need two wins from their back to back games against Sturm to achieve this objective. Many of La Real’s injured stars are now beginning to return from injury, so one would consider them favourites to go to Austria and collect three points.

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Two Favourites feeling the heat in Group C as Leicester and Napoli seek vital wins

Prior to the start of the group stages of the 2021/22 UEFA Europa League, Leicester City and SSC Napoli were both considered the two favourites to win the whole competition, let alone finish in first and second position in this group with Spartak Moscow and Legia Warsaw. However, so far Group C is a group turned on its head with Legia and Spartak currently occupying the top two spots.

Matchday Two in this group saw Legia make it two wins from two after a 1-0 home win against Leicester courtesy of a goal scored by Azeri striker Mahir Emreli. On the same night, Spartak bounced back from their opening matchday disaster at home against Legia by stunning Napoli 3-2 at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

On Matchday Three, Napoli have their second straight home match against Legia. Anything less than three points from this contest will severely hamper their chances of making the Europa League knockout rounds. Leicester travel to Moscow for their Matchday Three contest on the back of a morale boosting 4-2 home win against Manchester United in the Premier League. That said, Spartak also go into the game in decent form having come from two goals behind last weekend to draw 2-2 with Dinamo Moscow in the Russian Premier League.

A vital test of Pedro Martins’ Olympiacos against Eintracht Frankfurt in Group D

It could be on first glance and looking solely at a strength of league perspective easy to have labelled Eintracht Frankfurt as favourites for Group D of the 2021/22 Europa League. However, whilst Frankfurt are the side from one of the “Big Five” leagues, Olympiacos are the side who many can argue are favourites for this group. With an unbroken streak of qualifying for European club competition dating back to the 1989/90 season, Thrylos’ possess experience in European competition un-matched around the continent.

Eintracht and Olympiacos face off at Waldstadion on Matchday Three and the contest will prove a test of the Greek side’s credentials to challenge for this season’s Europa League. European club competition so far this season has seen a resurgence in performance from sides outside of Europe’s “Big Five” leagues. Can Olympiakos defeat Eintracht in Germany and put themselves in a strong position to win Group D?

In the group’s other contest, Royal Antwerp, currently riding high in the Belgian Pro League A travel to Istanbul to face Fenerbahce. After two defeats from their opening two group games, the Belgian side need to win in the Turkish capital to revive their flagging hopes in Europe. It won’t be easy however, against a Fener side currently top of the Turkish Super Lig.

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Group E proves its “Group of Death” credentials even further with two finely poised games

Upon the group stage draw for the 2021/22 Europa League completing, Group E was highlighted as a “Group of Death” with all teams according to many sources stated as having a chance of progression. It has proved all the pundits correct at present, Galatasaray lead the way on four points with Lazio in second place on three points, Olympique de Marseille sit third on two points and Lokomotiv Moscow prop up the group with just a solitary point from the opening two matches.

Matchday Three sees Lazio take on Marseille at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. It could prove a fascinating match between two coaches widely talked about by football fans globally in the shape of Maurizio Sarri at Lazio and Jorge Sampaoli at Marseille. Lazio rebounded well from their opening away loss on Matchday One against Galatasaray by comfortably defeating Lokomotiv on Matchday Two. Marseille after a strong start to Ligue 1 have stuttered a bit domestically in recent weeks.

The other match sees Galatasaray, surprise leaders after two matchdays travel to RZhD Arena in Moscow to take on Lokomotiv. It has been a busy last fortnight over the October international break at Lokomotiv, manager Marko Nikolic left the club and was replaced with German Markus Gisdol, The Railroaders’ sporting director Ralf Rangnick reportedly being crucial in the coaching change. This match is an “ideal win” fixture for Gala but an absolute “must win” for Loko.

Can Dejan Stankovic enhance his reputation even more with Red Star Belgrade in Group F?

One coach in leagues outside of Europe’s “Big Five” leagues who saw their reputation enhanced in the 2020/21 season was Red Star Belgrade’s Dejan Stankovic. The former Red Star, Lazio and Inter Milan playing legend took charge of Red Star in December 2019 and has led The Red Whites to back-to-back Serbian SuperLiga titles. Stankovic’s reputation really blossomed during the second of these titles where he led Red Star to an unbeaten 2020/21 Serbian SuperLiga title.

It was not just domestically where Stankovic has impressed at Red Star, results in European competition have also shown promise. Last season, Stankovic led Red Star out of the Europa League group stages before narrowly losing in the Round of 32 to AC Milan on the away goals rule after extra time. After dropping out of the Champions League qualifiers after a loss to Sheriff Tiraspol, Red Star have so far impressed in the Europa League in 2021/22, winning both their opening group games against SC Braga and Ludogorets Razgrad.

Stankovic’s Red Star now face Midtjylland at the Danish outfit’s MCH Arena knowing that a win will give them a great chance to qualify for the Europa knockouts and further enhance Stankovic’s so-far promising managerial career. After a 3-1 home win over Midtjylland on Matchday Two, SC Braga rebounded from their opening group loss to Red Star. They now face Ludogorets in Bulgaria in what could be a tight but crucial encounter when it comes to determining qualification for the knockouts.

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It’s a belter at the Benito Villamarin as Real Betis take on Bayer Leverkusen in Group G

Another potential candidate for game of the round takes place on Matchday Three in the Europa League group stage and it comes from Group G. Both Real Betis Balompie and Bayer 04 Leverkusen face off at the Benito Villamarin stadium in Seville. Both sides currently occupy the top two spots in the group and are set for qualification for the knockout rounds.

Betis have so far recorded a 4-3 home win over Celtic and a 3-1 away win over Ferencvaros. In addition, Manuel Pellegrini’s men have enjoyed a solid start domestically in La Liga. On the other hand, Gerardo Seoane’s Bayer Leverkusen currently sit third in the German Bundesliga and really impressed on Matchday Two in the Europa League group stage, noting a 4-0 away victory over Celtic FC. With both sides on six points, if there is a winner between the two sides, they will take a strong step towards the Europa League knockouts.

In the other group match Celtic take on Ferencvaros at Celtic Park. Both the Hungarians and the Scots currently sit on zero points after suffering two losses so far. A win is urgently needed from both to revive their Europa knockout qualification hopes in addition to attempting to secure at minimum a third place finish and Europa Conference League football post Christmas.

West Ham and Dinamo Zagreb can both take qualification steps in Group H

2021/22 does so far seem to be following in the same footsteps as 2020/21 for West Ham United. David Moyes’ managerial career revival at The Hammers continues into a second season at the London Stadium. West Ham sit an impressive 7^th in the Premier League table after eight matches in addition to winning both their opening two Europa League group matches 2-0 against Dinamo Zagreb away and against Rapid Wien at home.

Matchday Three sees The Hammers face KRC Genk at London Stadium. A victory over the Belgian side on home soil will give West Ham a comfortable cushion over both Rapid Wien and Genk and all but secure a Europa knockout round place. Securing a spot in the knockout rounds of the Europa League as early as possible will be useful for The Hammers given the hectic December schedule in English domestic football.

In the other Matchday Three contest in Group H, Dinamo Zagreb face so-far winless Rapid Wien at the Maksimir Stadium in the Croatian capital. After their nightmare 2-0 home loss to West Ham on Matchday One, Dinamo responded well with a 3-0 away victory on Matchday Two against Genk. Victory at home against Rapid, currently struggling in the Austrian Bundesliga will put Dinamo on course to once again make the knockout rounds of European club competition.