Willem II look to progress to the Europa League third qualifying round when they face Progres Niederkorn in Luxembourg on Wednesday. Kick-off is at 5.30pm.

After finishing fifth in the Eredivisie last season, Willem II is back in Europe for the first time since the 2004/05 campaign.

Adrie Koster’s side enters the Europa League at the 2nd qualifying round and will now face Progress from Luxembourg. Should they progress Scottish side Rangers or Lincoln Red Imps lie in wait.

Willem II got off to a poor start in the Eredivisie at the weekend, losing 2-0 away to Heerenveen. Progres, who beat Zeta 3-0 to book their place in the 2nd qualifying round, also lost 2-1 in their league at home against F91 Dudelange this weekend.

Koster knows his side are in for a tough game in Luxembourg, “I’ve seen their match in the first heat and their league match last weekend. It’s just a well-organised team, we’ll really have to get to work.”

Team News

Willem II head into the game without striker Kwasi Wriedt and full-back Leroy Owusu, but new signing John Yeboah could make his debut having been signed from Wolfsburg on Tuesday.

Jordens Peters is back after missing the loss at the weekend and he should slot into the centre of defence.

Possible Willem II line-up: Ruiter, Saddiki, Kohn, Holmen, Peters, Llonch, Saglam, Tresor, Nunnely, Kohlert, Pavlidis

Possible Progres line-up: Flauss, Karayer, Skenderovic, Ba, Bastos, Holtz, Silaj, Luisi, Habbas, Tekiela, Latic

Odds

Progres Niederkorn 9/2 Draw 3/1 Willem II 1/2

Can Willem II progress?

Willem II got off to a poor start in the league at the weekend and will need to put in a much improved performance if they are to progress to the next round.

The Dutch press already expects Willem II to be facing Rangers in the next round, but Progres Niederkorn are not to be taken lightly, and they held Rangers at home in the competition last year, while also drew with Russian side Ufa in recent years.

Progres have the ability to cause Willem II issues and if the Dutch side aren’t at their best then they could be on the end of an upset.

However, the Willem II attack is full of talent and pace with Nunnely and Kohlert and the return of Peters should make the defence much tighter than it was against Heerenveen at the weekend.




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