PSV Eindhoven, Twente, Feyenoord, and PEC Zwolle are all in Europa League action on Thursday as they look to book their places in the group stage.
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Shakhtyor Soligorsk v PSV (0-1 on aggregate)
PSV Eindhoven will look to continue their excellent start to the season as they travel to Belarus to protect a 1-0 lead against Shakhtyor.
Phillip Cocu’s side go into the second leg on the back of their 3-1 win over Ajax at the weekend, and despite only having a slender lead, they should be able to ease past the Belarussian’s and move into the group stages.
Shakhtyor need to attack PSV, and that may play into the Dutch side’s hands, with Memphis Depay, and Luciano Narsingh showing against Ajax how devastating they can be on the counter attack.
Georginio Wijnaldum, and Santiago Arias will both miss the second leg through slight injuries, while new signing Andres Guardado is not registered to play.
Possible PSV line-up: Zoet, Brenet, Willems, Bruma, Rekik, Hiljemark, Maher, Ritzmaier, Depay, Narsingh, De Jong
Shakhtyor haven’t won any of their last five matches, while PSV are full of confidence, and firing on all cylinders. There should only be one winner.
Prediction: Shakhtyor 0-2 PSV
Feyenoord v Zorya (1-1 on aggregate)
Despite missing several chances to win the first leg last week, Feyenoord returned from Ukraine with a respectable draw, and they should have enough quality to see off Zorya at De Kuip.
Fred Rutten’s side only need a goalless draw to qualify for the next round, but after losing to Utrecht at the weekend, Feyenoord will be looking to boost their confidence with a big win.
New signing Jens Toornstra has not been registered on time to play, while it remains to be seen whether Colin Kazim-Richards will make his debut.
Possible Feyenoord line-up: Mulder, Wilkshire, Kongolo,Van Beek, Mathijsen, Clasie, Vilhena, Immers, Boetius, Schaken, Te Vrede
Feyenoord have been disappointing so far this season, but the turnaround could start with a good win on Thursday. Zorya were lucky not to lose their home leg, but they should be put to the sword at De Kuip.
Prediction: Feyenoord 3-0 Zorya
Twente v Qarabag (0-0 on aggregate)
Twente returned from Azerbaijan with a respectable 0-0 draw against a dangerous Qarabag side last week, and they will be confident of progressing to the next round on Thursday.
Alfred Schreuder’s side have started the season with four draws, but they will know only a win at the Grolsche Veste will do, especially without an away goal from the first leg.
On Sunday Twente looked good against NAC Breda, with new signing Hakim Ziyech, and striker Luc Castaignos combining well, and the duo will be crucial to see Twente past Qarabag. The Azerbaijan side had their last league match postponed, and go into the game against Twente having not won in four, while they have only triumphed once in their last six away games.
Possible Twente line-up: Marsman, Martina, Koppers, Lachman, Bjelland, Mokotjo, Ziyech, Ebecilio, Kusk, Mokhtar, Castaignos,
Twente have had their money problems this summer, and qualifying for the Europa League group stages will be crucial for the side. The Enschede side have had some bad luck so far this season, and should have won at least two of their league matches, but against Qarabag they should earn their first victory.
Prediction: Twente 3-1 Qarabag
Sparta Prague v PEC Zwolle (1-1 on aggregate)
PEC Zwolle were unlucky not to triumph in their first ever European tie last week, with Maikel van der Werff missing a penalty during the match, while Sparta Prague found a deflected equaliser late on after Jody Lukoki opened the scoring.
Ron Jans side now travel to Czech Republic needing to at least score, but they are full of confidence having won all three of their Eredivisie duels so far. Sparta Prague on the other hand are not in great form, having lost their last two Czech league matches.
Possible PEC Zwolle line-up: Boer, Van Polen, Lam, Van der Werff, Broerse, Saymak, Rienstra, Drost, Thomas, Lukoki, Necid
Its been a dream start to the season for PEC Zwolle, and although they would love to take their first ever European campaign into the group stages, the match in Prague may be one step to far. The Czech side have an away goal, and even though they ended up with a win on Sunday, PEC Zwolle looked leggy against Vitesse.
It will be a close game, but Sparta Prague should prove to be a bit too strong at home.
Prediction: Sparta Prague 2-1 PEC Zwolle
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