Before the Round – Trends on the Europa Conference League (24/02/2022)

7887

The Europa Conference League round of 16 playoffs move into the second leg on Thursday. The first leg matches threw up a few shocks, most notably Norway’s Bodø/Glimt going to Glasgow and defeating Celtic 3-1. A place in the Europa Conference League last 16 proper is on the line this week.

FK Bodø/Glimt - Celtic FC

Bodø/Glimt pulled off the shock of the Europa Conference League first leg with a 3-1 win. Bodø/Glimt led 1-0 at halftime before the teams combined for four additional goals. Celtic are under pressure to overcome the deficit and progress to the round of 16 proper.

Celtic rebounded at the weekend with a 3-2 win over Dundee. The Hoops led 2-1 at halftime before sealing the victory in the second period. Giorgios Giakoumakis scored a hat-trick. If manager Ange Postecoglou cannot get Celtic in the round of 16 proper, it will be seen as a major failure.

Bodø/Glimt are playing with house money going into the second leg. No one expected the Norwegians, who are in the offseason in the Eliteserien, to be leading the tie. However, the Norwegian Eliteserien can be compared to the Scottish Premiership. Bodø/Glimt need to prevent conceding twice to go through.

• In all of their 10 most recent matches of UEFA Europa Conference League, there have been no losses for FK Bodo/Glimt.
• Celtic FC are conceding an average of 3.00 goals in their games (UEFA Europa Conference League).
• FK Bodo/Glimt haven't lost a match in 12 of their last 13 matches in UEFA Europa Conference League.
• Their last 3 home games in the UEFA Europa Conference League have seen FK Bodo/Glimt win by 2 or more goals.
• Prediction: FK Bodo/Glimt

Qarabag FK - Olympique Marseille

Marseille pulled off a 3-1 win against Qarabag at the Stade Velodrome in the first leg of the teams’ Europa Conference League playoff tie. Now, OM visit Qarabag with a place in the round of 16 proper up for grabs.

Qarabag did not play at the weekend on the domestic front. The club will hope the rest enables a comeback versus Marseille. Qarabag have not lost at home this season. They have posted a home record of 10W-3D-0L, while scoring 25 goals and conceding four in all competitions.

Jorge Sampaoli’s team followed up the Europa Conference League round of 16 playoff win with a humbling 2-0 home loss to Clermont Foot. It was a shock result as Marseille continue to struggle for consistency in all competitions. OM have an away record of 9W-4D-4L this season.

• Qarabag FK are undefeated in their last 6 home league games.
• Olympique Marseille scored an average of 3.00 goals in their matches in UEFA Europa Conference League.
• In Qarabag FK's last 6 games in UEFA Europa Conference League there have been over 2.5 goals scored.
• Qarabag FK are undefeated in 11 of their last 13 league games.
• Prediction: Olympique Marseille

Randers FC - Leicester City

Randers surprised Leicester City early on when the teams met in the first leg. However, the Foxes quality rose to the top as they won comfortably in the end, 4-1.

Now, Leicester City head to Denmark to face Randers for the second match. Brendan Rodgers’ team is out of form despite the first leg 4-1 win. Leicester City failed to win six of their last seven matches in all competitions. At the weekend, the Foxes lost 2-1 to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Randers go into the game in poor form. The Horses lost three of their last four games ahead of Monday’s Superliga match with Viborg. A three-goal deficit looks to be a little too far for the Horses to overcome against a Premier League team.

• Randers FC have won just 1 of their last 7 matches in UEFA Europa Conference League.
• Leicester City scored an average of 4.00 goals in their matches in UEFA Europa Conference League.
• Randers FC have scored 2+ goals in all of their last 3 home UEFA Europa Conference League games.
• Randers FC participated in some high-scoring meetings, with over 2.5 goals scored in their last 3 home matches in UEFA Europa Conference League.
• Prediction: Over 2.5 goals

Slavia Praha - Fenerbahçe SK

Czech Republic club Slavia Praha went to Fenerbahçe and left with a 3-2 win. Now, the Czech club welcome Fenerbahçe to the Sinobo Stadium with passage to the last 16 proper of the Europa Conference League up for grabs.

Slavia Praha are on a three-match winning streak going into the game on Thursday at home. They defeated Bohemians 1905 at the weekend to warm up for the second leg. Ibrahim Traore, Oscar Dorley, and Ondrej Lingr scored the goals in the first leg.

Fenerbahçe’s Ferdi Kadioglu gave the team a fighting chance to progress to the next phase of the Europa Conference League. His 83rd minute goal reduced Slavia Praha’s lead to a mere one goal. Fenerbahçe are in poor form just two of their last six games in all competitions ending as wins.

• Fenerbahçe SK have scored an average of 2.00 goals in their games in UEFA Europa Conference League.
• On average, Slavia Praha have scored 2.00 goals in their last home matches in UEFA Europa Conference League.
• Slavia Praha have won their last 3 matches in all leagues.
• Fenerbahçe SK have lost just 1 of their last 6 away encounters in all competitions.
• Prediction: Slavia Praha