Before the Round – Trends on the Europa Conference League (16/02)

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The Europa Conference League returns this week with the last-16 playoffs. The first legs of the last-16 playoffs will take place on Thursday, as the teams aim to reach the ECL proper.

Bodo/Glimt - Lech Poznan

Bodo/Glimt and Lech Poznan will meet for the first time, as they contest the first leg of their ECL last-16 playoff in Norway. Lech Poznan could have the upper hand in the first leg, as Bodo/Glimt are currently in the offseason in Norway.

Lech Poznan go into the game in good form. Seven straight Lech games ended without a defeat. The Polish team finished second in their ECL group, as they posted a win against Villarreal in the group stage.

Bodo/Glimt played in the Europa League group stage and finished third in a group with FC Zurich, Arsenal, and PSV Eindhoven. A draw against PSV and a win over FC Zurich helped Bodo/Glimt finish third. The Norwegians haven’t played a competitive game since November.

• There have been 9 consecutive home UEFA Europa Conference League wins in a row for FK Bodo/Glimt.
• Lech Poznan haven't lost a match in 8 of their last 9 matches in UEFA Europa Conference League.
• FK Bodo/Glimt haven't lost in 13 of their last 15 matches in UEFA Europa Conference League.
• Lech Poznan have been scoring an average of 1.92 goals in their league matches.
• Prediction: Over 2.5 goals

Qarabag FK - KAA Gent

Qarabag will play Belgium’s Gent for the first time on Thursday night. Gent reached the last-16 playoffs thanks to finishing second in the ECL group stage. Qarabag finished third in a Europa League group with Freiburg, Nantes, and Olympiacos.

Gent are winless in three straight games ahead of Thursday’s match at Qarabag. They lost two of those three games but picked up a 3-3 draw at the weekend versus Westerlo.

Qarabag are unbeaten in 13 straight games in all competitions. The Azerbaijan Premier League is not as strong as the Belgium Pro League, so questions can be asked about whether Qarabag can step up to Gent’s level.

• An unfortunate run of 3 straight defeats in half time/full time make up the UEFA Europa Conference League campaign of Qarabag FK.
• KAA Gent have won just 1 of their last 6 away matches in UEFA Europa Conference League.
• Qarabag FK are unbeaten in 6 of their last 7 home matches in UEFA Europa Conference League.
• There have been over 2.5 goals in KAA Gent's last 4 matches.
• Prediction: Qarabaq FK

FC Sheriff Tiraspol - FK Partizan

FC Sheriff Tiraspol and FK Partizan will meet for the third time in their history. The teams met in 2005-06 in the Champions League qualifying stage with Partizan picking up back-to-back 1-0 wins.

In 2021-22, Sheriff Tiraspol made history with a run in the Champions League group stage. Tiraspol are on a three-game winning streak. However, Sheriff have not played since November.

FK Partizan are fresh off a Super Liga 4-0 loss to FK Mladost Novi Sad. The defeat ended a two-game domestic winning streak. Partizan have an away record of 9W-3D-3L this season in all competitions.

• Sheriff Tiraspol have registered only 1 win in their last 6 games in european competitions.
• FK Partizan have not been beaten in 7 of their 8 most recent matches in UEFA Europa Conference League.
• Sheriff Tiraspol are on a 3 win streak in all competitions encounters.
• FK Partizan have scored at least one goal in each of their last 13 UEFA Europa Conference League games.
• Prediction: FK Partizan

Lazio - CFR Cluj

Lazio and Cluj will meet for the third time in their history. The teams met previously during the Europa League 2019-20 group stage. The teams split the matches, with Lazio winning 1-0 in Rome and Cluj picking up the victory 2-1 in Romania.

Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio are not in form ahead of the last-16 playoff first leg. The Biancocelesti are winless in four straight games in all competitions, with two losses and two draws.

Cluj also go into Thursday’s game in poor form. The Romanian team is on a two-game losing streak. They failed to score in the last 180 minutes of football on the domestic front.

• Both teams scored in 5 of Lazio's last 6 games in european competitions.
• CFR Cluj are unbeaten in 11 of their last 13 matches in UEFA Europa Conference League.
• Lazio are scoring an average of 1.5 goals in their european competitions.
• CFR Cluj are on a poor run of just 1 wins in 9 away matches (UEFA Europa Conference League).
• Prediction: Lazio