Europa League knockout play-off first-leg matches formThursday night's action as some big names battle it out to reach the last 16 of the competition.
With eight games to take in from across the continent starting from 5.45pm, here are five selections to consider ahead of a big night in the Europa League.
- REAL SOCIEDAD TO BEAT MIDTJYLLAND
- AJAX TO BEAT UNION SAINT GILLOISE
- GALATASARAY TO BEAT AZ ALKMAAR
- FC PORTO TO BEAT ROMA
- BODO/GLIMT TO BEAT FC TWENTE
Midtjylland vs Real Sociedad
Starting with the action at the MCH Arena, Danish outfit Midtjylland face a tough test when they host Real Sociedad in Jutland.
As Midtjylland battle it out with FC Copenhagen and Randers in a tight title race at the top of the Danish Superliga standings, manager Thomas Thomasberg and his side must switch their attention to Europa League matters.
Thursday’s opponents Sociedad have had some mixed form in recent weeks but appear to have got their act together, as they go into this game at MCH Arena after back-to-back wins over Osasuna and Espanyol.
Brais Mendez got on the scoresheet in both of those games and the Spanish midfielder is playing with confidence going into this trip to Denmark.
With players of the calibre of Mikel Oyarzabal and rising star Orri Oskarsson in the final third, Sociedad should have the firepower to take a lead over Midtjylland back to Reale Arena for the second leg.
REAL SOCIEDAD TO WIN
Union Saint-Gilloise vs Ajax
Dutch giants Ajax are one of the big names who somewhat underwhelmed during the new-look league phase in the Europa League this season but they have a second bite at the cherry when they take on Union Saint-Gilloise in the play-offs.
Unable to play the first leg at their modest Stade Joseph Marien due to its 9,400 capacity, this game will take place at the much larger King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels for the first leg on Thursday.
Not being in their more humble and familiar surroundings will be a disadvantage for Union as they take on an Ajax side who have hit their stride of late.
Winning all of their last three games against Galatasaray, Feyenoord and Fortuna Sittard, manager Francesco Farioli is seeing his side come into form at an important time in the season.
Union will be no pushovers in Brussels but Ajax have the quality in the final third to edge the first leg before returning to Johan Cruijff ArenA to finish the job.
AJAX TO WIN
AZ Alkmaar vs Galatasaray
Galatasaray were one of the many big names to narrowly miss out on automatic qualification for the last 16 but they should be confident of overcoming AZ Alkmaar in their first leg at AFAS Stadium.
The Turkish giants lost only one of their eight games during the league phase but too many draws cost them a place in the top eight as they missed out by one point.
Unbeaten in the Turkish Super Lig 21 games into the season, Okan Buruk’s side have shown themselves to be a quality team this term.
Having lost just one game in all competitions this season, Gala will head to AFAS Stadium full of confidence that they can take down Alkmaar, who scraped into the play-off places by a single point.
With in-form striker Victor Osimhen already on five goals in the Europa League this season, Galatasaray should have enough threat in attack to come out on top on Thursday night before returning to Istanbul for the second leg.
GALATASARAY TO WIN
FC Porto vs Roma
In arguably the pick of the games from the Europa League on Thursday night, heavyweights FC Porto and Roma will face off at the Estadio do Dragao.
Roma have a sorry record when it comes to away games in the Europa League and it gives reason to side with Porto to hold a lead going into the second leg at the Stadio Olimpico.
The Giallorossi have won only once in their last 10 matches on the road in this competition, while they are without a victory in their last five.
Porto’s home of the Estadio do Dragao is not an easy place for visiting teams at the best of the times but Roma’s horrible away record in this competition suggests the Portuguese giants can come out on top in Thursday’s contest.
The last time Porto and Roma went head-to-head was in March 2019, when the Dragoes came out on top 3-1 in a Champions League encounter at the Estadio do Dragao.
A similar scoreline might well be on the cards on Thursday, with Porto’s Samu Aghehowa set to be a major threat in attack for the hosts.
The 20-year-old Spanish forward has scored 13 goals in 17 Primeira Liga appearances this season and he will be a player Roma will have to watch out for in this one.
FC PORTO TO WIN
FC Twente vs Bodo/Glimt
Last but not least, Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt will be eyeing another upset in Europe when they make the trip to the Netherlands to face FC Twente at De Grolsch Veste.
While the Norwegian domestic season is still waiting for the thaw of winter, Glimt have been able to fully focus their efforts on the Europa League.
The Eliteserien champions are currently on a three-match unbeaten run in the Europa League, beating Besiktas and Maccabi Tel Aviv on their own patch at Aspmyra Stadion, before an impressive 1-1 draw in the south of France at Nice.Twente have managed to win just one of their last eight home games in this competition and Glimt are good value to head back to Norway with a lead going into the second leg.
BODO/GLIMT TO WIN
