Europa League predictions: Group stage matchday 4
- There is plenty of action this Thursday in matchday 4 of the Europa League
- Liverpool, Brighton, West Ham and Rangers are the British sides in action
- Bayer Leverkusen, Roma and Marseille are all in action on the continent
The Europa League group stage will pass the halfway point this week as teams home in on qualification for the knockout stages of the competition.
There are four European teams in action; Liverpool face a scenic trip to Toulouse, West Ham seek revenge against Olympiacos, Brighton travel to struggling Ajax and Rangers play host to Sparta Prague.
Bundesliga table-toppers Bayer Leverkusen are in action too, while Roma, Villarreal and Marseille are among Europe's biggest clubs in the competition's group stage.
Here are 90min's matchday 4 Europa League predictions.
Europa League predictions: Group stage matchday 4
Early kick-offs
Liverpool and Brighton, both of whom face tricky trips abroad, are the two British sides in action among the early kick-offs this Thursday.
Brighton managed their first European win last time out against Ajax at the Amex Stadium, but now face a journey to Amsterdam as they look to climb Group B. While their Dutch opponents have been in dismal form this season, currently sat 11th in the Eredivisie, John van't Schip's side have won two successive league games to bring a ten-game winless streak to an end.
Liverpool will travel to Toulouse in the knowledge that they are almost certainly guaranteed qualification already, winning three from as many matches in Group E. The Reds battered their French opponents 5-1 at Anfield two weeks ago, but Toulouse did create plenty of opportunities up against Jurgen Klopp's side.
Kick-off time (GMT) | Fixture | Group | Prediction |
|---|---|---|---|
17:45 | Ajax vs Brighton | B | 1-2 |
17:45 | LASK vs Union Saint-Gilloise | E | 1-1 |
17:45 | Toulouse vs Liverpool | E | 0-3 |
17:45 | Maccabi Haifa vs Villarreal | F | 0-2 |
17:45 | Rennes vs Panathinaikos | F | 3-0 |
17:45 | Servette vs FC Sheriff | G | 2-1 |
17:45 | Slavia Prague vs Roma | G | 0-1 |
17:45 | Qarabag vs Bayer Leverkusen | H | 1-4 |
Xabi Alonso's high-flying Bayer Leverkusen should make it 11 wins on the trot when they make the long trip to Azerbaijan to face Qarabag. The German league leaders put five past Thursday's opponents in the reverse fixture and will be aiming to add to their impressive goal tally this season.
Jose Mourinho's Roma will be aiming for a fourth successive European win when they travel to Slavia Prague, although the Czech side would leapfrog their Group G opponents with a win this Thursday.
There should also be comfortable wins for Rennes up against Panathinaikos and Villarreal at Maccabi Haifa in Group F as well.
Late kick-offs
There are also two games involving British opponents in the late kick-off slot, with West Ham and Rangers both in home action.
West Ham host Olympiacos at London Stadium looking for revenge on the Greek side after they beat them 2-1 in the reverse fixture. Lucas Paqueta's exquisite volley couldn't prevent the Irons losing their 17-game unbeaten streak in Europe. The Hammers remain top of the group, but could drop to third with defeat on Thursday.
Despite starting with a win over Real Betis, Rangers have failed to win either of their last two Europa League games, including a 2-1 defeat against Aris Limassol in Cyprus. Now under the tutelage of Philippe Clement, the Gers need a home win against Sparta Prague to boost their qualification hopes.
Kick-off time (GMT) | Fixture | Group | Prediction |
|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Freiburg vs Backa Topola | A | 3-0 |
20:00 | West Ham vs Olympiacos | A | 3-1 |
20:00 | AEK Athens vs Marseille | B | 2-2 |
20:00 | Rangers vs Sparta Prague | C | 1-0 |
20:00 | Real Betis vs Aris Limassol | C | 3-0 |
20:00 | Atalanta vs Sturm Graz | D | 2-1 |
20:00 | Sporting CP vs Rakow Czestochowa | D | 2-0 |
20:00 | BK Hacken vs Molde | H | 1-2 |
There should be straightforward home wins in Group D with Atalanta taking on Sturm Graz and Sporting CP facing Polish underdogs Rakow Czestochowa.
Real Betis should move further clear at the top of Group C with a home victory over Aris Limassol, while AEK Athens' clash with Marseille could be a fiery and dramatic encounter in the Greek capital.
There is also a Scandinavian affair in Group H, Norway's Molde travelling to Swedish side Hacken. The Norwegian's won emphatically in the reverse fixture two weeks ago, managing a 5-1 victory to move above Thursday's opponents.
READ THE LATEST EUROPA LEAGUE NEWS, PREVIEWS & RATINGS HERE
feed