Espanyol to seal Europa League group stage spot

28/08/19 2569

On Thursday evening Zorya host Espanyol in the Europa League play-offs second leg, as the home side attempt to recover from a 3-1 first-leg defeat in Catalonia.

The first leg defeat ended a four-game unbeaten run in the Europa League for the home side, consisting of three wins in four games. However, in reality, this season’s good run of form is Zorya’s best run in the Europa League.

In fact, the Ukrainian side has won just three times in their last 12 Europa League outings going back to 2017, all of the wins coming this season.

Zorya are undefeated in four home games in European football’s secondary competition, having won two and drawn two of their games. The Ukrainian team have also lost just once in six home outings.

Their recent home matches in this competition have been low-scoring, with under 2.5 goals scored in nine of their last 11 matches on home soil.

Espanyol have comfortably won all five of their Europa League games this season. The Catalan side has also scored at least three times in all five victories while conceding just twice.

This season’s good run in the Europa League means that Espanyol are now unbeaten in the competition in 20 matches dating back to 2006. However, they were absent from Europe for 12 years until this season, which makes that record slightly less impressive.

Espanyol are now unbeaten in nine away matches in the Europa League, having recorded six wins and three draws. They have also been prolific in their recent away games in the competition, scoring at least twice in their last three matches on their travels.

Zorya have much more recent European experience than the visitors. However, Espanyol have far more quality in their team. Therefore, it is unsurprising that Forebet predicts that the visitors will record a victory in a high-scoring clash.

Home team
Away team

Probability %

1X2

Pred

Correct score

Avg. goals

Weather conditions

Coef.

Score

Live
coef.

UEL

Zorya Lugansk RCD Espanyol 29/08/2019 19:00

252847

21-2

1 - 2

2.61

15°

2.20

3.10 3.40 2.20 1 1 -1

FT

2 - 2(0 - 1)

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