Europa League Picks November 5 2009
Group D
SC Heerenveen (4 points) vs Hertha BSC Berlin (1 point)
Heerenveen earned the right to be included in the round of 32 after defeating Hertha 1-0 in their previous match. Heerenveen found themselves with only ten men after Daryl Janmaat was sent off late in the game but Hertha failed to capitalize. Goalie Brian Vandenbussche made fantastic saves, preventing Heerenveen from scoring an equalizer.
Expect Heerenveen to cement their hold on second place in Group D and send Hertha deeper into the bottom of the standings.
Group D
Sporting Clube de Portugal (9 points) against FK Ventspils (2 points)
Sporting has a firm group atop the Group D standings. Meanwhile Ventspils finds itself at the bottom half of the group. If not for Laizans penalty kick, Sporting would’ve scored a 2-0 victory over Ventspils.
Sporting finds itself undefeated in Group D and will try to keep it that way against the lowly Ventspils.
Sporting will remain undefeated after they pick-up an easy win over Ventspils
Group C
SK Rapid Wien (4 points) against Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC (6 points)
H. Tel-Aviv destroyed Rapid Wien in their last outing 5-1. Rapid Wien’s Hofmann scored in the 31st-minute to erase Dober’s own goal mistake in the 30th minute. However, H. Tel-Aviv proceeded to go on a tear, scoring four straight goals.
H. Tel-Aviv attacked ferociously in a hectic pace that never gave Rapid Wien any chance to recover. H. Tel-Aviv has lost only two out of seven games away from Israel.
This will be a close match unlike their first meeting. Rapid Wien will make the necessary adjustments.
Group C
Hamburger SV (6 points) against Celtic FC (1 point)
Their last match was a highly contested with Hamburger pulling off the tight victory 1-0. Hamburger’s win put them atop the standing tied alongside H. Tel-Aviv. Berg finally broke through in the 63rd minute to put Hamburger in the lead. Celtic had some chances early in the first half but couldn’t finish near the goal.
This may be a closer match than it seems and don’t be shocked to see Celtic the victor of this match.
Group B
Genoa CFC (3 points) against LOSC Lille Métropole (7 points)
Lille shut out Genoa in their last game 3-0. Genoa had no answer for Lille’s pinpoint crosses. Lille struck in the 38th inning and after that there was no doubt at the outcome of the game.
Lille will dominate Genoa in their second match, putting a tighter grip on the lead in Group B.
Group B
SK Slavia Praha (1 point) against Valencia CF (5 points)
These two teams battled to a draw in their previous game against each other. Slavia Praha struck in the first half with Naumov scoring on an assist from Hlousek. Slavia Praha had a chance to go up 2-0 but Moya and Senkerik played great defense.
Navarro struck in the 63rd minute for Valencia to equalize the game.
Valencia will win by blowout in their second outing.
Group A
NK Dinamo Zagreb (0 points, deducted three points following serious crowd disturbances) against AFC Ajax (5 points)
Ajax scored early via penalty in the previous meeting between these two. It would’ve been a shutout if not for Tomecak scoring in extra time.
Ajax will beat Dinamo to cement their grip atop the standings.
Group A
RSC Anderlecht (5 points) against FC Timişoara (2 points)
Both teams played great defense or rather lousy offense and ended the game in a draw 0-0.
Anderlecht had several chances before halftime to score in the penalty box but missed on solid opportunities.
Timisoara has yet to score and I don’t see it changing against Anderlecht. Anderlecht will pull away with the victory this time.
Group H
Fenerbahçe SK (6 points) against FC Steaua Bucureşti (2 points)
Kazim Kazim scored in the 59th minute against Steaua to lead Fenerbahce to victory. It was a highly contested game that featured Fenerbahce getting off 21 shots on target. Both teams were hampered by injuries.
Kazim finally broke goalkeeper Robinson Zapata to put Fenerbahce ahead.
Fenerbahce will come in the game ready to win convincingly against Steaua in their second meeting.
Group H
FC Twente (4 points) against FC Sheriff (4 points)
Sheriff ended Twente’s 17-match unbeaten streak with a 2-0 win in their previous meeting. Both teams showed gaps in their defense before halftime ended but only Sheriff capitalized by scoring in the 41st minute. After that, Twente couldn’t recover.
Their second game will be a close match but I give Sheriff the edge on basis of playing this game at home.
Group G
Villarreal CF (3 points) against S.S. Lazio (6 points)
Lazio came out with the win in their last match with Villareal 2-1. Rocchi scored in extra period to seal the victory for Lazio. The game featured a tactical battle with Lazio displaying counters. It was a dramatic game that deserves a second go-around.
Fans will be the winners of their second match because of the exciting display of football these two teams bring every time they play each other.
Group G
PFC Levski Sofia (0 points) against FC Salzburg (9 points)
This is a mismatch in every aspect but Salzburg managed to beat Sofia by only one goal. Svento scored in extra time during halftime during their first meeting.
Salzburg owns a perfect record and expect it to be that way against Sofia in their second match.
Group F
SK Sturm Graz (1 point) against Panathinaikos FC (6 points)
Panathinaikos scored on a penalty kick against Sturm in their previous match that won the game. Goalkeeper Tzorvas made sure that Panathinaikos held on the win by making spectacular saves including a triple stop.
Expect Panathinaikos to blow Sturm out of the water in their second straight game against each other.
Group F
FC Dinamo 1948 Bucureşti (3 points) against Galatasaray AŞ (7 points)
Galatasaray dominated Dinamo in their last meeting 4-1. Galatasaray scored their four goals in a span of only 26 minutes. Nonda had two of the goals for Galatasaray.
Dinamo will get dominated by Galatasaray in their next game.
Group E
FC Basel 1893 (6 points) against PFC CSKA Sofia (1 point)
Frei scored two goals for Sofia that helped clinch the game against Basel. Basel’s only loss came at the hands of Sofia. Sofia holds the mental edge over Basel and will be oozing with confidence once the game starts.
It will be a close game until Basel’s busts the game wide open.
Group E
AS Roma (4 points) against Fulham FC (5 points)
Both teams played to a draw last time they met. Roma was lucky to score an equalizer in extra time to end the game in a draw. Andreolli struck in the 93rd minute for Roma. Roma was relentless against Fulham in the dying minutes and the team from England just couldn’t hold on.
Fulham will make the necessary adjustments and hand Roma their second loss.
Group I
AEK Athens FC (3 points) against FC BATE Borisov (3 points)
First meeting: Athens scored early but Borisov scored twice in the second half to win the game. Both teams played great defense in the first half but Pavlov and Alumona broke free and won the game for Borisov.
Predicted outcome of second game: Virtually every aspect of their team is deadlocked but Athens is poised for revenge.
Group I
Everton (6 points) against SL Benfica (6 points)
Both teams are tied for the top spot in Group I.
First meeting: Benfica destroyed Everton at home 5-0 with Oscar Cardoza scoring two goals. Benfica scored three goals in a span of only five minutes.
Predicted outcome of second game: Everton will even the score, especially with midfielder Jack Rodwell out to “prove a point” against Benfica.
Group J
Toulouse FC (4 points) against FC Shakhtar Donetsk (9 points)
First meeting: Donetsk crushed Toulouse 4-0 with Luiz Adriano scoring two goals. Fernandinho scored in the 7th minute on a penalty shot that foreshadowed the rest of the game for Donetsk.
Predicted outcome of second game: Donetsk will continue its winning streak and will dominate Toulouse at home.
Group J
FK Partizan (0 points) against Club Brugge KV (4 points)
First meeting: Brugge scored early in the game and Partizan sealed the game with an own goal score. Perisic missed a penalty shot but his aggressiveness was enough to pressure Partizan.
Predicted outcome of the second game: No way Partizan beats Brugge at home. Perisic will continue to dominate the action for Brugge.
Group K
FC København (3 points) against PSV Eindhoven (7 points)
Eindhoven holds the top spot in group K.
First meeting: Eindhoven scored late to escape with the 1-0 victory over Kobenhavn. Reis had about two opportunities to score extra goals for Eindhoven but Kobenhavn did a great job of preventing further damage.
Predicted outcome of the second game: Kobenhavm is capable of scoring an upset over Eindhoven; don’t be surprised if they do.
Group K
CFR 1907 Cluj (3 points) against AC Sparta Praha (4 points)
First meeting: Sparta was paced by goals from Kucka and Hubnik. From that point on, Sparta never gave Cluj a chance to get back in the game. Kucka was very aggressive in getting the ball into the box.
Predicted outcome of second game: Sparta, being the warriors that they are, will continue their dominance over Cluj
Group L
Werder Bremen (7 points) against FK Austria Wien (2 points)
First meeting: Wien had two late goals from Sulimani and Schumacher that forced a draw against Bremen. Wien salvaged a draw to prevent losing at home.
Predicted outcome of the second: Wien was lucky to score two late goals at home but playing away will definitely affect their psyche. Bremen will avoid having another late game collapse.
Group L
CD Nacional (1 point) against Athletic Club (6 points)
First meeting: Athletic climbed out of the 1-0 score and scored two goals against Nacional to win 2-1. Llorente scored on a late goal but what really energized Athletic was the insertion of Javi Martinez and Oscar de Marcos.
Predicted outcome of second: Athletic will win more convincingly second time around because they hold the mental edge over Nacional.
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