ESPANYOL v ZORYA
Europa League
Thursday 22nd August 2019
Kickoff: 2000hrs
Pick: Espanyol win to nil
Bookmaker: Coral
Odds: 2.05 (odds taken at 23:15 GMT, 21 August 2019)
 |
1 | X | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.26 | 5.95 | 10.50 |
* (All betting odds displayed were correct as of August 21 2019 at 23:15)
We’ve reached the 1st leg stage of the Europa League play-offs on Thursday night and our next preview features a clash between Spanish club, Espanyol, and Ukrainian outfit, Zorya, as the betting tips continue at the RCDE Stadium.
Espanyol Prediction – Can Espanyol continue march in Europe?
It’s been 12 long years since the Spanish hosts last participated in the Europa League, but Espanyol are certainly making up for lost time in this competition as they’ve marched confidently towards these play-offs which start on Thursday night.
Espanyol’s last match in the Europa League ended in defeat but only just as they lost on penalties to compatriots, Sevilla, back in 2007, but that’s been the host’s only loss out of their last 19 ties at this level which is a pretty impressive record.
We need to temper their previous form in the competition though with the present day and after their 12-year hiatus, Espanyol have won all four of their Europa League ties to date this time around; they entered at the 2nd qualifying round stage and wasted no time in stamping their authority.
A 7-1 aggregate win against Icelandic outfit, Stjarnan was swiftly followed by a convincing 6-0 win on aggregate against Swiss club, Luzern, in the 3rd qualifying round which has seen them progress to these play-offs.
10 of Espanyol’s 17 home ties in the Europa League have seen the hosts keep a clean sheet.
Zorya Prediction – Can Zorya breach Espanyol’s defence ?
Thursday night’s visitors, Zorya, also entered the Europa League at the 2nd qualifying round stage where they posted a convincing 4-1 aggregate win against Montenegro outfit, Buducnost, winning 3-1 away from home in the 1st leg before shutting out their opponents in a 1-0 win in the 2nd leg at their Slavutych-Arena.
Zorya then did a job in the 3rd qualifying round against Bulgarian side, CSKA Sofia, as they held the Bulgarians to a 1-1 draw away from home at the Stadion Bâlgarska Armija before sealing their progression to these play-offs with another solid 1-0 win at home in the return leg.
Overall form in this competition has seen Zorya lose just 1 of their last 8 ties which was a 3-2 defeat away at German Bundesliga club, RB Leipzig, in August last year, but they head into this crucial two-legged tie against Espanyol having won 3 out of their last 4 ties.
However, when we switch to Zorya’s results away from home at this level, we find that the visitors have managed to claim just 2 away wins out of their last 11 ties on their travels, which includes a 1-0 win at Athletic Bilbao in 2017 and the recent victory at Buducnost.
Zorya have lost 7 of their last 11 away ties in the Europa League and therefore may find the going tough in Spain on Thursday night.
Key-Facts – Espanyol v Zorya
- Espanyol have lost just 1 of their last 19 ties in the Europa League
- Espanyol have kept 10 clean sheets in their 17 home ties played in the EL
- Zorya have lost 7 of their last 11 away ties in the Europa League
Betting Tips Verdict
Espanyol are a tough unit to beat in this competition while Zorya have struggled on the road at this level.
