Strasbourg V Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Thursday 15th August 2019 – 19:30 Kick-Off
UEFA Europa League
Pick: Over 2.5 Goals
Odds: 3/5
Bookmaker: PaddyPower
 |
1 | X | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7/25 | 43/10 | 87/10 |
* (All betting odds displayed were correct as of August 13th 2019 at 01:10)
Preview: Despite losing at home, Lokomotiv Plovdiv came away from the first leg with a lot of credit for limiting their more illustrious opponents to only one goal, after playing most of the game with one less player on the pitch. So will Strasbourg live to regret not putting this tie to bed at the first attempt? It should be a fun encounter regardless, played inside the Stade de la Meinau.
UEFA Europa League Betting with 22Bet
Strasbourg Preview – Failure to capitalise in Bulgaria to cost Le Racing?
On the face of it, a 1-0 win was a satisfactory outcome. Upon closer inspection, though, last season’s French Cup winners could well come to rue a missed opportunity out in Bulgaria, after failing to really assert themselves on proceedings despite playing around 80 minutes with a numerical advantage.
The statistics from the opening leg implied Strasbourg were clearly the better side (they had five efforts on target, four more than their opponents). Although that was nothing less than we would expect from a team boasting more active players on the pitch. The failure to then translate this advantage into more goals has to be seen in a negative light, especially as that performance comes on the back of some questionable form.
As highlighted in previous articles, Le Racing ended 2018/19 in woeful fashion. Their final sixteen matches in Ligue 1 returned only two wins (W2 D8 L6). At home, meanwhile, it was one victory from their final eight fixtures (W1 D4 L3), which became one win in nine on Sunday following a disappointing 1-1 draw against newly-promoted FC Metz on the opening weekend of the new Ligue 1 season.
The previous round did see them manage to produce a winning performance at home, beating Israeli side Maccabi Haifa 3-1. But again, Strasbourg benefited from their opponents going down to ten men early on. There was no red card to aid them in the away leg however, which might explain why Thierry Laurey’s side struggled yet again, losing 2-1 but scraping through 4-3 on aggregate.
Lokomotiv Plovdiv Preview – Bulgarian side should ensure we get goals?
There won’t be many instances whereby a home side can feel relatively satisfied with a narrow defeat, but that was quite possibly the case for Lokomotiv Plovdiv last week. That is because the Bulgarians had to battle gamely for almost 80 minutes without defender Josip Tomasevic, whose early sending off meant a backs to the wall effort from his team. To subsequently concede just the one goal means they remain firmly alive in this tie.
Certainly, more discipline will be required in France. It could be a long evening else. Furthermore, last season’s Bulgarian Cup champions must do what they last managed way back in 1973, which is win away from home in European competition. The intervening period has produced twelve consecutive losses, with the last of those occurring in the previous round when they were beaten 3-1 in Slovakia by Spartak Trvana.
However, a strong start to the new league season would suggest this current group of players might well be potential history makers in the making. Since opening with a 3-1 defeat away to Cherno More, Plovdiv have gone four unbeaten (W3 D1) in a run that includes a couple of high-scoring away victories over Botev Vratsa (1-4) and Arda Kardzhali (2-5).
As you can clearly see for yourself, all three of Lokomotiv’s away league games this season have produced a minimum of four goals in the match. Which means the likelihood of this deciding second leg ending in a drab goalless draw seems extremely unlikely. Over 3.5 Goals is 31/20 with Betfair.
Strasbourg V Lokomotiv Plovdiv Key Facts:
- Strasbourg have won only one of their previous nine league matches played at home (W1 D5 L3) after a 1-1 draw with Metz on Sunday.
- Lokomotiv Plovdiv have won each of their last two away league games, by scorelines of 4-1 and 5-1.
- Strasbourg overcame Maccabi Haifa in the previous round, winning 3-1 at home. Meanwhile Lokomotiv Plovdiv edged out Spartak Trvana on away goals in the same round, but lost 3-1 away.
Betting Summary
With the exception of a memorable winning run in the French Cup, Strasbourg have not convinced as a collective unit for a long time. The team finished last season’s Ligue 1 in miserable form, winning twice in their final sixteen games (W2 D8 L6), and only once at home in the last eight (W1 D4 L3). Which recently became one win in nine following a 1-1 draw with newly-promoted Metz on Sunday. They’ve also benefited immensely so far in this tournament from the opposition picking up red cards.
Lokomotiv had to work hard for a 1-0 loss in the first leg, playing most of the game a man lighter. Providing they can keep everyone on the pitch this time, the Bulgarians will fancy their chances of causing an upset here. On recent form, it would be foolish to discount them. They’ve won their last two league games 4-1 and 5-2, although were soundly beaten 3-1 in Slovakia in the previous round.
At such short odds, the home side are unbackable for me. They should certainly be winning here, mainly due to them hailing from a stronger league, while the fact their opponents have to adopt a bolder approach if they’re to stand any chance of overturning their one goal deficit could even work to the home side’s advantage. Either way, this second leg looks perfectly set up for goals.
