Europa Conference League predictions: Zeljeznicar should be too nifty for Neftchi
- There are 42 ties in the Conference League second qualifying round on Thursday
- Recommended bets
- Back Zeljeznicar Sarajevo to beat Neftchi Baku
- Back Gzira United vs F91 Dudelange Over 2.5 goals
- Back Tie or FC Pyunik vs Kalmar FF
The Europa Conference League continues on Thursday, with 42 games taking place around Europa and beyond.
Zeljeznicar vs Neftchi Baku (Thursday, 8pm)
The stats
Zeljeznicar are unbeaten in six matches, four at the end of last season and two at the start of the 2023-24 campaign. They have found the net in each of their last seven fixtures.
Neftchi Baku finished off last season by winning just three of their last 10 matches.
Prediction
Bosnian powers Zeljeznicar have been revitalised under new coach Nerman Basic, who can lead his side to first-leg glory against Neftchi Baku in Sarajevo.
Basic was handed the reins at Zeljeznicar in April with the club having dropped out of the European qualification places.
But the 39-year-old, the youngest man to have ever coached in Bosnia's top flight, produced an instant turnaround, guiding Zeljeznicar to third spot.
The feelgood factor has carried on into this season judged on their entertaining and brave 4-3 aggregate success over Dinamo Minsk in the last round.
Neftchi have also changed coaches with former Chelsea and Romania striker Adrian Mutu appointed two weeks ago. Pre-season results have been poor, however, and this looks like a good time for Zeljeznicar to be taking on the Oil Workers.
Gzira United vs F91 Dudelange (Thursday, 6pm)
The stats
Gzira were the second top scorers in Malta last season, with both teams scoring in their previous round against Glentoran.
There have been three goals or more scored in 13 of F91 Dudelange's last 14 competitive matches.
Prediction
Top-tier Luxembourg league football is improving, mirroring the strides being made by the national side and F91 Dudelange will not be flying into Malta on a damage limitation exercise.
Jamath Schoffner's multi-national and very progressive squad proved too hot for St Patrick's Athletic in the last round, beating the Irish side 2-1 at home and 3-2 away.
Oege Van Lingen scored four of F91's goals and there were chances galore created at both ends of the pitch in both ties.
Gzira were third in Malta last year and that league's second top scorers and they too were involved in an entertaining first-round affair, drawing 2-2 at home to Northern Ireland side Glentoran and 1-1 away.
If there is a fixture where the Total Goals market comes into play, it is this one.
Kalmar FF vs FC Pyunik (Thursday, 6pm)
The stats
Kalmar's 1-0 win over Allsvenskan’s bottom club Varberg was their first success in four matches.
Pyunik have lost only one competitive game since December. Eghishe Melikyan's men have won 17 of their last 20 matches.
Prediction
FC Pyunik make the long haul from Armenia to Sweden with spirits high after making light work of Estonia's Trans Narva in the previous round.
Pyunik won 2-0 at home and then breezed to a 3-0 success in Estonia, last season’s top scorer Luca Juricic netting in both legs.
Kalmar ought to be a step up in class from Trans but they are not in the greatest of form, sixth in the Allsvenskan and struggling to score goals. That makes the draw a big runner and the Double Chance market has obvious merits.
