Europa Conference League predictions: St Patrick's struggling to avoid exit
- Thursday's Europa Conference League qualifying features 30 second-leg ties
- Recommended bets:
- Dudelange or draw double chance against St Patrick's
- Gzira United or draw double chance against Glentoran
- Panevezys to beat Milsami
Thirty Europa Conference League first-round qualifiers conclude on Thursday as 60 teams battle to follow in the footsteps of Maltese outfit Balzan, who sealed a place in the next round with a 5-4 aggregate success over Slovenian side Domzale.
The action includes St Patrick's attempts to overturn a 2-1 deficit against Luxembourg opponents Dudelange and Glentoran's bid to build on a 2-2 draw away to Maltese outfit Gzira United.
St Patrick's Athletic vs Dudelange (Thursday, 7.45pm)
The stats
St Patrick's must attempt to overturn a 2-1 deficit but they have lost seven of their previous nine European home matches.
However, their only home win among that group of games was a 1-0 success over Luxembourg opposition on Jeunesse Esch.
Dudelange won 12 of 15 away games in the Luxembourg top flight last season but they have lost their two two European away fixtures.
Prediction
Dudelange took part in the Europa League group stage in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons and, while they have regressed in recent years, they retain enough ability to complete an aggregate victory over St Patrick's at Richmond Park.
The Luxembourg outfit were largely dominant in the first leg, winning the match 2-1 and the shot count 11 to three.
Carlos Fangueiro's side may face a tougher challenge in Dublin but they can see off St Pat's, who have not won a home match in Europe since 2016.
Glentoran vs Gzira United (Thursday, 7.30pm)
The stats
Glentoran have been beaten in five of their last six European ties, including a 3-1 aggregate reverse to Welsh opponents The New Saints at the same stage of last season's Europa Conference League.
The Glens have won just two of their last 27 European home fixtures, although one of those came in the 2020-21 Europa League preliminary round when they triumphed 1-0 against Faroese side HB Torshavn.
Gzira are taking part in only their 11th European tie, having won five of the previous 10.
Prediction
Gzira United advanced as far as the third qualifying round of the Europa Conference League last season and they have a good chance of getting past Glentoran, despite the disappointment of last Thursday's 2-2 draw in Ta' Qali.
The Maltese side have avoided defeat on their last three Europa Conference League road trips, including an eye catching 0-0 draw against Austrians Wolfsberger.
Glentoran may feel they are well-placed after the opening leg but they have fallen at the first hurdle in three of their last four European campaigns and may struggle to get over the line in Belfast.
Milsami vs Panevezys (Thursday, 5pm)
The stats
Milsami have won just one of their last nine European home games but they have reached the Europe Conference League second qualifying round in each of the last two seasons.
Panevezys have won their last two away fixtures and hold a three-point lead over Zalgiris in the Lithuanian title race.
Prediction
Lithuanian league leaders Panevezys squandered a two-goal advantage over Moldovan outfit Milsami when they were held to a 2-2 draw in the Baltic last Thursday, but they can bounce back with a victory at the District Sport Complex in Orhei.
Milsami scored with two of their three shots on target in the opening leg but they may struggle to make home advantage count against Panevezys, who are chasing a seventh win in eight games.
