AEK Athens vs Leicester City Europa League Match Preview or Key Statistics 📊
This will be the first meeting between AEK Athens and Leicester City in European competition;AEK Athens have lost each of their last four games against English opponents. most recently losing home and away against Everton in the UEFA Europa League group stages in 2009-10. Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers faced AEK Athens in Champions League qualifying in 2018-19 while in charge of Celtic; he was eliminated after losing the second leg 1-2 in Athens. Leicester have lost each of their last three away games in European competition. all coming during their sole Champions League campaign in 2016-17. AEK Athens are currently winless in their last 12 home match es in major European competitions (D5 L7 - excluding qualifiers), losing each of the last three in a row. Leicester striker Kelechi lheanacho has been directly involved in five goals in his last four appearances in UEFA European competition (3 goals, 2 assists). netting two goals for Man City in the 2016/17 Champions League and scoring one and assisting two for the Foxes on MD1 against Zorya Luhansk.
Zorya vs SC Braga......
These sides faced off in UEFA Europa League qualifying in 2018-19, drawing 1—1 in Ukraine and 2-2 in Portugal; Zorya progressed on away goals. Zorya Luhansk have only won one of their previous six home matches in the UEFA Europa League (D2 L3), failing to score in three of the last four. Braga are winless in all 10 of their matches against Ukrainian sides in all European competitions (D4 L6), losing each of their last four such matches in the UEFA Europa League. Zorya Luhansk have lost their last four UEFA Europa League matches in a row. their worst ever losing run in the competition. Sporting Braga forward Paulinho has been directly involved in six goals in his last six UEFA Europa League appearances (5 goals, 1 assist), scoring and assisting on MD1 against AEK Athens.
AC Milan vs Sparta Prague.....
This will be the seventh meeting between Milan and Sparta Prague, with the Italians yet to lose in this fixture (W4 D2). Sparta Prague have lost all three of their previous away games against Milan, with their last visit coming in a UEFA Champions League tie in 2003-04. Milan have lost two of their last four home games in the UEFA Europa League (W2), against Arsenal (0-2) in 2017-18 and Real Betis (1-2) in 2018-1 9. including qualifying rounds, Sparta Prague have lost each of their last five away games in European competition since beating Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the group stages of the UEFA Europa League in 2016-17. Milan are looking to win on MD1 and MD2 for a third time in a row in the UEFA Europa League, doing so in 2017/18 and 2018/1 9; Milan beat Celtic 3-1 on MD1 this season.
Lille vs Celtic....
Lille will face Scottish opponents for the very first time in European competition. Celtic are currently winless in eight away games versus French sides (D3 L5) since beating Nantes in a European Cup Last 16 tie in 1966. Lille are winless in 12 home matches in all European competitions (D5 L7) since beating FC Kobenhavn in Champions League qualifying in 2012-1 3. Having failed to score in any of his six UEFA Champions League appearances for Lille last season, Yusuf Yazici netted a hat-trick against Sparta Prague on MD1 ofthis season's UEFA Europa League. finding the net with all three shots on target. Celtic haven‘t lost their opening two group stage games in a major UEFA European competition since 2013/14 in the UEFA Champions League, with the Bhoys losing 3-1 to Milan on MD1 this season.
FK Qarabag vs Villarreal.....
FK Qarabag and Villarreal have never previously faced one another in European competition. Qarabag are winless in four games versus Spanish sides (D2 L2), including two losses against the eventual UEFA Europa League champions Seviiia in the group stages last season. \fiilarreal have only lost one of their last 13 Europa League matches outside of Spain (W5 D7), with that loss coming against Lyon at the Last 32 stage of this competition in 2017-18. FK Qarabag have lost 11 of their last 15 matches in the UEFA Europa League (W2 D2), losing 1-0 away at Maccabi Tel Aviv on MD1 this season. Viilarreai's Takefusa Kubo was directly involved in three goals on MD1 against Sivasspor (1 goal, 2 assists), becoming the second teenager to be involved in three goals in their first UEFA Europa League appearance, after Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli last season against Standard Liege.
Sivasspor vs Maccabi Tel Aviv.....
This will be the first meeting between these two sides in European competition. Sivasspor have won two of their four home games in all European competitions (L2), beating OFK Grbaij in the UEFA lntertoto Cup in 2008 and Anderiecht in Champions League qualifying in 2009. Maccabi Tel Aviv won their most recent away match in the UEFA Europa League (1 -0 vs Villarreal), having lost three away games on the bounce priorto this run. Sivasspor's first UEFA Europa League match saw eight goals scored. losing 53 away at Villarreal on MD1; it was the highest scoring match in a team's first match in major UEFA European competition since Rabotnicki Skopje lost 6-2 to Basel in September 2006 in the UEFA Cup. Maccabi Tel Aviv have won their last two major UEFA European matches in a row, winning their final Europa League game in 2017/18 and on MD1 this season against FK Qarabag; they have never won three in a row in major UEFA European competition.
Royal Antwerp vs Tottenham Hotspur....
This will be the very first game between these sides in European competition. Royal Antwerp have been drawn with English opposition on two previous occasions, both in the UEFA Cup;they beat Aston Villa home and away in 1975-76 but were defeated home and away by Newcastle in 1994-95. Spurs have never won away to Belgian opposition (D2 L3), losing on each of their last two visits, both in the UEFA Europa League: against Anderlecht in 2015-1 6 and KAA Gent in 2016-17. Royal Antwerp's Simen Kristiansen Juklerod created seven chances against Ludogerets, more than any other player managed on MD1 of this season's UEFA Europa League. Spurs have managed just one win from their last eight away games in the UEFA Europa League (D2 L5), defeating FK Qarabag 1-0 in the 201 5-1 6 group stages. including qualifiers, Spurs manager Jose Mourinho is unbeaten in his last 1 5 matches in the UEFA Europa League (W12 D3), winning all four games this season by an aggregate score of 15-4.
LASK vs Ludogorets Razgrad......
LASK and Ludogorets Razgrad have never faced off in European competition before; indeed, this will be LASK's first match against Bulgarian opposition and Ludogorets' first match against Austrian opposition. LASK won four of their five home matches in the UEFA Europa League last season, though they lost their most recent game in that run 0-5 versus Man Utd. After winning each of their first four away games in the UEFA Europa League, Ludogorets have sincejust two of their following 13 away matches in the competition (D6 L5). LASK lost just one of their first eight UEFA Europa League matches (W5 D2), conceding just five goals across those games - the Austrian side have since lost their last three in a row, shipping 10 goals. Ludogerets won six of their first seven UEFA Europa League games (D1) between September 2013 and February 2014, but have won only four of their 28 in the competition since then (D11 L13).
Feyenoord vs R2 Pellets.....
Feyenoord and R2 Pellets WAC will meet for the first time in European competition. Feyenoord have won each of their last two matches against Austrian sides, beating FC Kiimten home and away in the UEFA Cup in 2003-04. Feyenoord have only won one of their last four home group stage games in the UEFA Europa League (D2 L1), this after winning five such games in a row. RZ Pellets WAC had an even split of one win. one draw and one defeat away from home in the UEFA Europa League last season, drawing their most recent such game 2-2 against Roma. Feyenoord have won just one of their last 10 UEFA Europa League matches (D4 L5), drawing 0-0 on MD1 this season away at Dinamo Zagreb, with Steven Berghuis missing an 8th minute penalty. After winning their first ever UEFA Europa League match last season 4-0 against Borussia Monchengiadbach, RZ Pellets WAC are winless in six matches since then, drawing three and losing three.
CSKA Moscow vs Dinamo Zagreb......
CSKA Moscow's only previous games against Croatian opponents came in the UEFA Cup in 2008-09, when they defeated Siaven Belupo Koprivnica home and away. All three of Dinamo Zagreb's matches against Russian sides have been against Spartak Moscow, winning once and losing twice, most recently in 2008-09 in the UEFA Cup. CSKA Moscow are winless in five home matches in the UEFA Europa League (D2 L3) since defeating FK Crvena Zvezda in the Last 32 in 2017-18. CSKA Moscow have won just one of their last nine UEFA Europa League matches (D4 L4), although they are unbeaten in their last four (W1 D3). Dinamo Zagreb are unbeaten in their last eight UEFA Europa League group stage matches (W5 D3), although the last three have all ended goalless.
KAA Gent vs Hoffenheim.....
KAA Gent and Hoffenheim have never played one another in European competition before; Gent won their most recent game against German opposition, beating Wolfsburg 3-1 away from home in this competition last season. Gent have only been defeated once in nine home group stage matches in the UEFA Europa League (3-5 vs Shakhtar Donetsk in 2016-17), scoring at least once in each game. Hoffenheim have played seven away games in all European competitions to date, failing to win any (D3 L4) despite scoring in each game. KAA Gent haven't lost consecutive UEFA Europa League group stage matches since November 2016, when they lost twice in a row against Shakhtar Donetsk. Since the start of the 2017/18 season, only Bruno Femandes (22) has been directly involved in more UEFA Europa League goals than Hoffenheim’s Munas Dabbur (21 - 17 goals, 4 assists). However. Dabbur’s 17 goals are the most of any player in that time.
Slovan Liberec vs Red Star.......
These two sides have met once before, with Slovan Liberec beating Red Star home and away in the UEFA Cup in 2006-07. Red Star have lost each of their last two home games in major European competition. both in the UEFA Champions League last season: 0-4 vs Tottenham Hotspur and 0-6 vs Bayern Munich. Slovan Liberec are currently winless in four away games in the UEFA Europa League (D1 L3), conceding five goals in their last two such matches while failing to score themselves. Against Hoffenheim, Crvena Zvezda were one of two teams who failed to register a shot on target on MD1 in the 2020/21 UEFA Europa League. along with Standard Liege. Slovan Liberec are looking for consecutive wins in the UEFA Cup/ Europa League for the first time since September 2006, when they won over two legs against their MD2 opponents Crvena Zvezda.
CFR Cluj vs Young Boys........
This will be the first competitive meeting between CFR Cluj and Young Boys. CFR Cluj have played four games against Swiss opposition, each time against Basel between 2010 and 2012, winning three times and losing once. Young Boys‘ only previous away match in Romania was against FCSB in the Cup Winners' Cup in 1979 — they lost 0-6. This season is CFR Cluj‘s sixth season in the UEFA Champions League! Europa League group stage and the Romanian side have won on MD1 in every season - however; they are yet to register a win on MD2 in their previous five attempts (D1 L4). Young Boys lost on MD1 against Roma - the Swiss side haven't lost their opening two group stage matches in the UEFA Europa League since 2012/13.
Roma vs CSKA Sofia.......
Roma and CSKA Sofia have met on four previous occasions in all competitions, with Roma winning each game without conceding. The most recent fixtures between Roma and CSKA Sofia came in the 2009-10 UEFA Europa League group stages — Roma topped the group. while the Bulgarians finished bottom. CSKA Sofia have played eight away matches versus italian sides, drawing twice and losing six times. They last avoided defeat in such a tie in 1991 versus Farms in the UEFA Cup. Roma's Edin Dzeko has been directly involved in 13 goals in his last 15 UEFA Europa League appearances for the club (11 goals, 2 assists), coming off the bench to assist Bruno Peres’ equaliser against Young Boys. Since 2009/10, among the 1 39 teams to play at least 10 games in the UEFA Europa League, CSKA Sofia have lost the highest percentage of their games in the competition (11/13, 85%).
Arsenal vs Dundalk.....
Arsenal will face Irish opposition for the first time in UEFA competition. Dundalk have faced English opponents on six previous occasions in European competition, drawing Liverpool in the Fairs Cup in 1969-70, Spurs in the Cup Winners' Cup in 1981-82 and Liverpool again in the European Cup in 1982-93; the only game in which they avoided defeat came against Spurs in 1981, drawing 1-1. English sides have won 11 of their 12 home matches against sides from the Republic of Ireland in European competition (D1), scoring 56 goals while conceding only five times. On MD1. Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang became only the sixth player since 2009/10 to net 20 UEFA Europa League goals — Aubameyang has netted 16 goals in his last 23 appearances in the competition. Dundalk have lost 15 of their last 18 matches in UEFA European competition (W1 D2), with their solitary win in this time coming in September 2016 against Maccabi Tel Aviv in a Europa League match.
Molde vs Rapid Wien.......
This will be Molde’s first match against Austrian opponents in European competition. Rapid Wien have lost both of their last two competitive matches against Norwegian sides, losing home and away against Rosenborg in the UEFA Europa League group stages in 2012-13. in all European competition (including qualifiers), Moide are unbeaten in their last 11 home matches (W8 D3) since a 2-0 defeat to Fenerbahce in November 2015 in the UEFA Europa League. Rapid Wien have won just four of their last 41 away matches in major European competition (D8 L29 - excluding qualifiers). SK Rapid Wien have lost their last three UEFA Europa League games, last enduring a longer losing run between November 2010 and November 2012 (eight in a row).
Slavia Prague vs Bayer Leverkusen.....
Slavia Prague and Bayer Leverkusen will meet for the first time in European competition. Slavia have lost each of their last five matches against German opposition. scoring only once in this time. Bayer Leverku sen have won each of their last three away games in major European competition and could win four in a row for the first time (excluding qualifiers). Slavia Prague are winless in their last nine major UEFA European matches (D2 L7), their worst run since a 19-game winless run between 2007 and 2009. Bayer Leverkusen's Moussa Diaby has been directly involved in five goals in his five UEFA Europa League appearances (2 goals, 3 assists), scoring and assisting in their 6-2 win over Nice on MD1 this season.
Nice vs Hapoel......
This will be Nice's first game against Israeli opposition in European competition. After winning 10 of their first 11 home games in major UEFA competitions (L1), Nice have since won just three of the following eight (D1 L4 - excluding qualifiers). HapoeL Be'er Sheva won their first away game in the Europa League under its current format in September 2016 again st internazionaie, but are winless in their following six on the road in the competition (D2 L4). Nice shipped six goals in their 62 away defeat to Bayer Leverkusen on MD1 of this season's UEFA Europa League, the first time they'd ever conceded six goals in a European match. They were the first French side to concede six goals in a UEFA Cup/Europa League game since Bordeaux in March 1999 against Penna, who lost 6-0. Hapoel Be'er Sheva registered a 3-1 on MD1 of this season's UEFA Europa League against Slavia Prague, scoring with all three of their shots on target. attempting just four shots in total in the match.
Standard Liege vs Benfica....
Standard Liege are Benfica‘s seventh different Belgian opponents in major European competition - Benfica are unbeaten in their last 10 such matches against Belgian sides (W7 D3 - excluding qualifiers). Standard Liege's sole away win against Portuguese opposition was In a European Cup last 16 tie against Sporting CP in 1958 (3-2) — they are winless in four such games since (D2 L2). Benfica have played 22 home games in the UEFA Europa League without ever being defeated (W18 D4); this is the most of any side yet to lose at home in the competition since it was rebranded in 2009. Benfica’s Darwin Nufiez netted a hat-trick on his UEFA Europa League debut on MD1 away at Lech Poznan - at 21 years and 120 days, he is the third youngest player to score a hat-trick for Benfi ca in UEFA European competition, behind Joao Félix (19y 152d in 2019) and Eusebio (20y 301d in 1962). Standard Liege attempted just four shots on MD1 against Rangers, losing 2-0, with no team attempting fewer in this season's UEFA Europa League (joint with Hapoel Be'er Sheva and Sparta Prague); Liege didn't have a single shot in the second half against Rangers.
Rangers vs Lech Poznan.....
Rangers and Lech Poznan will meet for the first time in European competition. Rangers have won each of their last three matches against Polish opposition in major European competition (excluding qualifiers), scoring nine goals in their last two such games. Lech Poznan have failed to score in three of their last four away games in the UEFA Europa League, though they beat Fiorentina in the one game in which they did find the back ofthe net in this run (2-1 in October 2015) including qualifying rounds, Rangers have lost just one of their last 19 home games in European competitions (W13 D5); that defeat came against Bayer Leverkusen in the last 1 6 last season. Rangers striker Kemar Roofe scored the longest-range goal in UEFA Europa history against Standard Liege on M01 (54.6 yards) ~ the last player to score in their first two major UEFA European matches for the club was Mark Falco in 1987.
Granada vs PAOK.....
This will be the very first meeting between Granada and PAOK in European competition. PAOK have lost four of their five away matches against Spanish opposition (D1). conceding at least four goals on three occasions. Granada CF have won all four of their European matches in all competitions in 2020/21, winning three games in the UEFA Europa League qualifiers and on MD1 ofthe group stage away at PSV. including qualifying rounds, PAOK have lost each of their last five away games in European competitions since beating BATE Borisov in the group stages of this competition in 2018-19. on MD1, Granada CF striker Jorge Molina became the third oldest scorer in UEFA Europa League history (38y 183d), behind only Molde’s Daniel Hestad in 201 5 (40y 98d) and AEK Larnaka's David Catala in 2018 (38y 224d).
Omonia Nicosia vs PSV......
Omonia Nicosia and PSV have never faced off before in European competition. Omonia Nicosia have hosted Dutch opponents twice before, winning both games - against Ajax in the European Cup in 1979 and against ADO Den Haag in Champions League qualifying in 2011. Omonia Nicosia have lost each of their last five home matches in major European competition (excluding qualifiers), the worst such run in their history. PSV have lost both of their last two away matches in the UEFA Europa League, conceding four goals in each match - they last lost three games consecutively on their travels in this competition in 2012 (excluding qualifiers). PSV have picked up just two wins in their last 21 matches in major UEFA European competition (D8 L11), losing 2—1 on MD1 of this season's Europa League against Granada.
AZ vs HNK Rijeka......
This is the very first match between AZ and HNK Rijeka in European competition. HNK Rijeka last their only previous away game against Dutch opponents - a 0-2 defeat at the hands of Feyenoord in the UEFA Europa League group stages In 2014-1 5. HNK Rijeka are unbeaten in their last two UEFA Europa League away matches (W1 D1) having lost six of their previous seven games on the road in the competition since its rebrand in 2009 (D1). Including qualifiers, AZ have lost none of their last nine home European matches (W4 D5) since a 4-1 defeat to Lyon in February 2017 in the UEFA Europa League. HNK Rijeka managed just five shots in their 1-0 defeat to Real Sociedad on MD1 ofthis season‘s UEFA Europa League, but Stjepan Loncar was involved in four of the five, having three shots himself and setting another up.
Real Sociedad vs Napoli.....
Real Sociedad and Napoli will face off for the first time in European competition — Sociedad's only previous itaiian opponents are lntemazionale (P2 W1 D0 L1) and Juventus (P2 W0 D1 L1). Napoli are cunently winless in eight matches against Spanish opponents in all European competitions (D3 L5 - including qualifiers) since beating Vlllaneal in the Champions League group stages in 201 1-1 2. Real Sociedad are winless in two UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League home matches (D1 L1) having won 10 such matches in a row prior to this run (excluding qualifiers. Napoli have lost both of their last two away matches in the Europa League, last losing three in a row in the competition proper between 2011 and 2012. Napoli were beaten on M01, losing 1-0 at home to AZ - they have only once previously lost consecutive UEFA Europa League group stage matches, losing two in a row in October 2012 against PSV and FC Dnipro.
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