Sports Mole provides score predictions and previews for all of today’s Europa League fixtures, including Union SG vs. Liverpool.
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Liverpool travel to Lotto Park in Belgium to face Union SG in their final Group E fixture of the Europa League on Thursday night.
While the Reds have already qualified for the last 16 as group winners, Union SG still have an outside chance of finishing in the top two and securing their spot in the knockout rounds.
We say: Union SG 1-3 Liverpool
The onus is on Union SG to take the game to Liverpool on home soil in their quest to secure a top-two finish, and Thursday’s contest may be their best opportunity to get the better of the Reds, who could potentially field a much-rotated side.
Nevertheless, the lineup that Klopp selects should still be strong enough to outscore their Belgian counterparts en route to claiming all three points and completing Group E on a positive note.
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> How Liverpool could line up against Union SG
> Liverpool injury, suspension list vs. Union SG
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Seeking to secure their qualification for the last 16 of the Europa League, Toulouse travel to Austria to take on LASK Linz at Raiffeisen Arena in their final Group E fixture on Thursday evening.
The two teams meet for the first time since Les Violets claimed a slender 1-0 home victory in the reverse fixture on matchday one in September.
We say: LASK Linz 1-2 Toulouse
A closely-fought contest is set to be played out between these two teams who still have something riding on this fixture. Toulouse only need a draw to secure a top-two finish in Group E, but we believe they will capitalise on LASK Linz pushing men forward in their search for a winner by punishing the Austrian side at the other end on the counter-attack en route to claiming maximum points.
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Supporters at Roazhon Park on Thursday night will witness a battle for first place in Group F of this season’s Europa League, as Rennes welcome La Liga outfit Villarreal to France.
Both sides have already secured their spot in the knockout stages of the competition, but only the section winners will be able to progress directly into the last 16.
We say: Rennes 1-1 Villarreal
Rennes have turned on the style in the Europa League this term despite their struggles in domestic football, and the hosts need to repeat that trick once more to secure top spot in Group F.
Villarreal were dismantled by Real Sociedad on the weekend during a disastrous end to the first half, and a similar collapse at Roazhon Park will lead to playoff football for the Yellow Submarine in February.
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With a place in the knockout stages of the Europa Conference League up for grabs, Panathinaikos will welcome Maccabi Haifa to Olympiako Stadio Spyros Louis on Thursday evening in the Europa League.
Both sides have already seen their chances of participating in UEFA’s second-tier competition after the New Year end, but the pair could still be involved in European football in February.
We say: Panathinaikos 2-1 Maccabi Haifa
With Panathinaikos knowing a point would be enough to secure Conference League football, the Greek hosts could be rather defensive in their approach on Thursday evening.
Maccabi Haifa will need to improve offensively in order to seal third spot, but we feel that a more expansive approach will lead to greater vulnerabilities at the back for the Greens.
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Only victory can help Roma secure a direct route to the Europa League’s last 16, as they host Sheriff Tiraspol in Thursday’s Group G finale.
To avoid a playoff, the Giallorossi must win at Stadio Olimpico and hope Slavia Prague slip up against Servette; meanwhile, their visitors have already been eliminated and will finish last no matter what happens in Rome.
We say: Roma 2-1 Sheriff Tiraspol
Roma have recently been dominant on home soil, winning five games on the spin as hosts before drawing with Fiorentina last time out. With some high-calibre options among his fringe players, Jose Mourinho can still send out a side that sees off Sheriff – but a win for Group G leaders Slavia Prague may still consign them to the playoffs.
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A fifth win from six to end their Group G campaign would send Slavia Prague straight through to the Europa League’s last 16, but Servette stand in their way on Thursday.
Victory will ensure the Czech club pip Roma to top spot and avoid slipping into the playoffs, while their visitors have already been eliminated.
We say: Slavia Prague 2-0 Servette
Servette’s unbeaten run could come to its end on Thursday night, as Slavia Prague are a formidable force on home soil and – unlike their visitors – they require a win to achieve their objective of topping Group G.
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In the final round of Europa League group-stage fixtures, this season, Bayer Leverkusen will aim to finish with a perfect record on Thursday, when they play host to Molde who will fight for qualification.
The German hosts have won each of their five matches thus far, while their visitors trail second-placed Qarabag FK on goal difference.
We say: Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 Molde
While Molde have far more to play for in the final round of group games, we can only envisage another triumph for Die Werkself at the BayArena on Thursday.
Still unbeaten in all competitions and having won all five Europa League matches so far, Alonso’s men are full of confidence and momentum, and with more quality all over the pitch than their hosts, they should come out on top on home turf.
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In the final round of Europa League group-stage fixtures this term, Qarabag FK will aim to keep hold of second spot and earn a playoff place on Thursday, when they welcome Hacken to Azerbaijan.
The hosts only trail Molde on head-to-head points and need to match or better the Norwegian side’s result on the final day to continue in the competition, while their visitors are out of contention but will aim to bow out with their first points of the campaign.
We say: Qarabag FK 3-0 Hacken
Qarabag still have a need for a positive result on Thursday if they are to keep hold of second spot in their group, while Hacken have struggled to remain competitive in this year’s Europa League, and we can only see them bowing out without a point following a defeat in Azerbaijan with the hosts likely to outclass the Swedish outfit all over the pitch.
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West Ham United and Freiburg square off in the Europa League on Thursday night with a place in the last 16 at stake.
Although both teams are already guaranteed to feature in the knockout stages, they will each be eager to finish top of Group A and avoid the last 32.
We say: West Ham United 2-2 Freiburg
With West Ham’s squad having needed to recover from a stomach bug over the weekend and into this week, it remains to be seen whether they will be back to full fitness. Nevertheless, in what we feel will be an entertaining game, the Hammers should be able to battle their way to a share of the spoils, one which will keep them in top spot.
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Olympiacos and Backa Topola meet in the Europa League on Thursday night with both teams having already been eliminated from this competition.
However, a place in the Europa Conference League is still up for grabs, Olympiacos needing to avoid defeat and Backa Topola knowing that only a win will do if they are to extend their continental schedule.
We say: Olympiacos 2-0 Backa Topola
Having pushed West Ham in their most recent European fixture, Backa Topola will feel that they are capable of upsetting the odds in Greece. Nevertheless, Olympiacos need a response of their own, and we are backing Martinez’s side to churn out a professional win on home territory.
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Ajax and AEK Athens conclude their Europa League group-stage campaigns when they do battle at the Johan Cruijff Arena in their final Group B fixture on Thursday night.
Both teams are unable to progress to the knockout rounds, but the prospect of finishing third and dropping down into the Europa Conference League is still up for grabs.
We say: Ajax 2-1 AEK Athens
A 1-1 draw was played out between these two teams in the reverse fixture in Greece two months ago, and another closely-fought contest could be on the cards on Thursday.
However, Ajax have put together a strong run of form in recent weeks and we believe the rejuvenated hosts will do enough to claim a narrow victory over AEK Athens to secure third place in Group B.
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Brighton & Hove Albion and Marseille will battle for top spot in Group B of the Europa League when they lock horns at the American Express Stadium in their final group fixture on Thursday night.
The two teams have already qualified for the knockout rounds, but a victory for either side would guarantee their place in the last 16, consigning the other club to the playoff round.
We say: Brighton & Hove Albion 2-3 Marseille
Both teams will be keen to end the group stage on a high by securing top spot with a win to progress straight through to the last 16, but they will be aware of the attacking threats each side will likely pose in this intriguing contest, so they must be on top of their game to achieve success on the South Coast.
Plenty of goalmouth action is set to be instore, but considering Brighton’s injury list and leaky backline, we believe an Aubameyang-inspired Marseille outfit will come out on top in a thriller.
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Real Betis welcome Rangers to Andalucia in an enticing matchday six encounter in the Europa League on Thursday.
Both sides can still win the group and go directly through to the last 16, but the two are also in danger of elimination, with Sparta Prague waiting to pounce.
We say: Real Betis 1-0 Rangers
Despite major injury concerns ripping apart much of the Betis squad, their home form has been superb in Europe, and they should get the result they need to win the group.
In comparison, Rangers’ recent record in Spain is woeful, and while they will be competitive, they may have one ear listening in to events unfolding in Cyprus.
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Sparta Prague travel to Cyprus to face bottom seeds Aris Limassol in the Europa League on Thursday knowing a win will take them through to the knockout round.
Aris still have something to play for themselves though, as a two-goal win will move them above their Czech opponents and into the Europa Conference League spot, in a devilishly tight group heading into matchday six.
We say: Aris Limassol 0-2 Sparta Prague
The odds are stacked against Aris dropping into the Europa Conference League knockouts in their debut season in Europe, but they are unlikely to be pushovers for Sparta.
A narrow 3-2 win in the reverse shows Aris can be tricky customers, but the visitors should win here and take their place in the knockout rounds of this competition, even if they do fall slightly short of the three-goal margin needed to potentially win the group.
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Sporting Lisbon enter their clash with Sturm Graz in the Europa League on Thursday safe in the knowledge of their progression from the group, but only in second place below Atalanta BC.
It is Sturm who still have it all to play for, as they are battling with Rakow Czestochowa for a spot in the Europa Conference League.
We say: Sporting Lisbon 0-1 Sturm Graz
As Sporting are unlikely to field the strongest team at Amorim’s disposal, an array of changes could provide an opportunity for the visitors.
With Sturm motivated to get a result to extend their European season, they could exploit a potentially much-changed Sporting side who may have one eye on their upcoming clash with Porto instead.
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Having already sealed top spot in Europa League Group D, Atalanta BC travel to Poland with nothing to play for against Rakow Czestochowa.
The hosts have everything on the line here, though, as a surprise matchday five win means they are still in contention to drop into the Europa Conference League on their UEFA group stage debut.
We say: Rakow Czestochowa 2-3 Atalanta BC
Rakow could qualify even with a low-scoring defeat, if Sturm are beaten convincingly in Lisbon, so they must ensure the game does not get away from them with the margins so tight.
The personnel may change, but Gasperini’s ideals will not, and despite the alterations that may come, Atalanta should still put on a show and claim the three points here.
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