⚽ UEFA Europa League 2026-2027 🥈

[Joca97]

The 1st leg of the play-off round was pretty interesting. We averaged nearly 3 goals per game, which is decent, especially knowing teams tend to play more carefully in the 1st legs.

I think the biggest upset was Trabzonspor losing at home 1-0 to Hungarian Ferencvaros. The Turkish team dominated with 66% possession and almost 3 times more shots on goal, but couldn't even equalise. They can still come back from this in the rematch.
Another surprise was Polish champions Lech Poznan destroying Swiss Thun 7-0. I'm not that much surprised by Lech winning, but I did not expect them to be that dominant. I considered Thun to be on a similar level.
Well done to Lech and another Polish team, Jagiellonia, who also scored a high 4-0 win over Georgian Saburtalo.

Lots of goals today in the europe league and didnt expect that at all. Still lots of wierd results today,Trabzonspor got some hard signing and ended up losing to Ferencvaros at home and this is a big deal because now i doubt if Trabzonspor can comeback from this. Salah currently aint doing anything for them and that is a problem. Lech winning against Thun 7-0 is just insane on the other hand.

[Slow death]

The results of this round didn't surprise me.

Benfica 3 - 1 AGF

Playing at home, Benfica is strong, even in times when their performance wasn't very good. They rarely lost at home, and this season their attack has improved a lot, although they still need to strengthen their defense. With Mourinho, they defended well; now I believe that because they focus so much on attack, they expose themselves a bit defensively. With 3 goals scored at home and 1 conceded, they'll go into the second leg not very relaxed. In European competitions, a 2-goal advantage is nothing.

Beşiktaş 3 - 0 FK Kauno Žalgiris

This start to the season has been very good for the Turkish team. In the Turkish league, they started with a home win, and now they've also started with a win in the playoffs, winning by 3 goals without conceding, giving them a 3-point advantage for the second leg away from home. I saw the history of FK Kauno Žalgiris' last 5 home games:

5 home games

- 1 defeat
- 3 wins
- 1 draw

So Beşiktaş will need to be very careful in the second leg at FK Kauno Žalgiris' home ground. It's true that Beşiktaş has done well in away games, showing a very solid defense and not focusing on scoring many goals. If they play as they have been playing away from home, I believe they will win 2-0.

Lech Poznań 7 - 0 FC Thun

Honestly, I don't know what FC Thun will do in the second leg. Those guys from FC Thun were massacred in the first leg, conceding 7 goals and not scoring any. They would have to perform a miracle to score 8 goals and not concede any in the second leg if they want to advance to the next phase. Honestly, I see that as an impossible mission. In my opinion, the guys from FC Thun should pray that they don't concede too many goals at home in the second leg and that their fans don't leave the stadium before the game is over because they can't bear the humiliation.

[Smartprofit]

The 1st leg of the play-off round was pretty interesting. We averaged nearly 3 goals per game, which is decent, especially knowing teams tend to play more carefully in the 1st legs.

I think the biggest upset was Trabzonspor losing at home 1-0 to Hungarian Ferencvaros. The Turkish team dominated with 66% possession and almost 3 times more shots on goal, but couldn't even equalise. They can still come back from this in the rematch.
Another surprise was Polish champions Lech Poznan destroying Swiss Thun 7-0. I'm not that much surprised by Lech winning, but I did not expect them to be that dominant. I considered Thun to be on a similar level.
Well done to Lech and another Polish team, Jagiellonia, who also scored a high 4-0 win over Georgian Saburtalo.

Lots of goals today in the europe league and didnt expect that at all. Still lots of wierd results today,Trabzonspor got some hard signing and ended up losing to Ferencvaros at home and this is a big deal because now i doubt if Trabzonspor can comeback from this. Salah currently aint doing anything for them and that is a problem. Lech winning against Thun 7-0 is just insane on the other hand.

In my opinion, such crushing victories offer excellent opportunities for sports bettors.🙋

In this situation, Lech won't go all out in the return match. They'll likely field a reserve team (less experienced players). They'll take care of their best players to avoid injuries.

As for Thun, they'll play at full strength, not sparing their players, because they know full well that the fans won't forgive them for a second such defeat.

How can a sports bettor exploit this situation? Typically, in such situations, bets on the winner of the first leg are significantly overvalued. This provides an opportunity to place winning bets on the underdog. I'd use a positive handicap.💫

[LTU_btc]

Beşiktaş's opponent, Kauno Žalgiris, is a very weak team in football terms. I don't know if you've noticed, but there is even a basketball on their team logo. Their main team is the basketball squad; I don't think much importance is placed on the football team.
After all, basketball takes precedence over football in Lithuania.

After opening new stadium, there is more importance placed on football team. They have better players than few years ago and last season they become champions of Lithuania for the first time, now they will play in Conference league group phase first time. Kauno Zalgiris is growing as club step by step, but offcourse they can't compete with a team valued almost 240 million.
3:0, I expected much worse result, but Besiktas didn't had to show their best football to reach such result.

Another surprise was Polish champions Lech Poznan destroying Swiss Thun 7-0. I'm not that much surprised by Lech winning, but I did not expect them to be that dominant. I considered Thun to be on a similar level.
Well done to Lech and another Polish team, Jagiellonia, who also scored a high 4-0 win over Georgian Saburtalo.

I think even biggest Lech fans didn't expected such result. While Thun - it looks that this team is going through hangover after getting promotion to top tier and becoming Swiss champions for the first time.

[Lillominato89]

The 1st leg of the play-off round was pretty interesting. We averaged nearly 3 goals per game, which is decent, especially knowing teams tend to play more carefully in the 1st legs.

I think the biggest upset was Trabzonspor losing at home 1-0 to Hungarian Ferencvaros. The Turkish team dominated with 66% possession and almost 3 times more shots on goal, but couldn't even equalise. They can still come back from this in the rematch.
Another surprise was Polish champions Lech Poznan destroying Swiss Thun 7-0. I'm not that much surprised by Lech winning, but I did not expect them to be that dominant. I considered Thun to be on a similar level.
Well done to Lech and another Polish team, Jagiellonia, who also scored a high 4-0 win over Georgian Saburtalo.

As well as the matches you mentioned above, I think there are other interesting fixtures that ended in draws.
For example, Atalanta v Tel Aviv, which finished 0–0 and could very well prove fatal for the Bergamo side. In the return leg, they desperately need to score and win.

Or take the Tromsø v Brighton match, which also ended 0–0 – and, to be honest, that’s a result I would never have expected from the English side.

I hope to see better matches in the second legs.

[LTU_btc]

Damn, Plzen makes huge comeback against Crvena Zvezda. They lost first game 0:3, but now they won 5:1 and what is most crazy that penalty which sent game to extra time was earned by Plzen goalkeeper after corner, too bad I can't find video:
https://x.com/FootRankings/status/2093050595066208456

Besiktas got unexpected loss against Kauno Zalgiris, but afte 3:0 on first leg today it looked more like friendly game

[Cryptoprincess101]

Damn, Plzen makes huge comeback against Crvena Zvezda. They lost first game 0:3, but now they won 5:1 and what is most crazy that penalty which sent game to extra time was earned by Plzen goalkeeper after corner, too bad I can't find video:
https://x.com/FootRankings/status/2093050595066208456

It was really an unexpected breakthrough for Viktoria Plzen because only few teams has been able to overturn a 3:0 defeat in European competitions, though it happens mostly in the Champions League games and mostly big teams that does such comeback but Viktoria Plzen made history by that comeback and extra time winning. Though Crvena Zvezda red card in the 54th minute was what helped Viktoria Plzen but all the same, it's part of the game.

Besiktas got unexpected loss against Kauno Zalgiris, but afte 3:0 on first leg today it looked more like friendly game

Despite that Besiktas won FK Kauno Zalgiris in the first leg, they should have also won them in the second leg but i don't know if they forbid winning a team both home and away because they were very reluctant in this game and didn't even play like they wanted to win. After all, there are teams that won their matches both home and away, teams like; Jagiellonia, RB Salzburg, Anderlecht, Ferencvaros TC, and OFI Creta.

[Phoenix Anka]

Damn, Plzen makes huge comeback against Crvena Zvezda. They lost first game 0:3, but now they won 5:1 and what is most crazy that penalty which sent game to extra time was earned by Plzen goalkeeper after corner, too bad I can't find video:
https://x.com/FootRankings/status/2093050595066208456

Besiktas got unexpected loss against Kauno Zalgiris, but afte 3:0 on first leg today it looked more like friendly game

Plzen found the goals they needed in the last 30 minutes after their opponent was reduced to 10 men. Kabongo scored the goal that took the match to extra time. They staged a magnificent comeback, and the fans went wild. Perhaps we saw the most exciting and beautiful match of this playoff round. Plzen also made it 5-1 in extra time and advanced to the next round. What a great match, I wish I could have watched it live. Those who bet on Plzen saw once again that they made a very good decision.

[pawel7777]

All of the 2nd leg games of the play-off round are now concluded. Results are as follows:

Saburtalo 1 - 2 Jagiellonia Bialystok (Aggregate 1-6)
RB Salzburg 3 - 0 Mjällby (Aggregate 4-0)
Kauno Žalgiris 1 - 0 Beşiktaş (Aggregate 1-3)
Viktoria Plzeň 5 - 1 Crvena zvezda (Aggregate 5-4)
Thun 2 - 2 Lech Poznań (Aggregate 2-9)
Ferencváros 4 - 0 Trabzonspor (Aggregate 5-0)
Ararat-Armenia 1 - 0 Craiova (Aggregate 2-1)
Lillestrøm 2 - 1 Egnatia (Aggregate 2-1)
Omonoia 4 - 2 STVV (Aggregate 4-3)
AGF 1 - 3 Benfica (Aggregate 2-6)
CSKA Sofia 0 - 2 OFI (Aggregate 0-5)
Anderlecht 3 - 0 Kairat (Aggregate 6-0)

I expected a more even game between Ferencvaros and Trabzonspor, but the Turkish team crippled themselves with a red card early on in the 13th minute and then again with another one in the 57th. This made it easy for Ferencvaros.
I think the biggest surprise would be Crvena Zvezda getting eliminated despite having 3-0 advantage from the first leg. A red card also played a big factor in this game. Zvezda lost a man in in the 54th and lost 4 goals after that.

[katanic97]

~.
I think the biggest surprise would be Crvena Zvezda getting eliminated despite having 3-0 advantage from the first leg. A red card also played a big factor in this game. Zvezda lost a man in in the 54th and lost 4 goals after that.

This is the biggest disgrace in the history of Crvena Zvezda, as far as I know. You have a 3-0 lead and lose 5-1??? Completely clueless play, Arnautovic, who was paid €2.5 million, can't even control the ball and make a pass... A defender grabs the goalkeeper, who came up for a corner, with both hands in the 90+ minute and gives away a penalty... My God, just watch the highlights and everything will be clear.

[Black Mbaye]

All of the 2nd leg games of the play-off round are now concluded. Results are as follows:

Saburtalo 1 - 2 Jagiellonia Bialystok (Aggregate 1-6)
RB Salzburg 3 - 0 Mjällby (Aggregate 4-0)
Kauno Žalgiris 1 - 0 Beşiktaş (Aggregate 1-3)
Viktoria Plzeň 5 - 1 Crvena zvezda (Aggregate 5-4)
Thun 2 - 2 Lech Poznań (Aggregate 2-9)
Ferencváros 4 - 0 Trabzonspor (Aggregate 5-0)
Ararat-Armenia 1 - 0 Craiova (Aggregate 2-1)
Lillestrøm 2 - 1 Egnatia (Aggregate 2-1)
Omonoia 4 - 2 STVV (Aggregate 4-3)
AGF 1 - 3 Benfica (Aggregate 2-6)
CSKA Sofia 0 - 2 OFI (Aggregate 0-5)
Anderlecht 3 - 0 Kairat (Aggregate 6-0)

I expected a more even game between Ferencvaros and Trabzonspor, but the Turkish team crippled themselves with a red card early on in the 13th minute and then again with another one in the 57th. This made it easy for Ferencvaros.
I think the biggest surprise would be Crvena Zvezda getting eliminated despite having 3-0 advantage from the first leg. A red card also played a big factor in this game. Zvezda lost a man in in the 54th and lost 4 goals after that.

A red card is often the biggest deciding factor in a match. Teams that receive red cards usually suffer heavy defeats. The same thing happened here between Trabzonspor and Crvena Zvezda. Trabzonspor, in particular, gifted the match to their opponents by receiving a red card early on. Before the match, many in Turkey hoped Trabzonspor could win. However, nobody had considered the red card situation. After the red card, Trabzonspor's chances were completely gone.

[JiiBs]

All of the 2nd leg games of the play-off round are now concluded. Results are as follows:

Kauno Žalgiris 1 - 0 Beşiktaş (Aggregate 1-3)

Ferencváros 4 - 0 Trabzonspor (Aggregate 5-0)

AGF 1 - 3 Benfica (Aggregate 2-6)

Did Benfica just became so better and dangerous after Mourinho left because, under Mourinho, I’m not sure I watched a Benfica that didn’t play to reserve and protect their win but rather went for more goals even after securing the first leg advantages with 3:1 on aggregate. They went all out yet again and repeated the same resuly from the first leg.

Besiktas, I didn’t believe they would win though, I knew for sure they would be able to protect their first leg advantage to go through.

Trabzonspor were just unlucky, they got a red card that made the rest of the game so difficult for them and it’s no surprise that they had to lose.

[Daniel91]

~.
I think the biggest surprise would be Crvena Zvezda getting eliminated despite having 3-0 advantage from the first leg. A red card also played a big factor in this game. Zvezda lost a man in in the 54th and lost 4 goals after that.

This is the biggest disgrace in the history of Crvena Zvezda, as far as I know. You have a 3-0 lead and lose 5-1??? Completely clueless play, Arnautovic, who was paid €2.5 million, can't even control the ball and make a pass... A defender grabs the goalkeeper, who came up for a corner, with both hands in the 90+ minute and gives away a penalty... My God, just watch the highlights and everything will be clear.

Is this the biggest and heaviest defeat in the history of Zvezda? OK, for this we should go back far into the past, to 1971 when Zvezda, also in the first match in Belgrade, in the semi-finals of the European Champions Cup at that time, beat the Greek Panathinaikos by as much as 4:1 and then the great generation of Zvezda was on the way to perhaps becoming the European club champion.
However, in return, they lost 3:0 in Athens and were eliminated due to the away goal rule.
Considering the significance of that match, it was a more difficult and significant defeat for Zvezda, but after that, this 5:1 defeat against Viktoria Plzen is the biggest and most difficult.
Some commentators in Croatia have already predicted a historic match between Dinamo and Zvezda in the Europa League, the first match between these two clubs after 35 years, but that will not happen.
Apparently, the Zvezda players sank psychologically in the second half after the expulsion of 1 of their players and 2 quick goals by the Czech team and their 3:1 lead at the beginning of the second half.

[Barikui1]

This is the biggest disgrace in the history of Crvena Zvezda, as far as I know. You have a 3-0 lead and lose 5-1??? Completely clueless play, Arnautovic, who was paid €2.5 million, can't even control the ball and make a pass... A defender grabs the goalkeeper, who came up for a corner, with both hands in the 90+ minute and gives away a penalty... My God, just watch the highlights and everything will be clear.

Though the results seems like a big surprise to many, but football has taught me that it's not over yet until the final whistle has been blown. And because they won their first game convincingly, they became complacent in this reverse fixture, which was very costly, so with how things plays out last night, I believe that their would be consequences, because their manager may be sacked or someone within the team may be use as escape goat, because this losing and elimination when everyone initially thought that they have won the tie will never go down well with anyone associated with the club.

[katanic97]

~.
I think the biggest surprise would be Crvena Zvezda getting eliminated despite having 3-0 advantage from the first leg. A red card also played a big factor in this game. Zvezda lost a man in in the 54th and lost 4 goals after that.

This is the biggest disgrace in the history of Crvena Zvezda, as far as I know. You have a 3-0 lead and lose 5-1??? Completely clueless play, Arnautovic, who was paid €2.5 million, can't even control the ball and make a pass... A defender grabs the goalkeeper, who came up for a corner, with both hands in the 90+ minute and gives away a penalty... My God, just watch the highlights and everything will be clear.

Is this the biggest and heaviest defeat in the history of Zvezda? OK, for this we should go back far into the past, to 1971 when Zvezda, also in the first match in Belgrade, in the semi-finals of the European Champions Cup at that time, beat the Greek Panathinaikos by as much as 4:1 and then the great generation of Zvezda was on the way to perhaps becoming the European club champion.
However, in return, they lost 3:0 in Athens and were eliminated due to the away goal rule.
Considering the significance of that match, it was a more difficult and significant defeat for Zvezda, but after that, this 5:1 defeat against Viktoria Plzen is the biggest and most difficult.
Some commentators in Croatia have already predicted a historic match between Dinamo and Zvezda in the Europa League, the first match between these two clubs after 35 years, but that will not happen.
Apparently, the Zvezda players sank psychologically in the second half after the expulsion of 1 of their players and 2 quick goals by the Czech team and their 3:1 lead at the beginning of the second half.

You're right, my friend. But if we look at it that way, i think "in modern football." You're right about Panathinaikos, but you have to agree that this one also counts. What happened yesterday was such a disgrace that i don't know how the management is still there. Bringing old players back to the club is a very bad strategy, and generally bringing in players who don't have experience playing in matches like these.Honestly, it's also good that this match won't happen.

I wouldn't want it, first because i think Zvezda would have very little chance of winning, and the second reason is the political situation in Serbia. You probably know what's going on, and this would mostly be a political spectacle, unfortunately.So let the match happen when better and more normal times come, when there is no more politics involved in sport in Serbia. So that normal people like us can enjoy football in peace, rather than provocations that bring back some bad times that are long behind us

[Daniel91]

~.
I think the biggest surprise would be Crvena Zvezda getting eliminated despite having 3-0 advantage from the first leg. A red card also played a big factor in this game. Zvezda lost a man in in the 54th and lost 4 goals after that.

This is the biggest disgrace in the history of Crvena Zvezda, as far as I know. You have a 3-0 lead and lose 5-1??? Completely clueless play, Arnautovic, who was paid €2.5 million, can't even control the ball and make a pass... A defender grabs the goalkeeper, who came up for a corner, with both hands in the 90+ minute and gives away a penalty... My God, just watch the highlights and everything will be clear.

Is this the biggest and heaviest defeat in the history of Zvezda? OK, for this we should go back far into the past, to 1971 when Zvezda, also in the first match in Belgrade, in the semi-finals of the European Champions Cup at that time, beat the Greek Panathinaikos by as much as 4:1 and then the great generation of Zvezda was on the way to perhaps becoming the European club champion.
However, in return, they lost 3:0 in Athens and were eliminated due to the away goal rule.
Considering the significance of that match, it was a more difficult and significant defeat for Zvezda, but after that, this 5:1 defeat against Viktoria Plzen is the biggest and most difficult.
Some commentators in Croatia have already predicted a historic match between Dinamo and Zvezda in the Europa League, the first match between these two clubs after 35 years, but that will not happen.
Apparently, the Zvezda players sank psychologically in the second half after the expulsion of 1 of their players and 2 quick goals by the Czech team and their 3:1 lead at the beginning of the second half.

You're right, my friend. But if we look at it that way, i think "in modern football." You're right about Panathinaikos, but you have to agree that this one also counts. What happened yesterday was such a disgrace that i don't know how the management is still there. Bringing old players back to the club is a very bad strategy, and generally bringing in players who don't have experience playing in matches like these.Honestly, it's also good that this match won't happen.

I wouldn't want it, first because i think Zvezda would have very little chance of winning, and the second reason is the political situation in Serbia. You probably know what's going on, and this would mostly be a political spectacle, unfortunately.So let the match happen when better and more normal times come, when there is no more politics involved in sport in Serbia. So that normal people like us can enjoy football in peace, rather than provocations that bring back some bad times that are long behind us

Yes, I agree with you.
I read today that after this heavy defeat for the club, Zvezda coach Albert Riera said that the players are still learning, that he is preparing them for the Champions League, and that now Zvezda will be the favorite in the conference league and that they are going to win it.
I don't really follow Serbian club football, so I'm not sure how realistic the Zvezda coach is in his assessment, is Zvezda really that strong and the favorite in the conference league and this (disaster against Viktoria Plzen) was just 1 weak game, what do you think?
As for a possible match with Dinamo or any Croatian club, of course I agree with you that now is not the right time for such matches and I only mentioned that there is a possibility that the draw will combine Zvezda and Dinamo in the Europa League, but that option is no longer possible anyway.

[Pablo-wood]

This is the biggest disgrace in the history of Crvena Zvezda, as far as I know. You have a 3-0 lead and lose 5-1??? Completely clueless play, Arnautovic, who was paid €2.5 million, can't even control the ball and make a pass... A defender grabs the goalkeeper, who came up for a corner, with both hands in the 90+ minute and gives away a penalty... My God, just watch the highlights and everything will be clear.

Though the results seems like a big surprise to many, but football has taught me that it's not over yet until the final whistle has been blown. And because they won their first game convincingly, they became complacent in this reverse fixture, which was very costly, so with how things plays out last night, I believe that their would be consequences, because their manager may be sacked or someone within the team may be use as escape goat, because this losing and elimination when everyone initially thought that they have won the tie will never go down well with anyone associated with the club.

Surprises are inevitable in football games. But that of Crvena Zvezda is really embarrassing, after giving so much hope to their fans and spectators they just dashed everything to the mud in their return leg. Winning 3 goals to nil in the first leg shouldn't have made them relent that much knowing they were into a highly competitive game. The relaxation in the second game was too costly and the ended up been kicked out of the play-offs.

[katanic97]

/snip

Yes, I agree with you.
I read today that after this heavy defeat for the club, Zvezda coach Albert Riera said that the players are still learning, that he is preparing them for the Champions League, and that now Zvezda will be the favorite in the conference league and that they are going to win it.
I don't really follow Serbian club football, so I'm not sure how realistic the Zvezda coach is in his assessment, is Zvezda really that strong and the favorite in the conference league and this (disaster against Viktoria Plzen) was just 1 weak game, what do you think?
As for a possible match with Dinamo or any Croatian club, of course I agree with you that now is not the right time for such matches and I only mentioned that there is a possibility that the draw will combine Zvezda and Dinamo in the Europa League, but that option is no longer possible anyway.

He has only been there for two weeks, and somehow he has to protect himself and distance himself from all of this. I think his responsibility here is the smallest. The management are the ones who should leave the club. Zvezda and the fans will not accept playing in the Conference League for long, but it is what it is. Zvezda has quality, but Riera's assessment is definitely not realistic. Believe me, i don't follow Serbian club football at all... Everything has been known for a long time and nothing is really new... I don't even bet on those matches.

I understand what you meant. I know many people expected Zvezda to draw Dinamo, or or Dinamo to draw Zvezda, but those people were looking at it as a potential opportunity for provocations and things like that. Again, i'm saying that us normal people might actually like to see a regional league formed so we could enjoy proper football from all sides, but unfortunately, at this moment, that is simply unimaginable...

[blomen]

beşiktaş seems to be unlucky with their draw. according to a post by a social media account, they drew the toughest matchup in the europa league:

https://x.com/fmeetsdata/status/2093341615788089603

it’s definitely a tough draw for beşiktaş to face teams like crystal palace, bayer leverkusen, hoffenheim, and marseille in the same draw. you could say these are among the best teams in the europa league. it’s going to be a real challenge for beşiktaş, but expectations are high for them this season, and i think they need to push for a spot in the top 8.

[pawel7777]

I was curious to see who is considered the bookies' favourite to win the tournament this season, but I can't see such odds being available anywhere yet.
I think either Milan/Juve will be viewed as the strongest teams, but personally, if I had to bet, I would probably go with one of the English teams or with Benfica. Tough choices.

As for Besiktas having the worst draw, I disagree. All of their rivals are within their reach. Some of the clubs, like Celtic, might be considered tough, but it's mostly because of their history and past glory, rather than their current abilities.