Europa League Playoffs: Second Leg Features 12 Teams Fighting to Secure Slots in 36-Team League Phase
by Geoffrey Ejiga
Second Leg Europa Play-Offs Fixtures To Watch: Our Insights and Expectations
PAOK vs HNK Rijeka
It was always going to be a tight affair. At least, that's what you'd expect when you pit two local league giants against each other and dangle a Europa League qualification guarantee for the victor. The kinds of games are either high or low-scoring, but always tight, and it's the latter that stayed true in Rijeka’s 1-0 win over PAOK in the first leg.
Our SportyTrader experts correctly predicted the outcome of the first leg, and they believe they’ve cracked the second leg, also. See our PAOK vs Rijeka prediction for expert game analysis and insights.
You can expect PAOK to search hard for an equalizing goal, but not so desperately that they fall 2-0 and create an impossible-to-climb mountain for themselves. Likewise, Rijeka, the away side, will surely play with caution, only making goal attempts when the chance is crystal clear.
FCSB vs Aberdeen
On paper, there was nothing to separate Aberdeen and FCSB, and their first leg 2-2 draw all but confirmed our suspicions. Now, the game heads back to Romania, as FCSB hosts Aberdeen in their playoff decider. With everything level on the scoreboard, both teams will feel very confident of progressing to the Europa League, giving fans what could be the most exciting game of this stage
But punters will surely be scratching their heads with this one. FCSB’s home advantage and ability to score even with a man down (as seen in the first leg) might swing the pendulum in favour of the home side. Yet, Aberdeen’s current scoring for and hunger for Europa League action might be enough to see them through.
Dynamo Kyiv vs Maccabi Tel Aviv
When Dynamo Kyiv and Maccabi Tel Aviv meet on a football pitch, you can always expect two things. Lots of goals and fireworks from both ends. And that's exactly how the first leg played out, with Maccabi taking a 3-1 victory at home.
Now the stages are reversed, but will the tables turn? Kyiv will think so after coming out of halftime with a 1-1 draw before conceding two goals just 8 and 20 minutes after receiving a 50th-minute straight red card. Once again, our experts were right about the first leg, so be sure to check out their Dynamo Kyiv vs Maccabi Tel Aviv prediction for the second leg.
Expect intense attacking action from Kyiv, who must not find a way to overturn a 3-1 deficit or at least force an extra-time showdown. But that open all-out attacking playing style might just be what Maccabi need to seal their Europa League fates. Maccabi knows Kyiv isn't to be underestimated, as their first leg win was their first victory in their last five H2H. Whichever way it goes, this game is sure to be a blockbuster for us fans.
