Group Stages Round 1 Preview

The UEFA Europa League has reached the group stages where many teams will battle it out for the two places available to qualify for the last 32 in spring. There are 12 groups and only 24 teams will go through where eight UEFA Champions League groups will join them in the last 32. The teams will meet each other twice and there are many mouth watering ties in the first round of the group stages.

Everton FC vs. AEK Athens FC : Drama at Goodison

Everton have never lost to a Greek team in the European scene and they don’t intend to start in the first match of Group I. Impressively, they have not lost a Europa home game since the 2005/05 UEFA Champion League 3rd round qualifying round against Villarreal CF. Coach Moyes will be without Phil Neville as he damaged his knee ligament in the Sunday 2-1 defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage. New signing John Heitinga is ineligible while Tony Hibbert is suspended.

AEK Athens will travel to Liverpool to face Everton knowing they only won once out of their last eleven UEFA Club competition away fixture. AEK have appeared twice in a group stages European scene and their best was reaching the last 32 in 2005/06 campaign. As preparations for this tie, AEK managed to defeat Iraklis Salonika 1-0 at home and find themselves in the top half of the Greek league.

One of the tough fixtures of Group I and Everton could see themselves edge this one out. The blues have a tendency to do well when it comes to European football and especially when it comes to playing at Goodison Park. Everton are weak favorites and Tim Cahill could be their answer in the goal scoring department.

S.S Lazio vs. FC Salzburg: Sky blue in Rome

Lazio have started well in all participating competitions they have entered in. Most priority will be put on the Serie A to gain a UEFA Champions League spot next year and in the UEFA Europa League. Coach David Ballardini will be disappointed with the weekend’s 2-0 home defeat, first his season, to Juventus. Goran Pendev could get a rare outing while Lazio will be without Mauro Zarate, Simone Inzaghi, Christian Brocchi and Sebastiano Siviglia are all on the injury list.

Salzburg travels to Rome for the first time in their history meeting Lazio at Stadio Olimpaco. Their away form are impeccable as they have won four out of their last six away games in the European scene. Although, their last away game ended in some tragedy as they were defeated 3-0 against Maccabi Haifa in the Champions League play-offs. Salzburg have a coach that has won the UEFA Cup in his playing days, Huub Stevens hopes to help Salzburg to glory in UEFA Europa League.

Lazio are definitely favorites against Salzburg. They are playing well as a team and they will bounce back after a disappointing weekend result in the domestic league. Salzburg will go to Rome and defend in numbers so expect Lazio to do all the attacking.

CFR 1907 Cluj vs. FC København: Away to Romania

After the successful last season participating in the Champions league group stages, Cluj will have to contemplate with playing European football in the UEFA Europa League group stages. They will be lead by Coach Antonio Conceicao in the quest of reaching the last 32 for the first time in their history. They didn’t fare well over the weekend as they lost 1-0 away to Pandurii in their domestic league.

The Danish champions will travel to Romania without their experienced goal keeper, Jesper Christensen, as he is nursing an elbow injury. He could prove to be a big loss if FCK does not get anything out of the match on Thursday, he will be replaced by Johan Wiland. Coach Stale Solsbakken will need to reshuffle his team a bit as defender, Mathias Zanka Jørgensen and attackers, César Santin are doubtful for the first game in group K.

The strongest team in the Nordic are weaken before the game against one of the top teams in Romania. Cluj are a strong side when it comes to their home ground and FCK could find themselves in some tough spot without their experienced goalie. Cluj could possible expose the weakness of the Copenhagen solid defending system built by Stale Solsbakken.