Slavia Prague vs. Luhansk (Thursday, 6.00pm)
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Czech side Slavia Prague welcome Ukrainian outfit Zorya Luhansk to Fortuna Arena on Thursday evening as the Europa League playoffs get underway.
The hosts have avoided defeat in each of their seven matches across all competitions this season, while the visitors have made an indifferent start to the 2023-24 campaign.
We say: Slavia Prague 2-0 Zorya Luhansk
Given that Slavia Prague have won six of their seven matches this season - keeping four clean sheets along the way - we expect the hosts to notch a healthy first-leg lead on Thursday, with Zorya Luhansk expected to struggle.
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Hacken vs. Aberdeen (Thursday, 6.00pm)
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Scottish side Aberdeen travel to Bravida Arena in Gothenburg to take on reigning Swedish champions Hacken in the first leg of their Europa League playoff tie on Thursday night.
While the hosts are two-thirds of the way through their 2023 Swedish top-flight campaign, the visitors have only taken part in three competitive fixtures in the new season.
We say: Hacken 1-1 Aberdeen
Aberdeen were comprehensive winners against Hacken the last time these two team locked horns over two legs two years ago, but a tighter affair could be in store in Thursday's first leg.
Hacken enter the clash in Gothenburg in better form than their Scottish counterparts and we can see the hosts holding on for a draw at the Bravida Arena.
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Ludogorets vs. Ajax (Thursday, 7.00pm)
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Bulgarian champions Ludogorets Razgrad and Dutch giants Ajax meet at Huvepharma Arena for the first leg of their Europa League playoff on Thursday evening.
While Ludogrets were eliminated from Champions League qualifying earlier this month, Ajax head directly into Europa League qualifying after finishing third in the Eredivisie last season.
We say: Ludogorets Razgrad 1-2 Ajax
Having already lost a couple of league games in uncharacteristic fashion, Ludogorets look set to suffer another defeat when Ajax visit Huvepharma Arena, although Thursday's clash will likely be a tight affair as both sides aim to remain in the tie.
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Dinamo Zagreb vs. Sparta Prague (Thursday, 7.00pm)
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Dinamo Zagreb welcome Sparta Prague to Stadion Maksimir for the first leg of their Europa League playoff tie on Thursday night.
The two teams have dropped down from the Champions League qualifiers after losing in the third qualifying round and they are now bidding to qualify for the Europa League group stage.
We say: Dinamo Zagreb 1-1 Sparta Prague
Jakirovic is tasked with making an immediate impact in charge of Dinamo Zagreb, who will be looking to put aside their Champions League qualification exit with a positive result at home against Sparta Prague.
There has been little to separate these two teams in previous meetings and another closely-fought contest could be on the cards on Thursday, which could result in a share of the spoils to keep the tie nicely poised ahead of next week's second leg.
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Ljubljana vs. Qarabag (Thursday, 7.00pm)
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The Europa League qualifying playoffs get underway on Thursday, with Slovenian side NK Olimpija Ljubljana hosting Azerbaijani outfit Qarabag FK at Stozice Stadium.
Both sides were eliminated from Champions League qualifying earlier this month, with Ljubljana falling to Galatasaray and Qarabag suffering defeat to Rakow Czestochowa.
We say: NK Olimpija Ljubljana 1-1 Qarabag FK
Given that the first leg will likely be a tense and cagey encounter, we expect Olimpija and Qarabag to play out a low-scoring stalemate on Thursday, with both teams approaching the contest with caution.
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Union SG vs. Lugano (Thursday, 7.30pm)
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Union SG and Lugano will begin their fight for a place in the Europa League group stage on Thursday, when they meet in Belgium in the first leg of their playoff tie.
The two sides both enter European qualifying at this stage after third-placed finishes in the Belgian and Swiss top flights respectively last term, with both guaranteed a place in the group stage of either the Europa League or the Europa Conference League for the losers.
We say: Union SG 3-1 Lugano
Lugano will travel to Belgium with confidence following their recent results, but Union SG do still boast plenty of quality even after some key departures, and we fancy Blessin's men to gain an advantage in their home leg, leaving everything still to play for next week.
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Slovan Bratislava vs. Aris Limassol (Thursday, 7.30pm)
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Slovan Bratislava will welcome Aris Limassol to Slovakia on Thursday, for the first leg of their Europa League playoff tie.
Both sides dropped out of Champions League qualifying but are guaranteed group-stage football, with the winning team advancing to Europe's secondary competition and the losers dropping to the Europa Conference League.
We say: Slovan Bratislava 2-2 Aris Limassol
We anticipate a close encounter on Thursday between two sides with the tools to hurt one another, and while Aris Limassol are arguably more dangerous going forward, the Slovakian side will know they must make the most of home advantage, and we see it ending level on Thursday.
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KI vs. Sheriff Tiraspol (Thursday, 7.45pm)
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KI Klaksvik and Sheriff Tiraspol meet in the Europa League playoff round on Thursday as they bid to earn a spot in the group stages.
However, whoever loses this two-legged tie will drop into the Europa Conference League, a scenario which may ease the pressure on both sides ahead into this contest.
We say: KI Klaksvik 1-2 Sheriff Tiraspol
Although Klaksvik have enjoyed a dream run of form in recent weeks, they are beginning to face steps up in quality. With that in mind, we expect Sheriff to edge this match, giving them the platform to get the job done in the reverse fixture.
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Olympiacos vs. Cukaricki (Thursday, 8.00pm)
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Greek giants Olympiacos welcome Serbian outfit Cukaricki to the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium for the first leg of their Europa League playoff tie on Thursday.
While the hosts are bidding to reach the Europa League group stage for the third successive season, the visitors have never competed in the group stage of any major European competition.
We say: Olympiacos 2-0 Cukaricki
Olympiacos will be regarded as first favourites to come out on top in this two-legged tie and they should have few problems taking control of Thursday's first leg, especially if they rediscover their form in front of goal against a Cukaricki side who have conceded six goals in their last three matches.
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LASK vs. Zrinjski Mostar (Thursday, 8.00pm)
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LASK Linz and Zrinjski Mostar square off in the first leg of their Europa League playoff tie on Thursday.
While the Austrian hosts are used to competing in the group stages of continental competition, the Bosnian visitors are looking to record one of the biggest achievements in their history having never reached that phase.
We say: LASK Linz 2-0 Zrinjski Mostar
While Zrinjski have been riding a crest of a wave for a number of weeks, this may be a step up too far. LASK will recognise that they may not have it all their own way, yet they will expect to established a lead ahead of the reverse fixture.
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Oliver Thomas
