Elfsborg vs. Sheriff Tiraspol (Thursday, 6.00pm)
![Manager Oscar Hiljemark of Elfsborg during the UEFA Europa League qualification match on July 18, 2024 [IMAGO]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/29/oscar-hiljemark.jpeg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Manager Oscar Hiljemark of Elfsborg during the UEFA Europa League qualification match on July 18, 2024 [IMAGO]")
© Imago
Elfsborg will take on Sheriff Tiraspol at the Boras Arena on Thursday night in the second leg of their Europa League second qualifying round tie.
The hosts hold the upper hand going into this match after securing a 1-0 away win in the first leg thanks to an 86th-minute winner from Simon Hedlund.
We say: Elfsborg 2-0 Sheriff Tiraspol
Elfsborg's impressive home record in recent Europa League fixtures, combined with their strong performances at home in the league this season, suggest they will go on to secure a victory in this one.
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Silkeborg vs. Molde (Thursday, 6.15pm)
© Imago
Silkeborg are set to host Molde at JYSK park in the second leg of their Europa League second qualifying round matchup on Thursday evening.
The hosts will need a strong performance at home if they are to advance as they need to overturn a two-goal deficit following a 3-1 defeat in the first leg in Norway.
We say: Silkeborg 1-1 Molde
While Silkeborg have the home advantage in this game and Molde have struggled in recent weeks, we believe the visitors have a stronger squad than their opponents and will hold on to a draw to progress into the next round here.
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Trabzonspor vs. Ruzomberok (Thursday, 6.30pm)
© Imago
Comfortable victors in the first leg of their Europa League second-round qualifying contest, Trabzonspor seek to finish the job against unfancied MFK Ruzomberok on Thursday at the Senol Gunes Sports Complex.
The Turkish hosts strode to a 2-0 triumph in their inaugural battle in northern Slovakia, but a turnaround is not totally out of the question; their visitors already have one three-goal European win under their belts this term.
We say: Trabzonspor 2-0 MFK Ruzomberok (Trabzonspor win 4-0 on aggregate)
The 5-2 thrashing of Tobol aside, Ruzomberok do not pack much of an attacking punch and should not pose much of a challenge to the Trabzonspor backline, but it will be a different story at the other end of the field.
With experienced attackers aplenty, the Turkish side ought to add to their aggregate advantage and ease into the third round of qualifying without breaking too much of a sweat.
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M. Petah Tikva vs. Braga (Thursday, 6.30pm)
© Reuters
Defending a two-goal lead from last week's first leg, Braga visit Sofia on Thursday, to conclude their Europa League second qualifying round tie against Maccabi Petah Tikva.
The 2011 finalists were victorious on home turf and now play the second leg on neutral soil due to the ongoing security situation in Israel.
We say: Maccabi Petah Tikva 0-1 Braga (Braga win 3-0 on aggregate)
There is a big gulf in class between these two clubs, and Europa League regulars Braga should get the job done with the minimum of fuss.
Without even benefiting from home advantage, Maccabi Petah Tikva are set to tamely drop into the Conference League qualifiers, where they may meet better-matched opponents.
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FK Vojvodina vs. Ajax (Thursday, 7.00pm)
© Imago
Off to a winning start in their latest continental quest, Ajax head to Serbia to reunite with FK Vojvodina in the second leg of their Europa League second qualifying round contest on Thursday.
Francesco Farioli's men left it late to eke out to a 1-0 triumph in last week's opening battle, although the former Champions League winners arguably should have been out of sight in the first half.
We say: FK Vojvodina 0-2 Ajax (Ajax win 3-0 on aggregate)
With a bit more of a cutting edge on home soil, Ajax would have virtually rubber-stamped their third-round place already, but their first-half wastefulness means that the tie is still very much open.
However, under the guidance of Farioli - famed for his defensive exploits at Nice - the visitors' rearguard should comfortably keep the Serbians at bay, while their attacking colleagues ought to leave their mark in Backa Topola to seal a straightforward second-round success.
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Cercle Brugge vs. Kilmarnock (Thursday, 7.00pm)
© Reuters
Following a close-fought draw in last week's opener, Cercle Brugge and Kilmarnock play the second leg of their Europa League second qualifying round tie on Thursday.
After leaving Rugby Park on level terms, Cercle will try to make home advantage pay and set up a third-round clash with either Molde or Silkeborg.
We say: Cercle Brugge 2-0 Kilmarnock (Cercle Brugge win 3-1 on aggregate)
Back on a more familiar surface than Kilmarnock's artificial grass, Cercle Brugge should make their technical superiority count, sealing a place in the third qualifying round with victory on home turf.
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Rijeka vs. Corvinul Hunedoara (Thursday, 7.00pm)
© Imago
Finely poised after a goalless first leg, the Europa League second qualifying round tie between HNK Rijeka and Romanian rookies Corvinul Hunedoara concludes on Thursday.
The hosts now return to Stadion Rujevica, aiming to progress towards a contest with either Sheriff Tiraspol or Elfsborg for a place in the playoffs.
We say: HNK Rijeka 1-0 Corvinul Hunedoara (HNK Rijeka win 1-0 on aggregate)
Despite being a second-tier team in Romania, Corvinul have already proven themselves a tough nut to crack since returning to European competition after a four-decade break.
Nevertheless, Rijeka's quality should shine through in the second leg, following a rare failure to score on their competitive debut for 2024-25.
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Botev Plovdiv vs. Panathinaikos (Thursday, 7.00pm)
© Imago
In the second leg of their Europa League second-round qualifying battle, Greek giants Panathinaikos need only hold what they have to see off Botev Plovdiv of Bulgaria.
Diego Alonso's team ran out 2-1 winners on home soil in the opening encounter last week, but they now head to hostile territory at Stadion Hristo Botev on Thursday night.
We say: Botev Plovdiv 0-1 Panathinaikos (Panathinaikos win 3-1 on aggregate)
All five of Botev Plovdiv's competitive games so far this term have seen Kerkez's men both score and concede, but we can envisage that streak being snapped as their Europa League journey comes to an end.
Panathinaikos can capitalise on their hosts' ongoing defensive vulnerabilities by striking first and sitting back to maintain a comfortable aggregate advantage, although Botev will still fall into a Europa Conference League safety net.
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Rapid Vienna vs. Wisla Krakow (Thursday, 7.30pm)
![Coach Kazimierz Moskal of Wisla Krakow seen during Eliminations UEFA Europa League 2024/2025 football match between Wisla Krakow and KF Llapi Podujevo at City Stadium. 11/07/2024 [on July 23, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/30/kazimierz-moskal.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Coach Kazimierz Moskal of Wisla Krakow seen during Eliminations UEFA Europa League 2024/2025 football match between Wisla Krakow and KF Llapi Podujevo at City Stadium. 11/07/2024 [on July 23, 2024]")
© Imago
Leading by a goal from last week's first leg, Rapid Vienna meet Wisla Krakow in Thursday's return on Austrian soil, as they seek a place in the Europa League's third qualifying round.
Despite going down to 10 men in Poland, Rapid take that slim advantage into the second leg at Allianz Stadion.
We say: Rapid Vienna 2-0 Wisla Krakow (Rapid Vienna win 4-1 on aggregate)
After soaking up some pressure to win last week's opener, Rapid Vienna should complete their task of taking one step closer to the Europa League group stage.
With home advantage on their side, Die Grun-Weissen can march on to the third qualifying round with some room to spare.
