Heavyweight contenders are bankers for European ties

Home advantage for heavyweight contenders like Galatasaray and Tottenham make them bankers for today’s pools of matches in the Europa League and new UEFA Conference League. More details at www.soccer6.co.za

SOCCER 10 POOL OF THE DAY

Thursday 26 August

S10 V1

M1 Anorthosis vs Hapoel Beer Sheva: The first leg of this Conference League tie in Israel last week ended goalless, putting Anorthosis on course for the group phase if they can take advantage of playing the return game at home in Cyprus.

M2 Maccabi Haifa vs Neftchi Baku: Last week’s first leg of this Conference League tie ended in a 3-3 draw in Azerbaijan. Both clubs won in their respective domestic competitions at the weekend.

M3 Vitesse Arnhem vs Anderlecht: The first leg of this UEFA Conference League tie in Brussels ended in a 3-3 draw with Anderlecht equalising in the last minute.

M4 Galatasaray vs Randers: Galatasaray drew away last weekend in Denmark and so look on course to qualify for the group phase of this season’s Europa League.

M5 KAA Gent vs Rakow Czestochowa: Ghent narrowly lost in the first leg of the UEFA Conference League playoff tie 1-0 away in Poland last week.

M6 HNK Rijeka vs PAOK Salonika: Rijeka were 2-1 home winners in the Croatian league on Saturday while PAOK are yet to start the new Greek season.

M7 St. Johnstone vs LASK Linz: The first leg of this Conference League tie ended in a 1-1 draw. LASK had another 1-1 stalemate at the weekend but St Johnstone were beaten at home in the Scottish Premiership by Dundee Utd.

M8 Aberdeen vs Qarabag: Aberdeen must fight back from a one goal deficit if they are to reach the group phase of the Conference League. Qarabag are unbeaten in all seven games played since the season started.

M9 Tottenham Hotspur vs Pacos Ferreira: Spurs lost 1-0 in Portugal to Pacos Ferreira in the first leg last Thursday but played none of their regulars in the Conference League playoff tie.

M10 Legia Warsaw vs Slavia Prague: Slavia Prague have won four out of four in the Czech league while Legia were given the weekend off in Poland to prepare for this Europa League clash.

Suggested permutation:

R8.00 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1,2 x 1,2 x 1 x 1 x 1