Thursday's Europa League predictions including Ajax vs. Ludogorets

Qarabag vs. Ljubljana (Thursday, 5.00pm)

Qarabag FK carry a 2-0 lead into the home leg of their Europa League playoff showdown with NK Olimpija Ljubljana at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium on Thursday.

The Azerbaijani champions chalked up a healthy advantage in Slovenia last week, meaning that Ljubljana must overturn a sizeable deficit in Baku in order to advance.

We say: Qarabag FK 2-2 NK Olimpija Ljubljana (Qarabag FK to win 4-2 on aggregate)

Given that Ljubljana must throw everything at Qarabag on Thursday, we can see the visitors causing plenty of problems in Baku, but the hosts will likely advance thanks to their efforts in the first leg.

Luhansk vs. Slavia Prague (Thursday, 6.00pm)

Zorya Luhansk will aim to overturn a 2-0 deficit in the second leg of their Europa League playoff against Slavia Prague at the Arena Lublin on Thursday.

Both sides recorded a 1-1 draw in domestic competition on Sunday, but the Ukrainians must end a three-game winless run if they are to progress in Europe.

We say: Zorya Luhansk 1-3 Slavia Prague (Slavia Prague to win 5-1 on aggregate)

Given that Slavia Prague remain unbeaten this season - having picked up seven wins and two draws in all competitions - we expect the Czech side to secure another straightforward victory over Zorya Luhansk.

Sparta Prague vs. Dinamo Zagreb (Thursday, 6.00pm)

Seeking to overturn a two-goal deficit, Sparta Prague play host to Dinamo Zagreb at the epet ARENA in the second leg of their Europa League playoff tie on Thursday evening.

Dinamo will be looking to finish the job and secure their place in the Europa League group stage when they travel to Czechia after claiming a 3-1 first-leg triumph last week.

We say: Sparta Prague 1-2 Dinamo Zagreb (Dinamo Zagreb to win 5-2 on aggregate)

The onus is on Sparta Prague to take the game to Dinamo Zagreb on home soil and show a greater threat in the final third if they are to overturn the two-goal deficit.

However, the visitors appear to have turned a corner since the appointment of Jakirovic and we expect the Croatian side to come away with another victory to book their place in the Europa League group stage.

Aris Limassol vs. Slovan Bratislava (Thursday, 6.00pm)

Having come up short during an ill-tempered first leg, Aris Limassol seek to turn the tide in their favour when they welcome Slovan Bratislava to the Alphamega Stadium for the second part of their Europa League qualifying playoff tie on Thursday.

The Cypriot champions fell to a 2-1 loss at Tehelne pole last week, in a showdown were no fewer than 11 bookings were handed out by card-happy referee Willie Collum.

We say: Aris Limassol 1-1 Slovan Bratislava (Slovan Bratislava win 3-2 on aggregate)

On the balance of play, Slovan Bratislava just about deserved to edge last week's first leg, but Aris Limassol gave a good account of themselves and should be a tougher nut to crack in front of their own fans.

However, what Weiss's men lack at the back, they can normally make up for in attack, and a low-scoring stalemate would suit the visitors right down to the ground.

Sheriff Tiraspol vs. KI (Thursday, 6.00pm)

Sheriff Tiraspol and KI Klaksvik square off in the second leg of their Europa League playoff encounter with the tie locked at 1-1 on aggregate.

While the teams have the consolation prize of a Europa Conference League group-stage spot already secured, they will want to participate in the secondary continental competition.

We say: Sheriff Tiraspol 2-0 KI Klaksvik (Sheriff Tiraspol to win 3-1 on aggregate)

With Sheriff far from their best in recent weeks, KI will fancy their chances of causing the upset. However, we can only back the team with the more recent European pedigree, leading us to product a hard-earned victory for the home team.

Cukaricki vs. Olympiacos (Thursday, 7.00pm)

A week on from their first-leg success in Greece, Olympiacos will be looking to finish the job in Serbia against Cukaricki in the return fixture of their Europa League playoff tie on Thursday.

The Red-Whites head to the Gradski Stadion Dubocica with a two-goal advantage after securing a 3-1 victory in their first encounter in Athens.

We say: Cukaricki 1-3 Olympiacos (Olympiacos to win 6-2 on aggregate)

Olympiacos enter Thursday's second leg in buoyant mood after making a strong start to the new campaign, and they will be regarded as firm favourites to win this playoff tie on aggregate.

Cukaricki need to make improvements in the final third if they are to have any chance of pulling off a remarkable comeback, but we believe that their Greek counterparts will have too much quality on the night and they should win comfortably in Serbia.

Ajax vs. Ludogorets (Thursday, 7.00pm)

Ajax already have one foot in the Europa League proper as they prepare to welcome Ludogorets Razgrad to the Johan Cruyff Arena for the second leg of their playoff on Thursday.

The Dutch giants thrashed the Bulgarian champions 4-1 in the first leg, with Mohammed Kudus netting a hat-trick as a parting gift before joining West Ham United.

We say: Ajax 3-1 Ludogorets Razgrad (Ajax to win 7-2 on aggregate)

Ludogorets will need to deploy an all-or-nothing approach as they aim to overturn the hefty deficit, but that will leave the visitors exposed at the back.

We can see Ludogorets pulling a goal back in the second leg, but we expect the Dutch giants to outscore the Bulgarian champions once again, putting the tie out of reach.

Lugano vs. Union SG (Thursday, 7.30pm)

With 90 minutes between them and a spot in the Europa League group stages, Union SG will endeavour to replicate last week's dominant display when they travel to Swiss outfit Lugano in the second leg of their qualifying playoff tie on Thursday.

The Belgian upstarts eased to a 2-0 victory at their Brussels base in the opening encounter and must simply avoid a three-goal capitulation in Geneva to prolong their second-tier continental adventure.

We say: Lugano 1-2 Union SG (Union SG win 4-1 on aggregate)

With Lugano needing to adopt a gung-ho approach in order to keep the tie alive, gaps will open up for the Union SG attackers to exploit, and playing away from their familiar stadium will not do the hosts any favours either.

While Croci-Torti's side should make one of their forays forward count for something, keeping the Union SG attack at bay will surely be too tall an order, as the Belgian side put their name in the pot for the Europa League group-stage draw.

Aberdeen vs. Hacken (Thursday, 7.45pm)

Scottish outfit Aberdeen renew hostilities with Swedish side Hacken at Pittodrie in the second leg of their Europa League playoff tie on Thursday night.

With a place in the Europa League group stage up for grabs, the tie is nicely poised after the two teams played out a 2-2 draw in Gothenburg last week.

We say: Aberdeen 2-2 Hacken (Aberdeen to win on penalties after 4-4 draw on aggregate)

The managers of both Aberdeen and Hacken will be keen to see a response from their players on Thursday following their under-par performances on the domestic front over the weekend.

Another closely-fought contest could be on the cards in the reverse fixture, one that could go beyond 90 minutes, but with Aberdeen playing in front of a fired-up Pittodrie crowd, we believe that they will do enough to progress to the group stage.

Zrinjski Mostar vs. LASK (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Zrinjski Mostar and LASK Linz square off in the second leg of their Europa League playoff contest with the visitors holding a 2-1 lead on aggregate.

The Bosnian-Herzegovinian hosts will feel that they can qualify for a group-stage spot in this competition, even though they already have a Europa Conference league place secured as backup.

We say: Zrinjski Mostar 1-2 LASK Linz (LASK Linz to win 4-2 on aggregate)

Mostar must find a balance between attacking this fixture and ensuring that they do not give Linz a greater lead than they already possess. That may prove difficult with the enthusiasm involved, though, and we are backing the more illustrious visitors to claim their place in the group stages.