Thursday's Europa League predictions including LASK Linz vs. Liverpool

Panathinaikos vs. Villarreal (Thursday, 5.45pm)

Panathinaikos will be hoping to take their impressive league form into the start of their Europa League campaign when they host Villarreal in the opening match for Group F on Thursday.

The visitors have had a mixed start in the La Liga, with this fixture potentially working as an ideal distraction for them to try build some consistency.

We say: Panathinaikos 3-1 Villarreal

The hosts have had a slightly stronger start to the new campaign and with their attacking qualities and Villarreal's defensive problems, it should be Panathinaikos that take all three points.

Rennes vs. Maccabi Haifa (Thursday, 5.45pm)

Rennes will kick-start their Europa League campaign when they host Maccabi Haifa in the first match of their group stage on Thursday evening.

The visitors head into this match having already played in Europe this season, failing to qualify for the Champions League, which they will now be looking to put behind them.

We say: Rennes 2-0 Maccabi Haifa

Rennes have made an impressive start to the new season, and taking that recent form into this fixture does make them the favourites heading into it.

Having the home advantage and their attacking qualities should allow them to cause plenty of problems for the visitors.

Servette vs. Slavia Prague (Thursday, 5.45pm)

Back in Europe after a 21-year absence, Servette aim to shake off some dire form to start positively in the Europa League on Thursday, when Slavia Prague visit Stade de Geneve.

While the Swiss side were eliminated from Champions League qualifying and have started slowly in their domestic league, Slavia are unbeaten in the Czech top flight and boast plenty of European experience.

We say: Servette 1-2 Slavia Prague

With a winning habit already formed, Slavia Prague have started this season in fine style; meanwhile, Servette are struggling to replicate last term's achievements. Therefore, the visitors - who also possess far more European know-how - should come away with three points on Group G's opening day.

Sheriff Tiraspol vs. Roma (Thursday, 5.45pm)

Beaten finalists last season, Roma make their Europa League return on Thursday, as they make the trip to Transnistria for their Group G opener against Sheriff Tiraspol.

While the Giallorossi lost out to Sevilla in last term's showpiece, Moldovan champions Sheriff have never before progressed to the last 16.

We say: Sheriff Tiraspol 1-2 Roma

With confidence high after posting the club's biggest Serie A victory since 2006, Roma should be able to navigate a tricky away fixture to start their Group G campaign. Although Jose Mourinho may make several changes, the Giallorossi's squad depth is greater these days and Sheriff will come up short on home soil.

B. Leverkusen vs. Hacken (Thursday, 5.45pm)

Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen will get their Europa League group-stage campaign underway with a home fixture against Swedish champions Hacken on Thursday.

While the midweek contest represents Leverkusen's first European game of the season, Hacken have made their through qualifying to seal their place in the main draw.

We say: Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 Hacken

Leverkusen have begun the campaign in a rich vein of form, and we think they will get the better of the Swedish champions to claim maximum points and extend their unbeaten run to the season to six matches across all competitions.

Qarabag vs. Molde (Thursday, 5.45pm)

Qarabag FK and Molde will begin their Europa League group-stage campaign when they face off at the Azersun Arena in Azerbaijan on Thursday.

The hosts have lost just one of their last nine matches in all competitions, while the visitors travel to Baku off the back of consecutive victories.

We say: Qarabag FK 2-1 Molde

Molde lost all three of their away games in Champions League qualifying, and we think that trend could continue into Thursday's fixture when they face a Qarabag side who have avoided defeat in their last 12 UEFA home games.

Union SG vs. Toulouse (Thursday, 5.45pm)

On the back of their historic run to the quarter-finals last year, Belgian upstarts Union SG begin their latest Europa League campaign at home to French outfit Toulouse on Thursday.

The two sides will butt heads at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium in Group E, where Liverpool and LASK Linz are also vying for the sole qualification spot straight into the last 16.

We say: Union SG 1-1 Toulouse

Neither Union SG nor Toulouse are experiencing a purple patch of domestic form at the moment, but if last year is anything to go by, the 11-time Belgian champions are not to be underestimated on the European stage.

Toulouse should also harness their knockout specialities from last year's Coupe de France success, but on this occasion, we are finding it nigh on impossible to separate the two teams and expect a low-key draw to be played out at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium.

LASK vs. Liverpool (Thursday, 5.45pm)

The road to Dublin begins on Thursday evening for Liverpool, who travel to the Raiffeisen Arena to tackle Austrian outfit LASK Linz in their opening Europa League Group E encounter.

The Reds were demoted to the second tier of European football on account of their fifth-placed Premier League finish last term, while the hosts overcame Zrinjski Mostar 3-2 in qualifying to prolong their continental journey.

We say: LASK Linz 1-3 Liverpool

LASK normally need no lessons in putting the ball in the back of the net at home and should play with the handbrake off against Liverpool, whose defending has often left a lot to be desired this season.

A second-string Reds XI are unlikely to be at their free-flowing best, but the cavalry is ready to be called upon if things to awry, and Klopp's red-hot attackers should propel the visitors to a convincing opening victory.

> How Liverpool could line up against LASK Linz

> Liverpool injury, suspension list vs. LASK Linz

West Ham vs. Backa Topola (Thursday, 8.00pm)

West Ham United get their Europa League campaign underway with a home fixture against Backa Topola at the London Stadium on Thursday night.

While the Hammers are playing their first continental fixture since winning the Europa Conference League, the visitors are participating in their first-ever group-stage European game.

We say: West Ham United 4-0 Backa Topola

While West Ham will not be underestimating their opponents, this is as ideal start as they could have hoped for. Even if Moyes opts to make a number of alterations, the Hammers should have more than enough quality to breeze to victory on Thursday night.

Olympiacos vs. Freiburg (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Olympiacos and Freiburg get their Europa League group-stage campaign underway with a showdown in Greece on Thursday night.

While the home side have enjoyed a strong start to the season, the same cannot be said of the visitors who are yet to replicate their consistent quality from 2022-23.

We say: Olympiacos 1-1 Freiburg

Although Freiburg may be the marginal favourites on paper, there is little doubting that they would accept a share of the spoils from this contest. We expect Olympiacos to make most of the running, but the visitors may have enough quality at both ends to claim a draw.

Ajax vs. Marseille (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Ajax and Marseille will kick off their Europa League group campaigns on Thursday, when they square off in the opening round of fixtures at the Johan Cruyff ArenA.

The Dutch hosts reached this stage by progressing past Ludogorets Razgrad in the playoff round, while their hosts fell short in Champions League qualifying and find themselves in Europe's second competition as a result.

We say: Ajax 1-1 Marseille

Given both sides have experienced starts to the season which may not be characteristic of their quality, it is tough to call Thursday's contest as both seek to find their best form.

The hosts are certainly not brimming with confidence or momentum, while their visitors deal with instability likely under temporary management, and as such we cannot predict a winner and instead opt for a share of the spoils in the Dutch capital.

Brighton vs. AEK Athens (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Brighton & Hove Albion will kick off their first-ever European campaign on Thursday, when they meet AEK Athens in their opening Europa League group-stage match.

The Seagulls find themselves in the group stage of Europe's secondary competition after last season's sixth-placed Premier League finish, while their visitors dropped out of Champions League qualifying after winning the Greek Super League last time around.

We say: Brighton & Hove Albion 3-0 AEK Athens

Brighton should certainly be up for their Europa League debut on home turf, and they have the quality to comfortably see AEK Athens off on Thursday and begin in style with three points.

Sparta Prague vs. Aris Limassol (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Sparta Prague kick off their Europa League campaign against Aris Limassol at the Letna Stadium on Thursday evening.

It is the first competitive meeting between the two sides, who are joined by Rangers and Real Betis in Group C.

We say: Sparta Prague 2-0 Aris Limassol

Although the two sides share a lot of similarities, Sparta Prague play in a stronger league than their opponents, and they have won their last four games on the spin.

Given that the Reds have home advantage on Thursday night, they should be able to record a relatively comfortable victory.

Rangers vs. Betis (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Rangers take on Real Betis at Ibrox on Thursday evening in their first Europa League group stage game.

It is the first competitive meeting between the two sides, who will both have confidence they can progress through Group C, which also contains Aris Limassol and Sparta Prague.

We say: Rangers 2-2 Real Betis

Rangers have not looked particularly convincing in the Scottish Premiership this season, but Real Betis head into the game fresh off the back of a thrashing against Barcelona, and they have lost their last two away games.