Thursday's Europa League predictions including Olympiacos vs. Genk

Zalgiris vs. Hacken (Thursday, 5.00pm)

FK Zalgiris will be hoping to secure a first-leg lead in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League when they take on BK Hacken at Valniaus LFF Stadionas on Thursday evening.

Both these sides were involved in UEFA Champions League qualification over the last few weeks, but after being knocked out in the second qualifying round of that competition, they will now set their sites on reaching the playoffs of the Europa League against Aberdeen F

We say: FK Zalgiris 2-1 Hacken

Despite the hosts coming into the match as the underdogs, they showed their attacking prowess in the Champions League qualifiers, where they scored twice past the heavily fancied Galatasaray in their home match.

The visitors carry a strong attacking threat themselves, and we expect they will get on the scoresheet in this match, but we feel that the hosts will manage to claim an upset victory in this first-leg encounter.

Qarabag vs. HJK Helsinki (Thursday, 5.00pm)

Qarabag FK welcome HJK Helsinki to the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium on Thursday as the third qualifying round for the Europa League gets underway.

Having already been eliminated from Champions League qualification, Qarabag and HJK will both be determined to secure European football this season.

We say: Qarabag FK 1-1 HJK Helsinki

Given that both sides will likely approach the first leg with caution, we expect Qarabag and HJK to play out a tense and cagey draw on Thursday, setting up a winner-takes-all showdown in Helsinki next week.

Sheriff Tiraspol vs. BATE (Thursday, 6.00pm)

Moldovan National Divison champions Sheriff Tiraspol will welcome FC Bate Borisov to the Bolshaya Sportinaya Arena for a first-leg clash in the UEFA Europa League third round of qualifiers on Thursday evening.

Both sides will be looking to put their UEFA Champions League qualification disappointments from a week ago behind them, with a potential playoff place against KI Klaksvik or Molde FK awaiting the winners of this two-legged tie.

We say: Sheriff Tiraspol 3-1 BATE Borisov

Sheriff are no strangers to these types of big-night encounters, and they will be expecting to secure a healthy advantage to take to Borisov Arena next week. However, BATE have shown that they carry an attacking threat, and we expect they will get something to show for their effort in this one.

Slavia Prague vs. Dnipro-1 (Thursday, 6.00pm)

Slavia Prague will aim to maintain their 100% record in 2023-24 when Dnipro-1 visit Fortuna Arena in the third round of Europa League qualifying on Thursday.

The Czech side have won each of their opening three league matches this season, while the Ukrainian outfit kicked off their domestic campaign with a victory last weekend.

We say: Slavia Prague 2-0 Dnipro-1

Having started the new season in eye-catching form, Slavia Prague look set to gain a healthy first-leg lead over Dnipro-1, who will likely struggle to deal with the Reds and Whites' attacking approach on home soil.

Zrinjski Mostar vs. Breidablik (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Zrinjski Mostar and Breidablik continue their bid to qualify for the Europa League when they face each other in the first leg of their third qualifying round tie on Thursday night.

The two sides, who hail from Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iceland respectively, have dropped down to this competition from the Champions League.

We say: Zrinjski Mostar 1-1 Breidablik

Given the nerves that will be on show for this fixture, we expect a tense first leg. Zrinjski are in the better form when taking everything into consideration, yet we feel that the visitors will do enough to earn a share of the spoils.

Olympiacos vs. Genk (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Olympiacos and Genk square off in the first leg of their Europa League third qualifying round matchup on Thursday in what is undoubtedly one of the ties of the round.

While Olympiacos will be participating in their first competitive encounter of the season, Genk have already lost out in the Champions League.

We say: Olympiacos 1-1 Genk

Although Genk have the greater match fitness in their legs, we cannot ignore that they have earned mixed results during their opening quartet of fixtures. With home advantage in their favour, Olympiacos may do enough to match their opponents and earn a share of the spoils.