Plzen vs Servette prediction: EUROPE: Europa Conference League – Play Offs betting tips on match 2024-03-13 17:45.
[p]Nothing could separate Viktoria Plzeň or Servette in the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League last-16 tie (0-0) in Switzerland last week, which probably hands the advantage to the Czech side given that they progressed from the group stage not only with six victories from six, but without even conceding a goal in any of their three home games (1-0 x2, 3-0).[/p]
[p]In addition to a near-perfect W11, D2 record this Conference League campaign, they’re also in outstanding form domestically and look destined to finish in third place in the Fortuna Liga for a second consecutive season, having extended their cushion over fourth-placed Slovácko to 13 points at the weekend. And should Plzeň fall behind on Thursday, they can be hugely confident about their ability to recover, as they are currently on a four-match unbeaten run after going 1-0 down (W3, D1). [/p]
[p]Servette found the second-tier UEFA Europa League too difficult, finishing third with just one win from six group-stage games (D2, L3), but have impressively juggled the Europa Conference League with potentially winning their first Swiss Super League title since their disastrous bankruptcy in 2004/05. They finished the weekend only one point off the summit, having recorded their fourth successive league victory (3-1 against Lausanne) – the division’s longest active winning streak. [/p]
[p]Manager René Weiler spoke of his belief in his players’ ability to handle a busy schedule prior to the first leg, and they have certainly vindicated the faith placed in them recently, having strung together an eight-match unbeaten run (W6, D2), beginning with their first Europa Conference League encounter of the season (0-0 against Ludogorets Razgrad). Most importantly, that sequence includes a 1-0 win as underdogs at Ludogorets, which was their first away triumph excluding penalty shootouts in any UEFA competition since 2012/13 (D3, L4).[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Plzeň’s Tomáš Chorý and Servette’s Enzo Crivelli both scored twice in league victories at the weekend, but the former has been far more productive in continental football this term with four goals compared to Crivelli’s one. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Plzeň recorded a first-half clean sheet in all but one of their last ten competitive fixtures.[/p]