Zalgiris vs Slovan Bratislava prediction: EUROPE: Europa Conference League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2022-11-02 17:45.
Žalgiris came back from the dead on UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) matchday five, drawing 2-2 from a 2-0 deficit away to Group H’s top seeds Basel. In turn, they can still become the first Lithuanian club to appear in any UEFA knockout phase, though only a win makes this a possibility, in a situation that could change much throughout the evening.
If Vilnius is to be certain of hosting UECL football after its 700th birthday in January, the Green-Whites will likely also need Basel to avoid defeat 3,000 km away in Yerevan in order to progress as runners up. The alternative is a fascinating scenario where a three-way clash of H2H points puts the spotlight on overall goal difference, and possibly goals scored. But that could be bad news for Žalgiris, who have a group low of four goals before kickoff.
As for Slovan Bratislava, they only need to do as they did in the reverse clash, and draw to seal progress. However, that particular stalemate could end up proving costly, as a defeat guarantees their elimination due to an inferior H2H goal difference vs Pyunik Yerevan, after being unable to add an extra goal to their comeback win over the Armenians last week.
Away from the chaos of Group H, the 1969 Cup Winners’ Cup kings at least have the comfort of a healthy lead at the Fortuna Liga’s summit, after three straight league victories. That shows they are in no mood for half measures, in what is their fifth attempt to progress from a European group – as does a drawless return from their last five UECL trips (W2, L3).
Players to watch: Mathias Oyewusi hit a double for Ĺ˝algiris in their comeback vs Basel, and on the same night, Eric RamĂrez won it for Slovan. That was his fourth strike from five this term to arrive beyond the hour mark, while a weekend effort vs LiptovskĂ˝ Mikuláš was his second successive goal to take the form of a match-winning header.
Hot streak: Slovan’s last last four UECL trips abroad have seen the winner keep a clean sheet.