Europa League Preview of Groups I, J and K - 21st Oct 2010
After a thrilling match day 3 of Champions League, the attention now turns to Europa League with another set of exciting clashes.
A total of 24 matches will be played tonight and some of the European giants will be in action as they look to make sure of their progress to the next round.
Here is the preview of Groups I, J and K:
Group I
Metalist Kharkiv Vs Sampdoria
Metalist Kharkiv will host the Italian side Sampdoria in Ukrain tonight in a classic encounter of possession football. Both sides are masters of keeping the ball and also have a wide array of attacking players who can hurt the opposition just with their
individual skill and talent.
The hosts have defeated Sampdoria only once in 2008 and will be hoping for a repeat performance.
Sampdoria on the other hand are the top side in the group after a win and a draw against Debreceni and PSV respectively in their first two games and a win tonight will put the Italians in pole position for qualification into the next round.
Metalist have a win against Debreceni to boast while they lost to PSV on match day two and a win tonight is of extreme importance for the Ukrainians if they are to keep their fortunes in their own hand. With home advantage, a win for the hosts cannot be
ruled out despite Sampdoria’s superior talent.
Debreceni Vs PSV
The Hungarian outfit, Debreceni host the Dutch giants, PSV tonight at their home and despite two opening losses are confident of an improved show.
Debreceni so far have yet to register a point in the competition but are not yet out of running for the qualification to the next round and this could well be their motivating factor against their superior opponents tonight.
Debreceni lost 0-5 to Metalist and 1-0 to Sampdoria while PSV drew Sampdoria 1-1 and defeated Metalist 2-0 in their previous group matches. A win for the hosts will definitely keep them in running while throwing the group split wide open.
A win for PSV is absolutely to their chances as a loss could prove to be fatal for them in the later stages of the group.
Group J
Borussia Dortmund Vs Paris St. Germaine
The BVB stadium in Dortmund will host the eagerly anticipated clash between Borussia and PSG of France.
The French side are currently the leaders of the group but all could change as they face the third placed side in the group J.
The two sides have never met before in a competitive fixture and Dortmund have a chance to move to the top of group J if they beat the French tonight.
In their previous matches, PSG beat Sevilla 1-0 and Karpaty 2-0 while Dortmund triumphed over Lviv 4-3 on match day 1 but lost to Sevilla 0-1 on the following match day.
Karpaty Lviv Vs Sevilla
The home side is desparate for a win in the group as so far they have failed to win even a single match and their task does not get any easier as they face the free scoring Spaniards in Sevilla.
Sevilla are on a high after their win against Dortmund on match day 2 and will prove to be more than a match for their opponents tonight.
Sevilla are strong favourites for the match in Ukraine and Karpaty will be hoping against hope to register their first win in the group.
Group K
Napoli Vs Liverpool
Stadio San Paolo in Naples will host the biggest clash of the night as Liverpool travel to Italy, seeking to put a dismal campaign back on its feet.
After two draws in two games, Napoli are looking for their first win in the group but it will not come easy as Liverpool have an agenda of their own.
Under the new owners, Liverpool have yet to register a win and after a dismal draw against Everton at the weekend, tonight they face a difficult opponent in Napoli.
The two teams are meeting for the first time ever in a competitive fixture and a win will be priceless for either of them.
Urtecht Vs Steau Bucharest
The other clash in group K will be between FC Utrecht of Holland and Steau Bucharest in the Netherlands.
The home side are currently on a better record than their opponents and even registered a draw against the group leaders, Liverpool on match day 1.
Both the teams drew against Napoli on match day two and both are desperate for 3 points in the group as they are falling behind in the pecking order for qualification into the next round.
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