Europa League
2016-06-30 - Aberdeen vs Fola Esch
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: Europa League First Qualifying Round
Thursday 30th June 2016 - Kick Off 7:45pm
Preview
The last couple of years have seen Aberdeen fall just short in their bid to get into the Europa League Group Stage and now they set off on another campaign to reach the prize money that is on offer at that Stage. They have reached the Third Qualifying Round in each of the last two seasons but it has to be remembered that Aberdeen are a long way away from the heady heights of the Alex Ferguson era when they actually won the European Cup Winners' Cup.
It is a long road to the Group Stage for Aberdeen when you are starting in the First Qualifying Round, but this is where they have begun the last couple of years. That experience should aid them, while Aberdeen showed enough in the Scottish Premier League campaign last season to suggest they are on the right path.
Aberdeen ended last season with 3 consecutive defeats in the Scottish Premier League as their challenge to the recent Celtic dominance came up short. However that challenge will have inspired the supporters to believe in the Dons and a friendly win over the weekend in preparation for this First Qualifying Round will have boosted that confidence.
Last season Aberdeen reached the Third Qualifying Round again in the Europa League but it was a strange run in which they won 1 of their 6 ties played and none of those played at home. They needed away goals to get through the First Qualifying Round and Aberdeen have won 1 of their last 8 home European ties.
Playing a team from Luxembourg should give Aberdeen a significant edge in this tie but underestimating Fola Esch could be a mistake. This was a team that missed out on the Luxembourg title on goal difference last season and this time last year were preparing for a Champions League tie against Dinamo Zagreb away from home, a game they ended up drawing 1-1.
Ultimately Fola Esch were not good enough to progress having lost the Second Leg at home, while the previous year in the Europa League this side earned a First Leg away draw at IFK Gothenburg only to lose the Second Leg at home again.
Fola Esch ended last season with just 1 loss from their last 10 away games in all competitions although the competition level is markedly increased in this one. However they have to be inspired by hard working away draws at IFK Gothenburg and Dinamo Zagreb in the last two European campaigns as they get set to face Aberdeen for the first time.
Prediction
You can't say it is a big surprise Aberdeen are heavily favoured to win their First Qualifying Round tie against Fola Esch considering how they performed in Scotland last season as well as solid back to back runs in the Europa League.
However I think Fola Esch might have been underestimated to at least make the First Leg competitive as they have in their own last couple of European campaigns and I have a lot of respect for the draws at IFK Gothenburg and Dinamo Zagreb. Overall I do think Aberdeen will win, but I am not convinced they will do it by a wide enough margin to cover the handicaps.
I am going to back Fola Esch with a three goal head start on the English Handicap at odds against here and look for them to keep things tight in the First Leg.
The Pick :
Aberdeen 2-0 Fola Esch
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Fola Esch + 3 English Handicap @ 2.05 Ladbrokes
