UEFA Europa League round two predictions: Match preview, team news, current form & h2h

The UEFA Europa League returns on Thursday with a fascinating second round of league-phase fixtures to look forward to.

Several major European clubs are looking to build on winning starts, while others face early pressure to collect points after disappointing opening results.

Favorites Juventus and Crystal Palace currently sit atop the standings after round one, with 14 other teams also registering wins in the opening round of matches.

With 18 matches lined up, we have a look at some of the headline fixtures and offer our predicted outcomes.

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This is arguably the biggest game of the week in the Europa League, after both clubs won their opening league-phase games, so neither has the immediate pressure of needing to recover from a defeat.

Lyon were 2-1 winners away at Anderlecht, while Palace humiliated Lech Poznan 4-0 in an emphatic victory.

Both teams have already shown they can score in Europe, and Palace’s forward threat should give them opportunities to keep up their goalscoring form.

These sides have only ever faced each other once in their history, with Palace winning 2-0 in a 2023 club friendly.

There is much more at stake here with Lyon looking to bounce back from a 2-1 defeat to Lens over the weekend, while Palace were 3-1 winners against Nottingham in the Premier League.

Prediction – Both teams to score – PLACE YOUR BET ON THIS GAME HERE!

This match brings with it a lot of significance as Italian heavyweights Milan are desperate to bounce back from their opening day stumble.

Milan lost 2-0 at home to Benfica and have only managed one win in their last five games in all competitions.

Salzburg kicked off their UEL campaign with a 1-0 victory over Levski Sofia, with the Austrian side now aiming to secure consecutive major European wins for the first time since October 2021. 

These sides have faced each other four times in the past, with Milan winning three and just one resulting in a stalemate.

Majority of the hosts games have been low-scoring and with the run of form both sides are on, this could be the case here as well.

Prediction – Under 2.5 goals – PLACE YOUR BET ON THIS GAME HERE!

Union Saint-Gilloise made light work of Viktoria Plzeň on matchday one, cruising to a 3-0 win on Czech soil.

This gives them the opportunity to win back-to-back matches in the same European campaign for the first time since January 2025.

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They take on a Sociedad side who got off to a terrible start, losing 2-1 to Premier League outfit Bournemouth. 

Sociedad are at risk of losing back-to-back European games for the first time since the 2013/14 season.

Both sides have reasons to attack, with Sociedad needing a response and Union looking to build on their strong opening.

The home team bring an eight-game unbeaten streak into the game, while Sociedad have lost three of their last five games in all competitions.

Prediction – Over 1.5 goals – PLACE YOUR BET ON THIS GAME HERE!

Benfica produced one of the most impressive results of the opening round by beating AC Milan 2-0 away from home.

Celtic had a more difficult evening, losing 3-1 at home to Ferencváros, with the contrasting starts putting more pressure on the Scottish side to produce a positive result in Lisbon.

The Portuguese giants are also unbeaten in their last 11 UEL group stage/league phase matches, having scored at least two goals in each of those games. 

Benfica’s confidence and home advantage make them the stronger selection, although Celtic will hope to make the contest more competitive than their opening defeat.

The home team have been superior in this fixture in recent seasons, winning three of the last five games against Celtic and losing just once.

Prediction – Benfica to win – PLACE YOUR BET ON THIS GAME HERE!

Celta began their group stage campaign with a 1-0 loss at Omonia Nicosia, their third successive Europa League defeat.

This represents their worst-ever losing run in major European competitions as they seek to bounce back here. They have won just one of their last 10 games in all competitions.

They face a Juventus side who hammered NEC Nijmegen 5-0 in their opening Europa League fixture, leaving them at the top of the table.

These sides have only ever played two games in their head-to-head history, with Juve winning the first leg 1-0 before being humiliated in a 4-0 defeat in the return leg in 2000.

With the run of form the hosts are on, this gives Juve a slight advantage here, however both teams are capable of scoring goals and that provides an attractive market.

Prediction – Over 1.5 goals – PLACE YOUR BET ON THIS GAME HERE!

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The Premier League outfit began their life in Europe with a crucial 2-1 win against Sociedad and are out to make it back-to-back wins here.

However, they come into this game on the back of a heavy 5-1 defeat to Chelsea over the weekend, making it two consecutive losses.

The Cherries could therefore become the first English side since Bolton in 2005/06 to win their first two games in major European competition.

They take on a Sturm Graz side who are currently participating in their sixth consecutive European campaign.

The Austrian side kicked off their campaign with a point in a barren draw against Rennes and come into the game seeking a third consecutive victory.

Prediction – Bournemouth to win – PLACE YOUR BET ON THIS GAME HERE!