As we go into matchday six of the Conference League, French side Strasbourg lead the standings with 13 points. SK Rapid are the only side out of all 36 teams who remain without a single point after their opening five matches.
The battle for a spot in the quarters and the round of 16 enters a critical stage, setting up the final group matches to be hotly contested.
Our team has a look at the highlights games and offers predictions for Thursday nights action.
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Crystal Palace vs KuPS – 11pm
These sides are on opposite ends on the table with the English Premier League side in ninth place with nine points. They face a KuPS side in 25th place, after managing just one win from their opening five games.
Palace were comfortable 3-0 winners against Shelbourne in the last group game, whilst KuPS were held to a barren draw by Lausanne. This will be the first competitive match between these two teams.
Prediction – Crystal Palace to win @ 1.20 odds
Lausanne vs Fiorentina – 11pm
With only a point separating these two sides on the table, we can expect a highly competitive match here. Lausanne drew 0-0 against KuPs in their last game, while Fiorentina left it late to edge Dynamo Kiev 2-1.
Despite being in 16th place, Lausanne have the second best defense in the competition, conceding just three goals so far. We can expect a low scoring game here with a winner not being easy to pick from two teams who only have one win in their last five games.
Prediction – under 2.5 goals @ 1.95 odds
Mainz vs Samsunspor – 11pm
This is the only match lined up that pits two teams in the top eight against each other. Both teams are level on 10 points but Samsunspor are three spots higher in fifth owing to a better goal difference.
The game comes at a time when neither side has managed a win in their last five games, knowing that defeat will take them out of the safety of the qualification spots. Samsunspor lost 2-1 to AEK Athens in matchday five, while Mainz were held to a 1-1 draw by Lech Poznan.
Prediction – Both team to score @ 1.66 odds
Omonia vs Rakow – 11pm
The Cypriots Omonia are looking to make it two wins in a row after their 1-0 victory against bottom side SK Rapid. The win lifted them to 15th place with eight points, three less than their third place opponents Rakow.
Rakow are desperate to bounce back to winning ways after losing 1-0 to Zaglebie over the weekend. This game is expected to be cagey with both sides boasting the best and second best defenses in the competition.
Prediction – under 2.5 goals @ 1.72 odds
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Rayo Vallecano vs Drita – 11pm
Seventh-place Rayo Vallecano have the chance to climb even higher on the table when they host 19th place Drita. Vallecano were 2-1 winners on the road against Jagiellonia, while Drita were thrashed 3-0 at home by Alkmaar.
The La Liga outfit are joint-second in the top scoring teams in the competition, scoring 10 goals in their opening five games. Vallecano are a more experienced side and are tipped as favorites in their first ever match against the Kosovo side.
Prediction – Rayo Vallecano to win @ 1.16 odds
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Rijeka – 11pm
Shakhtar have had an impressive run in the competition, winning three consecutive games to lift them into second place. Their most recent being a 2-0 road win against Hamrun, while their opponents Rijeka thrashed Celje 3-0.
Rijeka need to avoid defeat if they are to remain within touching distance of the final round of 16 spots left up for grabs. Both teams are on identical runs of form, unbeaten in their last five games, winning three times in the process.
Shakhtar may have home advantage but it will not be a walk in the park as they host an in-form Rijeka side.
Prediction – Shakhtar to win or draw @ 1.25 odds
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Strasbourg vs Breidablik – 11pm
League leaders Strasbourg are the only side assured of a last 16 spot so far in the competition. Meanwhile their opponents have to win if they are going to have any chance of breaking into the top 24.
They are currently in 27th place despite battling to an enthralling 2-2 draw against high flying Samsunspor in the last round. Strasbourg have lost twice in their last five games, giving Breidablik a glimmer of hope as they come into the game on the back of a better run of results.
Prediction – Both teams to score @ 1.80 odds
Photo: Sathire Kelpa/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
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