H2H: Ferencvaros vs Espanyol – Prediction (Europa League

Preview and Teams Comparison.

Ferencvarosi have never lost a home game against Spanish opponents (W5 D1), though this is their first such meeting since a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid in the 1995-96 Champions League.

Ferencváros are yet to score at home this UEFA Europa League (UEL) group stage (D1, L1), but must win here against already-qualified Espanyol to keep their progression dreams alive. This could be a tense game then, and with six of the Hungarians’ last eight UEL fixtures finishing with under 2.5 goals, the team that strikes first might be hard to overturn. With the hosts unbeaten in the last 12 competitive games that they’ve netted the opener (W10, D2), and with just one loss in their previous 17 fixtures (W12, D4) – which includes a 1-1 draw at Espanyol in the reverse – home fans will believe Ferencváros can continue their unbeaten record against Spanish teams at home in European competition (W1, D1).

Espanyol will top the group with a win, and have won their last three UEL games ‘to nil’ – leading at half-time in two. However it’s worth noting that Espanyol have collected just one clean sheet across their last five competitive games (W1, D1, L3), with three of those fixtures seeing the opener netted within five minutes. The visitors will also want to extend an impressive unbeaten streak against non-Spanish teams in Europe which currently stands at 24 games (W19, D5), which includes eight victories from their last 12 European road trips (D4) – five of those wins came by a margin of at least two goals.

Players to watch: Franck Boli has netted a first-half opener in Ferencváros’ last two home wins. Meanwhile Espanyol’s Victor Campuzano has scored in three consecutive UEL games – twice as the game’s final goalscorer.

Stat attack: Ferencváros have recorded just one goalless draw across their last 52 competitive home matches. Espanyol have conceded over 1.5 goals in just one of their last 11 European away games. Four of Ferencváros’ last five competitive games saw the opener scored by the 15th minute.