Partizan vs FC Astana – Prediction (Europa League – 12.12.2019)

Preview and Teams Comparison.

UEFA Europa League (UEL) progression is now impossible for Partizan Belgrade and Astana, but both can still avoid the ignominy of finishing last. For Partizan a draw is enough to avoid that fate, and with four wins from their last five competitive home games (L1), whilst netting 3.8 goals on average per fixture across that period, makes them worthy favourites in this clash. Although winless at home this UEL group stage campaign after conceding a first-half opener in both games (D1, L1), Partizan have lost just one of their previous 12 UEL home fixtures (W8, D3 – qualification included), and have netted at least two goals in four of their last five such games here.

Astana must win to avoid bottom spot and enter this game after a 2-1 win over Manchester United in their last UEL fixture, which ended a run of five straight defeats in this competition, four of which came ‘to nil’, and three with at least a two-goal losing margin. Their last UEL away game saw them hammered 6-0 by AZ Alkmaar in what was the club’s biggest ever European defeat, and the champions of Kazakhstan have now won just two of their 11 previous UEL group stage road trips (D2, L7).

Players to watch: Partizan are unbeaten in every game Umar Sadiq has scored in this season (W9, D1) – he netted a brace in the reverse fixture. Rúnar Sigurjónsson scored Astana’s consolation in the reverse – three of his last four continental goals came after half-time.

Stat attack: Four of Partizan’s last five home games saw the opener netted before the 20th minute. The last five away games that Astana scored in saw them net all their goals before half-time. Six of Partizan’s last seven competitive wins have seen them record a winning margin of at least two goals.

Match Info and Live Scores.