Previews
MIÉ 19.10.2016
RC Celta, Villarreal CF and Athletic Club are back in Europa League action on Thursday night, when the three sides will be seeking to build on their fine starts in the competition. That said, the trio will certainly have their work cut out on what's a tough-looking matchday for the Spanish representatives.
Celta entertain AFC Ajax in a 19:00 kick-off that is one of the standout games across the Matchday 3 group-stage fixtures. This will be the sides' second-ever meeting at Balaidos: the two clubs locked horns for the first time on Spanish soil back in the 2003/04 season in the group stage of the Champions League, when an Ajax team featuring a certain Zlatan Ibrahimovic succumbed to a 3-2 away defeat. Current Celta boss Eduardo Berizzo was part of the Celestes' squad in those days, but he didn't feature in that particular game.
Thirteen years on from that clash, the sides prepare to renew acquaintances, with top spot in Group G up for grabs this time round. Ajax are currently top of the pile on six points, whilst the Vigo outfit lie in second place, having collected four points from their first two matches. A home win would see Berizzo's side overtake the visitors at the summit of the group. The Argentine coach goes into the game without the injured Claudio Beauvue and Marcelo Diaz.
The Galicians are the only LaLiga Santander outfit playing at home in the Europa League this week, with both Villarreal and Athletic facing tricky away tests.
Fran Escriba's men will be expecting a stern challenge on their visit to Osmanlıspor FK in Turkey, in a match also kicking off at 19:00. Having picked up a win and a draw from their first two fixtures, the Yellow Submarine will be defending top spot in Group L in Ankara, against opponents who are just a point behind them. Escriba will have to make do without Mateo Musacchio because of the Argentine's bout of tonsillitis, while Denis Cheryshev, Roberto Soldado and Bojan Jokic are also absent because of various physical ailments.
Last to enter the fray, at 21:05, will be Ernesto Valverde's Athletic. The Basque side take on KRC Genk in Belgium and will be bidding to lay down a marker in a group in which all four teams are currently locked on three points. Athletic bounced back from a chastening 3-0 loss away to US Sassuolo on the opening matchday by beating SK Rapid Vienna 1-0 in their second game and will be looking to build up some momentum with another victory this week. They will have to do so without Ager Aketxe, Eneko Boveda and Oscar de Marcos, who are all unavailable.
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