Aberdeen will look to claim their first victory in the league phase of the Conference League on Thursday night as they welcome Armenian side FC Noah to Pittodrie.
After suffering back-to-back defeats at home to Shakhtar Donetsk and away at AEK Athens in their opening two Conference League league phase matches, Aberdeen managed to grab their first point last time out.
The Dons played out a goalless draw in Cyprus against AEK Larnaca, but they remain two points outside of the qualification places.
Jimmy Thelin has seen his side’s domestic form improve in recent weeks, as they have won four of their last six (W4-D1-L1), the latest of which came in a 1-0 success over Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts on Sunday, on an afternoon in which two of my three selections landed.
FC Noah began their league phase campaign with a 1-0 win over Croatian side Rijeka, and followed that up with a 1-1 draw in Romania against CS Universitatea Craiova.
However, Sandro Perkovic’s visitors suffered a 1-2 defeat at home to Sigma Olomouc last time out, seeing them fall to 17th in the league phase table.
How the bookies view it: Dons favourites
Aberdeen are favourites to claim their first victory in the league phase, with bet365 pricing a home success at 11/10.
FC Noah are 12/5 to claim their second win in the league phase, whilst the draw is also 12/5.
Head to head: First-ever meeting
Unsurprisingly, this is the first-ever meeting between these two clubs.
Players to watch: Noah’s Nardin to bag again?
Nardin Mulahusejnovic has been the hero for FC Noah in the league phase of the Conference League this term.
The Bosnian forward has found the back of the net in each of the Armenian sides’ three Conference League matches, and he is 13/5 at bet365 to keep up his record of finding the back of the net in Europe.
Predicted line-ups:
Aberdeen are expected to be without Kristers Tobers, Sivert Helte Nilsen, Alfie Dorrington, Ante Palaversa and Peter Ambrose.
FC Noah appears to have a near fully fit squad, with only forward Goncalo Gregorio.
Aberdeen: Mitov, Devlin, Milne, Knoester, Lobban, Polvara, Shinnie, Jensen, Armstrong, Keskinen, Lazetic
FC Noah: Fayulu, Boakye, Muradyan, Saintini, Sualehe, Sangare, Eteki, Oshima, Helder, Manvelyan, Mulahusejnovic
Anything else catch the eye?
Aberdeen’s earned their first point in the league phase last time out by drawing in Cyprus against AEK Larnaca, but know they require a win if they are realistically to keep alive their qualification hopes.
As alluded to above, Jimmy Thelin’s side have improved in recent weeks, winning four of their last six Scottish Premiership matches (W4-D1-L1).
Therefore, I’m happy to take a chance on the Dons at 11/10 at bet365, getting a much-needed Conference League win.
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