Europa League Matchday 3 Preview

The third matchday of the UEFA Europa League is on Thursday, as things start to get very interesting for all involved. Ten of the clubs have a perfect record so far, while nine teams are without a point. Another six are without victory as well, and will look to change that this week.

Ahead of the day's action, here is a preview of all 18 matches to take place.

Juve, Fradi Aim to Maintain Strong Start

One of the teams without a point thus far, Ararat-Armenia, play at home to AZ Alkmaar. The former have never faced a Dutch team before, and will be looking to cause an impressive scalp. The Armenians did win all four of their home qualifiers, which could give them hope. Moreover, AZ's only previous trip to Armenia, which came in the UEFA Conference League knockout round playoffs back in February, saw them lose to Noah. Keeping their opponents out will be key for the former UEFA Cup finalists - the last six road wins in Europe for AZ saw them keep a clean sheet.

Ferencváros will fancy their chances to make it three wins from three as they host Torreense. Seven months on from losing to Sporting Braga in the last 16, Fradi take on a third different Portuguese club. They are 2-0-2, having also been knocked out by Porto in the 1994/95 Cup Winners Cup. Torreense have a win and a loss to their name in their European debut. They did come out on top in their other road match in the competition so far, which could give them reason to believe.

Croatia's Dinamo Zagreb look to make it consecutive wins as they battle NEC Nimjegen. This is the second meeting between the two clubs, with Dinamo having prevailed in the UEFA Cup group stage 17 years ago. It is one of four victories Purgeri have over Dutch teams from 16 previous outings (4-5-7). NEC have just two away wins to their name, though they have not scored in any of their last four attempts. Only three sides conceded more than the Eredivisie side's six goals thus far.

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After a late winner last week, Juventus are at home to Stade Rennais as they try to continue their perfect start. The Bianconeri have come out on top in 19 of their 36 matches versus French opposition all-time, and have never lost at home in the UEL era. In fact, Juve have never lost in this competition to a Ligue 1 outfit. Rennes have a solid record in group phase away matches over their last three appearances. Including matchday 1's draw in Austria, they have just one defeat in their last 10 in Europe on the road.

Having lost to a Premier League team in the opening round, Lech Poznań will try come out on top this time around against Sunderland. Four of the club's five games against English teams have ended in defeat. That win did come at this point of the competition 16 years ago versus Manchester City. It also remains the only time Lech successfully negotiated the UEL group phase. The Black Cats picked up their first away win in Europe since their only other appearance in 1973/74. This is the first of two matches they will have against Polish teams in the league phase.

OFI Crete will try for another win over a German team as Bayer Leverkusen make the trip to Greece. O Ómilos beat Hoffenheim in September to begin their league phase showing, completing an impressive result. They have already matched the most wins they have achieved in a European campaign. It will be a difficult task for them though, as Leverkusen won in their last trip to Greece earlier this calendar year. Die Werkself are 4-3-4 against Greek opponents all-time, and have made at least the semifinals in their last two UEL appearances.

Union Saint-Gilloise and Hapoel Be'er Sheva square off in Belgium in what the former will see as a decent chance to climb up the rankings. Union's home form in Europe is rather worrying, seeing they have just one win in their last seven. This will be their first crack against an Israeli team. Be'er Sheva won only once on the road during a group phase in a UEFA club competition, where they beat Internazionale a decade ago. It coincided with their only progression to a knockout stage.

UEL regulars Sturm Graz face Olympique Marseille in a match where neither side can afford to lose. It is the second time they host a French team this league phase, having drawn with Rennes last month. One of Sturm's two wins over a side from France did come versus Marseille in the Champions League during the 1999/2000 season. L'OM last met an Austrian team in Europe during their run to the 2017/18 Europa League final. There, they topped RB Salzburg in the semifinals. The last time they went winless in their opening three group phase games came in the 2021/22 campaign.

Match of the Round: Olympiakos Piraeus vs Sparta Praha

An absolutely massive match from a UEFA coefficient perspective will occur in Greece, where Olympiakos Piraeus will be up against Sparta Praha.

Remarkably, this is the first time the two will face off in Europe, with Olympiakos' only other games with Czech opposition coming against Viktoria Plzeň six years ago in UCL qualification. Thrylos won the tie thanks to a 4-0 home win. The Greeks went unbeaten at home in their last UEL campaign two years ago, keeping three clean sheets in the four games.

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Sparta unexpected drop points last time out, but are still in a good position after two games. Their away form has improved though, having won three of their last four in the main round of a UEFA club competition. Runner ups in Czechia last term, Sparta have only two wins to their name from eight versus Greek clubs. Their last victory came in this competition 11 years ago against Asteras Tripolis.

Milan, Lyon Face Tricky Matchups

Bournemouth will play their second home match in Europe as the Cherries will host AC Milan. Winners of their opening two games, the debutants will have their strongest opposition yet. Despite a rather weak start to their domestic league, Bournemouth could not have asked for a better start to life in Europe. Milan bounced back from their home loss in the first matchday with a solid win last week. The Rossoneri came out on top in two of their three group phase matches six years ago in their last UEL showing.

Turkish club Beşiktaş will look to continue their excellent beginning at home to Crystal Palace. For the first time since 2010/11, Kara Kartallar won both of their first two games in a group phase. Two of their six victories over English teams came in the UEL as well, both at home. Playing their second continental season a row, Palace hold a 4-2-3 record on the road, with this being the first time they take on Turkish team. The Eagles have yet to lose back-to-back matches.

In Scotland, Celtic and Celta Vigo square off looking to put a disappointing opening two matchdays behind them. Having already been beaten at home so far, the Hoops have not lost consecutive European matches at Parkhead since 2022/23. They did knock out Celta in the UEFA Cup 24 years ago on away goals as both sides prevailed at home. Celta's home victory on that occasion remains their only success over a Scottish team. Os Celestes are on a four-match losing streak in Europe stretching back to last term.

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After disappointing in the first two rounds, Viktoria Plzeň are up versus Levski Sofia. The Czech club have not lost three straight UEL clashes in 11 years, something they will want to avoid on Thursday. They have not had much joy against Bulgarian sides, with just one win in five (1-2-2). With a point from two matches, Levski will want to add onto their draw last week. Both of their previous games with Czech teams - against Slavia Praha - ended level.

Poland's Jagiellonia Białystok face Anderlecht as the Poles aim for back-to-back victories. Jagiellonia have prevailed in all three home matches in Europe this term, scoring nine times in the process. However, they have three losses in four against Belgian teams - the exception coming in a 3-0 win over Cercle Brugge in the 2024/25 Conference League. In contrast, Anderlecht, still without a point so far, are 5-1-0 against Polish teams. As such, Paars-Wit will be confident in improving on their poor start.

In Norway, Lillestrøm have Real Sociedad. The hosts have one previous two-legged tie with Spanish opposition to draw from, when Deportivo Alavés ended their run in the 2000/01 UEFA Cup. They do have a home win to their credit this term, which came in August's playoff round. La Real were moments away from taking all three points in Belgium last week, but instead came away with a point. That made it four without success in Europe for the Spaniards since getting past FC Midtjylland in the 2024/25 knockout playoffs.

Celje are back at home and will try to collect their first points against RB Salzburg. The Slovenians have just one victory in the comforts of their home this term, losing twice. They do have a strong record in group phase play, owning a 4-2-1 home record. Salzburg, are victorious in each of their last two away matches, with both ending 1-0. The Austrians missed out on the knockout round last term, and will want to get back to winning ways immediately to boost their chances of making it through this time.

Two perfect teams from two games, Omonoia Nicosia and Benfica, face off in the Cypriot capital. All three of Omonoia's home matches in Europe this term have ended in them being victorious. With that said, they did suffer a pair of defeats against Benfica in the 1981/82 European Cup first round. That tie also remains Benfica's only meetings with clubs from Cyprus. As Águias have scored 24 times in their last seven European matches since their shocking defeat back in the summer.

Hoffenheim get set to host Olympique Lyonnais while hoping to finally get on the board. Winless in their last four continental home games, Hoffenheim are already in danger of replicating their 2024/25 performance, where they were eliminated at the league phase. During that campaign, they drew 2-2 at home to Lyon, which was the third stalemate between the two teams in as many matches. L'OL have won their first two games in the UEL group phase for their fourth consecutive appearance. Victory on Thursday will make it the third time in four showings that they prevailed in their opening three matches.