Standard and Vitória Guimarães meet at Stade Maurice Dufrasne, in a match for this phase of the UEFA Europa League (Group Stage). These two teams have never faced each other before, so this will be their first direct confrontation. In this match the home factor may be decisive, since both teams have considerable differences in the results won at home and as a visitor.
Standard:
The team of the house will make its premiere in this edition of the competition, since it did not have to dispute any of the qualifiers prior to this group stage. This is a stronger team with the support of his fans, since in the last 30 games he has 6 wins, 2 draws and 7 losses as a visitor; against 10 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses in his stadium. The team arrives at this match after a victory outside with KV Oostende (1-4). In the last 10 games played at home for all competitions, Standard won 6, drew 1 and lost 3. His defense has not been very solid, as he suffered goals in 8 of the last 10 games, but his attack has marked with regularly, since he scored goals in 8 of the last 10 games. In their home matches there is a tendency for goals, since in 25 of their last 26 games there were more than 1.5 goals and in 20 of the last 26 there were more than 2.5 goals. There is 1 period that stands out in the last 3 home matches for all competitions: they scored 3 of their 6 goals between minutes (76′ ‑ 90 ‘).
Standard Liège arrives at this match with a 1-4 victory against the Ooestende, for the Belgian championship. Coach Michel Preud’homme should keep the team in a 4-3-3, favoring possession of the ball and organized attacks, especially through the left flank: Maxime Lestienne is very fast and competent when it comes to bringing the ball to attack. The player mentioned above is the top scorer of Standard Liège, with 5 goals scored. Out of this game are Dussene, Orlando Sá and Amallah, all injured.
Vitória Guimarães:
The visiting team won access to this group stage after eliminating Steaua Bucureşti in the previous tie, with a home win by (1-0) and a draw away by (0-0). This is a stronger team with the support of his fans, since in the last 30 matches he has recorded 5 wins, 3 draws and 7 losses as a visitor, with 13 goals scored and 15 suffered; against 11 wins, 3 draws and 1 loss in his stadium, with 41 goals scored and 11 suffered. The team arrives at this match after a home victory with the Desportivo Aves (5-1). In the last 10 matches played as a visitor for all competitions, Vitória Guimarães won 5, drew 2 and lost 3. The team has presented great defensive strength, since it did not suffer any goal in the last 6 games, and its attack has marked regularly, as he scored goals in 5 of the last 6 games for this competition. In their away matches there is a tendency for few goals, since 12 of their last 26 games ended with Under 1,5 goals and 17 in 26 ended with Under 2,5 goals. This is a team that usually scores many times first: he opened the scoring in 9 of his last 12 games, of these 9 he came to the break in advantage in 6 and managed to maintain the advantage until the end of the 90 ‘in 7.
The team of Vitória Guimarães comes to this motivated game, after a great 5-1 victory against the Birds, returning to the victories after two consecutive games without winning. We remember that he beat Steaua in the Europa League play-offs. Playing in a very complicated stadium, coach Ivo Vieira is expected to play 4-3-3, favoring the defensive organization and counterattacks across the flanks. Rochinha is the most dangerous player in Vitória, being an expert in hand-in-hand and offensive transition. Absences due to injury: Wakaso, André André, Amoah and Aziz.
