Zurich vs Steaua Bucharest Predictions & Betting Tips, Match Previews

Zurich’s 3-1 win at Neuchatel Xamax on Sunday continued their 2016/17 campaign. It made it three wins on the bounce and ten games unbeaten in all competitions, with seven of those ten ending in victory.

Their only defeat so far this season was a 2-1 loss to Villarreal in their opening Europa League group match, and they have followed that up with a win over Osmanlispor and a 1-1 draw away to Steaua Bucharest, to leave them 2nd in their group at the halfway point. They are also top of the Swiss Challenge League, so things are looking good for Zurich at the moment.

A large proportion of their success can be attributed to 25 year old stirker Armando Sadiku. He has four league goals in seven matches and has added one in the Europa League, whilst Dzengis Cavusevic also has four in the league and one in Europe to make them joint top scorers. Cavusevic is in the better form of the two at the moment, and he also has more favourable odds to score anytime at 12/5, so I’d recommend him for a goalscorer bet.

Steaua Bucharest’s 2-0 win in the league at the weekend kept them top of the table in Romania, but in Europe it’s been a lot more difficult. They have lost two and drawn one of their three group games so far, with that coming after a hammering by Manchester City to send them packing in the Champions League.

It’s certainly not the first time Steaua Bucharest have struggled in Europe. They have lost five of their last seven trips away in the Europa League and won just once, and they’re coming up against a Zurich side who are unbeaten at home this season in all competitions. They have won eight of their nine matches in Zurich, and in the Europa League they have won three of their last four home matches.

Considering Zurich managed to take a point from Steaua Bucharest in Romania as well, I think the advantage clearly lies with the hosts here. Odds of 11/10 for Zurich to Win on Thursday look very good value all things considered, and I’m backing that along with a 2-1 correct score prediction at 8/1.