FC Nordsjaelland vs Partizan Belgrade Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

This on paper is one of the most evenly matched ties of the UEFA Europa League 3rd Qualifying Round. Nordsjaelland are the slight favourites with home advantage in Denmark on Thursday but Partizan will fancy any kind of result will leave them in a strong position to advance when the sides reconvene in Belgrade in a week’s time.

Besiktas or LASK Linz await the winners of this one and while the Turks are the side most likely to get through to the group stage from this section of the draw, neither Nordsjaelland nor Partizan will see it as an impossible challenge. Nordsjaelland have already pulled off one upset by beating Swedish side AIK Solna in the last round. They won both legs of that one and did likewise against Cliftonville in the previous round, so they appear to have taken a liking to this competition. It’s a relatively rare European adventure for them and they’ve never previously won three European ties in the same season so they are aiming to make a little bit of history here.

Partizan are more experienced campaigners on this stage. They made it through to the Europa League knockout stage last season, despite having to play two home games behind closed doors. They did though finish a huge 17 points behind bitter rivals Red Star in the Serbian League and they are perhaps not quite the force they were 12 months ago.

They only scraped through to this stage with a 2-1 aggregate win over Lithuanian minnows Trakai. They’ve made a slow start to their new league season too with only 4 points from their opening 3 matches and they’ve struggled for goals, failing to net more than once in any of their last 5 outings.

Nordsjaelland meanwhile have impressed, with 3 wins from their last 4 competitive outings and they will take great confidence from a 2-0 aggregate win over AIK in a tie many expected them to lose. They’ve won their last 3 home matches in all competitions and with the visitors not looking great right now, backing Nordsjaelland Draw No Bet appeals here.

It’s unlikely to be too open a game though. Partizan’s last 5 matches have seen just 5 goals scored in total. 4 of Nordsjaelland’s last 5 have seen under 2.5 goals scored too and they may well follow the defensive blueprint that brought them two 1-0 wins in the last round. Backing Under 2.5 Goals could therefore also be worth considering.