RoPS vs Aberdeen Predictions

Can Aberdeen finish the job and book their place in the next round of the Europa League qualifiers? They have a first-leg lead as they look to make the trip to Finland, but will the Dons avoid a bitter blow on their travels? They have been made the favourites for this clash with RoPS, but with just a slender 2-1 lead backing them up, we can’t say this tie is over. Will the hosts produce the narrow win they need, or can the Dons secure an all-important away goal in this clash?

The hosts are going to need to make the most of this opportunity, as it’s not coming around any time soon. They currently sit in 10th place in their domestic division, so there’s little chance of RoPS making their way back into the Europa League next year. They are coming into this one with a four-game winless streak behind them, while they’ve got a poor European record which is likely to be tested in Thursday’s game.

The visitors are unbeaten through friendlies and their opening qualifier this summer, while they will out to make the second qualifying round of this competition. They crashed out at that stage last term, losing out in a meeting with Premier League outfit Burnley. the Dons will be hoping for better this time around, while they’ll be looking to build up some steam in their qualifying clashes and use that to spark a challenge for the top two in the Scottish Premiership this term.

The Dons are heading here knowing the importance of an away goal, so expect them to get forward and try to cause problems for the hosts. RoPS hardly have the greatest defensive record, keeping one clean sheet in seven. They shipped two at Aberdeen, continuing their long record of conceding too many in Europe. They’ve let in a goal in six of their last seven Europa League games, with both teams scoring in all of their last four.

Aberdeen aren’t a side who tend to win a lot on the road, but their scoring record on their travels is solid. The forced the tie to extra time at Burnley last season after scoring in the first half. The Dons last kept a clean sheet in this competition back in 2017, while they have seen both sides score in four of their last five matches in this competition. Both teams to score is our tip for this one, which has landed in three straight home games for RoPS in this competition.