First Legs of the Third Qualifying Round of the 2025/26 Europa League: Match Previews and Favorites!

For some, it’s the frustration of not making it into UEFA’s top competition. For others, it’s a chance to lift a trophy in Istanbul, Turkey. Half-full or half-empty, the Third Qualifying Round of the 2025/26 Europa League kicks off between August 5 and 7— and it promises plenty of excitement for football and sports betting fans.

There are 13 clashes featuring 26 teams fighting for a place in the League Stage. The losers won’t see their European dream end entirely, though—they’ll still have a shot in the Conference League. And if you want to know more about each match, we’ve put together this guide just for you!

Third Qualifying Round of the 2025/26 Europa League’s Matches

Just like in the Champions League, this round features ten matchups, split into two paths. Starting with the Champions Path, we have six matches:

• Lincoln Red Imps vs Noah
• Rijeka vs Shelbourne
• RFS vs KuPS
• Hamrun Spartans vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv
• Zrinjski Mostar vs Breiðablik
• FCSB vs Drita

In the Main Path, we’ll see seven matchups:

• AEK Larnaca vs Legia Warsaw
• Fredrikstad vs Midtjylland
• CFR Cluj vs Braga
• PAOK vs Wolfsberger
• Servette vs Utrecht
• BK Häcken vs Brann
• Panathinaikos vs Shakhtar Donetsk

Winners advance to the League Stage Playoffs, played over the next two weeks. Losers will head to the Conference League Playoffs, also on the same dates.

Hamrun Spartans vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv

Kicking things off, the National Stadium in Ta' Qali will host the first match of the Third Qualifying Round of the Europa League on Tuesday, August 5, at 14:00. Hamrun Spartans and Maccabi Tel-Aviv face off aiming to take the upper hand in the battle for a spot in the Group Stage.

Making their debut in the Champions League qualifiers, Tas-Sikkina had a tough time against Žalgiris Vilnius of Lithuania: they needed penalties to advance, with a nail-biting scoreline of 11-10. However, against Dynamo Kyiv, Giacomo Modica’s team lost both legs 3-0 and were eliminated.

Maccabi Tel-Aviv’s continental journey began with a 2-1 aggregate defeat to Pafos of Cyprus. To make matters worse, Žarko Lazetić’s side faces goalkeeper problems: first-choice Yoav Jarafi was injured during the Champions League exit, and backup Ofek Melika was sent off.

Head-to-Head Record

These two teams have never faced each other, though both have experience against clubs from the other’s country. Advantage Maccabi, with three wins and one loss against Maltese sides, while Hamrun Spartans have lost both of their encounters with Israeli opposition.

Predictions

Although Maccabi hasn't won an official match this season, they carry stronger European credentials: they reached the Europa League knockout phase in 2019/20 and have played in the Group Stage five times. Tas-Sikkina, on the other hand, are still chasing their first breakthrough and have struggled against better-funded teams.

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Rigas FS vs Kuopion Palloseura

Another first-time clash pits two acronym-heavy teams against each other: RFS and KuPS (or Rigas FS and Kuopion Palloseura, if you prefer). The fight for a place in the final qualifying playoff begins on Wednesday, August 6, at 14:00 at LNK Sporta Parks.

Runners-up in Latvia, RFS started their Champions League campaign by beating Estonia’s Levadia twice by 1-0. But reality hit hard when Viktors Morozs’ side was thrashed 4-1 at home by Malmö and then lost 1-0 in Sweden.

KuPS squeezed past Moldova’s Milsami Orhei with a narrow 1-0 aggregate win. Coach Jarkko Wiss saw his team follow up with a strong 2-0 home win against Kairat, only to be eliminated after a 3-0 loss in Kazakhstan.

Head-to-Head Record

This is KuPS’s first-ever match against a Latvian side. For RFS, it’s a chance to break a negative trend — they have one draw and one loss against Finnish opposition.

Predictions

Playing at home, RFS is favored to win the first leg: odds of 1.84 make it the most likely result, ahead of a draw at 3.45 and a KuPS win at 4.1.

As for qualification, the picture is tighter: RFS leads with odds of 1.73, while KuPS stands at 2.07.

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Rijeka vs Shelbourne

Stadion HNK Rijeka will host what looks like a one-sided contest: Rijeka vs Shelbourne, scheduled for Wednesday, August 6, at 15:45.

The Croatians opened their European run against Ludogorets, losing 3-1 away in Bulgaria. To make matters worse, Radomir Đalović’s team will be without midfielders Toni Fruk and Gabriel Rukavina, both suspended.

Meanwhile, the Reds failed to make a dent against Qarabag. Coach Joey O'Brien watched his side lose both legs by 4-0, without scoring a single goal. The Irish come into this tie under pressure.

Head-to-Head Record

The two sides have never met, and they hold identical records against teams from each other’s countries: one win and one loss in two matches.

Predictions

With the home advantage and a more valuable squad, Rijeka is a clear favorite: odds of 1.12 to win, 5.8 for a draw, and 13.0 for an Irish upset.

For qualification, Rijeka is rated at 1.11 to go through, while Shelbourne stands at 6.2.

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Fredrikstad vs Midtjylland

The Main Path brings a first-ever clash between an underdog and a continental up-and-comer. Fredrikstad and Midtjylland meet at Nye Fredrikstad Stadion on Thursday, August 7, at 13:00, taking their first steps toward a potential place in the League Stage.

On their maiden European journey, the Aristocrats have underwhelmed domestically in Norway — they sit seventh in the league. Andreas Hagen’s side comes in with two wins, three draws, and one loss in their last six games, hoping to reach the Europa League Group Stage for the first time.

The Wolves remain unbeaten this season and have already knocked out one opponent: Hibernian of Scotland, whom they beat 3-2 on aggregate. Led by Thomas Thomasberg, they’re now seven games without defeat.

Head-to-Head Record

As expected, the teams have never played each other. This will be Midtjylland’s first match against a Norwegian side, while Fredrikstad has lost both previous meetings with Danish opponents.

Predictions

With stronger form, Midtjylland is the favorite to win the first leg at odds of 1.84. Fredrikstad trails at 3.75.

For overall qualification, the Danes are even stronger favorites with odds of 1.19, compared to 4.4 for the Norwegians.

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Lincoln Red Imps vs Noah

After both dreaming of the Champions League, Lincoln Red Imps and Noah now shift focus to securing a UEFA tournament berth. Their matchup on Thursday, August 7, at 13:00 at Europa Sports Park will be crucial in the Champions Path.

Gibraltar’s Lincoln Red Imps began their continental campaign in the UCL qualifiers, beating Vikingur Gøta of the Faroe Islands 4-2 on aggregate — thanks in part to two goals from defender Bernardo Lopes. However, they were crushed 6-1 by Red Star Belgrade and exited the competition.

Noah faced a similar journey. After defeating Budućnost Podgorica of Montenegro 3-2 on aggregate, Sandro Perković’s side lost both legs to Hungary’s Ferencváros, falling 6-4 over two matches.

Head-to-Head Record

Not only is this a first meeting between the sides, but it also marks Noah’s debut against a team from Gibraltar. As for Lincoln, they’ve never beaten an Armenian team, having lost both matches to Ararat-Armenia in UEL qualifiers six years ago.

Predictions

Despite playing away, Noah is favored with odds of 1.7 to win — compared to 4.7 for a Lincoln Red Imps victory and 3.65 for a draw.

When it comes to qualifying, the Armenians are strong favorites at 1.14, while the Gibraltarians sit at 5.2.

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Cluj vs Braga

Get ready for a clash where the favorite must break a long-standing jinx to advance. The Dr. Constantin Rădulescu Stadium will host the first leg between Cluj and Braga this Thursday, August 7, at 13:30.

After a solid pre-season, the Railwaymen are aiming to return to the League Stage after a five-year absence. Dan Petrescu’s men began their journey by eliminating Paksi of Hungary with a 3-0 aggregate win. Then, Cluj knocked out Lugano of Switzerland with a narrow 1-0 home victory — just like in the previous round, they drew 0-0 away.

The main obstacle for the Romanians is the Archbishops, who had a brilliant start: five wins in pre-season friendlies and just one goal conceded. Entering the qualifiers against Bulgaria’s Levski Sofia, Carlos Vicens’ side advanced with a 1-0 home win.

Head-to-Head Record

Get ready for a reunion after 13 years. Cluj and Braga faced each other twice in the 2012/13 Europa League, and the Romanians came out on top: a 2-0 win in Portugal and a 3-1 victory at home.

Predictions

The 2010/11 Europa League finalists are heavy favorites to win: they have odds of 1.86, while a draw and a Cluj win are priced at 3.35 and 4.2 respectively. Braga’s advantage is even more significant in the qualification odds: 1.15 compared to 5.0 for Cluj.

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AEK Larnaca vs Legia Warsaw

The Main Path continues with a showdown between AEK Larnaca and Legia Warsaw. On Thursday, August 7, at 13:30, the Georgios Karapatakis Stadium will witness two unbeaten sides battling it out in Cyprus.

Led by Imanol Idiakez, the Cypriots are undefeated so far this season: four wins and four draws in friendlies and qualifiers. After beating Serbia’s Partizan on penalties, they overcame Slovenia’s Celje 3-1 on aggregate.

Legia started their Europa League run earlier, knocking out Aktobe of Kazakhstan with two 1-0 wins. They then eliminated Baník Ostrava of the Czech Republic 4-3 on aggregate — extending their unbeaten run to ten games.

Head-to-Head Record

These teams have never met before. Legia has a mixed record against Cypriot sides, with three wins and three losses. AEK Larnaca, meanwhile, will be facing a Polish club for the first time.

Predictions

At home, AEK Larnaca are slight favorites to win: odds of 2.14, with Legia priced at 3.2 and a draw at 3.35. However, the Polish side is favored to qualify, with odds of 1.75 against 2.03 for the Cypriots.

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BK Häcken vs Brann

Get ready for the most evenly matched clash of this round. BK Häcken and Brann will face off on Thursday, August 7, at 14:00, coming from contrasting domestic form — but showing similar strength in Europe.

The Wasps are struggling in the Swedish league, sitting in tenth place and closer to the relegation zone than the top. Jens Gustafsson’s side started their continental campaign by edging Spartak Trnava 3-2 on aggregate, and then beat Belgian giants Anderlecht on penalties.

Brann, from Bergen, are in much better shape domestically, just six points off the top in Norway. Freyr Alexandersson’s team had initially hoped for a Champions League run, but a 5-2 aggregate loss to Red Bull Salzburg pushed them down to the Europa League.

Head-to-Head Record

Not only is this the first meeting between the clubs, but both teams remain unbeaten against teams from the other’s country — even though neither has managed a win. Häcken drew twice against Åtvidabergs, while Brann registered two draws against Molde.

Predictions

Expect a tightly contested first leg: Brann are slight favorites at 2.49, Häcken close behind at 2.50, and a draw at 3.6. For overall qualification, the Norwegians are favored: 1.56 versus 2.38 for the Swedes.

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PAOK vs Wolfsberger

Another Main Path match will take place at the Toumba Stadium in Thessaloniki, Greece. PAOK and Wolfsberger begin their battle for a spot in the final playoff this Thursday, August 7, at 14:30.

This will be the Greeks’ first official match of the season after recording two wins, one draw, and one loss in pre-season. Under Răzvan Lucescu, PAOK aims to return to the League Stage after reaching the knockout rounds last season.

The Austrians kicked off their season by beating Wallern 3-1 but then lost 2-0 to Altach — raising doubts after a pre-season of four wins, one draw, and one loss under Dietmar Kühbauer.

Head-to-Head Record

Another first-ever meeting, especially for Wolfsberger: it will be their debut against Greek opposition. PAOK doesn’t have a great record against Austrian clubs either, with four losses, three draws, and three wins in ten matches.

Predictions

With stronger recent showings in UEFA competitions, PAOK is the clear favorite with odds of 1.45. A draw comes next at 4.4, followed by a Wolfsberger win at 6.6. For qualification, PAOK is favored at 1.34, while the Austrians are priced at 3.15.

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Panathinaikos vs Shakhtar Donetsk

Another Main Path battle features a former Europa League champion and a traditional club chasing their first title. Panathinaikos and Shakhtar Donetsk face off at the Olympic Stadium in Athens at 15:00 on August 7, both hoping to avoid a drop to the Conference League.

Under Rui Vitória, the Greeks had an unstable pre-season and started official matches poorly: they were eliminated from the Champions League by Rangers of Scotland, 3-1 on aggregate.

Shakhtar, on the other hand, are unbeaten so far this season and enter their third round of qualifiers. After a 6-0 thrashing of Ilves (Finland), Arda Turan’s team eliminated Besiktas 6-2 on aggregate — including a 4-2 away win in Turkey.

Head-to-Head Record

This will be the second meeting between the sides, 20 years after their UEFA Cup clash in 2005/06 (now Europa League). Shakhtar Donetsk came out on top with a 1-0 win.

Predictions

It’s hard to pick a winner in such an even match: Panathinaikos is slightly favored at 2.5, followed by Shakhtar at 2.55, with a draw at 3.55. However, Shakhtar has the edge in the qualification market at 1.47, compared to 2.6 for Panathinaikos.

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Zrinjski Mostar vs Breiðablik

Is this a rematch? Zrinjski Mostar and Breiðablik face off again in the Europa League qualifiers this Thursday, August 7, at 15:00. Will Bijeli Brijeg HŠK Zrinjski secure their advantage this time?

The Bosnian side aimed to reach the Champions League League Stage and started strong by defeating Virtus of San Marino 4-1 on aggregate. But Igor Štimac’s team was crushed by Slovan Bratislava and eliminated 6-2 on aggregate.

Breiðablik also started in the Champions League, thrashing Egnatia of Lithuania 5-1 on aggregate. However, reality hit hard against Lech Poznań of Poland, who routed the Icelanders 7-1 and then won the second leg 1-0.

Head-to-Head Record

Two years later, the teams meet again in the Europa League to break the tie. Zrinjski Mostar won the first leg 6-2, while Breiðablik took the return leg 1-0 — but that narrow win wasn’t enough to advance.

Predictions

Zrinjski Mostar are favorites at home, with odds of 1.54 to win. A draw is the next most likely result at 4.1, followed by a Breiðablik win at 5.4. In terms of qualification, the Bosnians also lead at 1.44, while the Icelanders sit at 2.7.

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FCSB vs Drita

In what appears to be one of the least balanced matchups, FCSB and Drita will face off at the National Arena in Bucharest. The first leg will take place at 3:30 PM on August 7 and will feature two teams that dropped down from the Champions League qualifiers.

Heirs to the sporting legacy of Steaua Bucharest, the Roș-albaștrii haven’t had the best start to the season: they currently sit 12th in the Romanian league and were knocked out of the Champions League. After defeating Inter Club d'Escaldes from Andorra 4-3 on aggregate, Elias Charalambous’s side lost both legs to Shkëndija from North Macedonia and said goodbye to UEFA's top tournament.

The Intelektualët also began their season with a Champions League elimination. After a 4-2 aggregate win over Differdange 03, Zekirija Ramadani’s team lost both matches against Copenhagen 3-0 on aggregate and must now shift their focus to the Europa League.

Head-to-Head Record

This is the most unprecedented clash you'll see in the qualifiers: FCSB have never faced a team from Kosovo in official competitions — and the same goes for Drita, who will play their first-ever match against a Romanian club.

Predictions

Backed by their legacy and experience, FCSB are heavy favorites with odds of 1.35 to win. A draw is set at 4.5, and a Drita victory is priced at 8.8. When it comes to advancing, the Romanians still dominate with odds of 1.18, while the Kosovo side sits at 4.6.

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Servette vs Utrecht

Closing out the Main Path, Servette and Utrecht will battle at the Geneva Stadium at 3:30 PM on August 7. Both teams had their eyes on UEFA’s top competition, but now find themselves in the Europa League.

Despite a solid pre-season, the Swiss side had a harsh reality check in official matches: they were eliminated from the Champions League by Viktoria Plzen 3-2 on aggregate — wasting the 1-0 advantage from the first leg. On top of that, they started their domestic campaign with a loss to St. Gallen, setting off alarm bells.

Meanwhile, the Dutch side began their continental journey with a dominant performance: 7-2 on aggregate over Sheriff from Moldova. Ron Jans’s team is trying to move past an inconsistent pre-season, in which they registered just two wins and four losses.

Head-to-Head Record

In their first-ever meeting, Utrecht will try to extend their perfect record against Swiss opponents — they’ve won all four past encounters. Servette, on the other hand, aims to improve their track record against Dutch clubs: four losses, one draw, and just two wins.

Predictions

Despite a somewhat balanced outlook, Utrecht hold a slight edge for the first leg, with odds of 2.37 to win, compared to 2.75 for Servette and 3.55 for a draw. The Dutch side also lead in the qualification odds, with 1.46 versus 2.6 for the Swiss.

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Bet on the 2025/26 Europa League at Blaze!

A lot of matches, right? Before diving into the excitement of the Europa League, don’t forget to study the data and consider all the mental and financial risks involved. Irresponsible betting can lead to consequences far more serious than a heartbreaking elimination.

Before placing your picks, make sure to check out our Sports Betting Encyclopedia for top tips on every available market. And always remember: betting is about fun and entertainment, not a way to make money.

Ready to fire up the engines for continental football? Bet on the 2025/26 Europa League at Blaze and good luck!