The Matchday 7 encounter of the 2024/25 Europa League group stage between Viktoria Plzen (Czech Republic) and Anderlecht (Belgium) will take place on January 23 at the Doosan Arena. Viktoria Plzen vs. Anderlecht: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Referee: Antonio Nobre (Portugal)
Matches – 5 (International matches, 2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 24;
Average yellow cards per match – 4.8;
Red cards shown – 1;
Average fouls per match – 24;
Penalties – 40%.
Predicted lineups for Viktoria Plzen vs. Anderlecht
Viktoria Plzen (3-5-2): Martin Jedlicka – Vaclav Jemelka, Svetozar Markovic, Sampson Dweh – Cheick Souaré, Lukas Cerv, Pavel Schulz, Lukas Kalvach, Cadu Cruz – Daniel Vashulin, Matej Vydra.
Anderlecht (4-3-3): Colin Coosemans – Ludwig Augustinsson, Jan-Carlo Simic, Mathias Jorgensen, Thomas Foket – Leander Dendoncker, Theo Leoni, Mats Rits – Yari Verschaeren, Luis Vazquez, Nilson Angulo.
Each team's starting lineup from their last match in this tournament is listed.
Viktoria Plzen
Miroslav Koubek's side suffered a 1-2 home defeat to Manchester United in the last round, ending their nine-match unbeaten run in the Europa League (6 wins, 3 draws). Additionally, it was only the third time in their last 14 matches in this European competition that the club conceded more than one goal. In the standings, the Czechs are in 17th place with nine points and will retain their chance of advancing to the playoffs regardless of the outcome of the upcoming match.
Forward Rafiu Durosinmi will miss the game due to injury.
- The team has not lost in regular time in 14 of their last 15 home matches in the Europa League (13 wins, 1 draw).
- The club has kept a clean sheet in 5 of their last 7 home games in this European competition.
- No more than three goals have been scored in regular time in the last 11 home matches of the Czechs in the Europa League.
Anderlecht
In the last round, David Hubert's side defeated Slavia Prague 2-1 away. As a result, Anderlecht extended their unbeaten run in the Europa League to ten matches (6 wins, 4 draws). Moreover, the club scored exactly two goals for the fifth time in the group stage. The Belgians have 14 points and occupy third place in the standings. Note that the team has already secured a place in the playoffs and is vying for a direct spot in the round of 16.
Defender Jan Vertonghen, midfielder Mario Stroeykens, and forward Samuel Edozie will not play due to injuries.
- The club has not lost in regular time in their last five away matches in the Europa League (3 wins, 2 draws).
- The team has not conceded more than one goal in 90 minutes in 8 of their last 9 away matches in this European competition.
- The number "1" has appeared in the final score in 11 of Anderlecht's last 13 away matches in the Europa League.
Viktoria Plzen vs. Anderlecht: Match Prediction
Even considering the not-so-high level of competition in the qualifiers, the Czech attack has not been able to shine in this edition of the Europa League: only once in five home matches have Viktoria's players managed to score more than one goal. At the same time, the team does not make many mistakes at their own end, conceding more than one goal in only one of their last 14 home matches in this European competition.
Anderlecht is also not characterized by high scoring, especially when it comes to away games: in 8 of their last 10 away encounters in the Europa League, the team has scored at most one goal in regular time. However, it is worth noting the club's quality defensive play: in their last nine away matches in this tournament, the Belgians have conceded more than one goal in 90 minutes only once.
I do not expect significant attacking activity from the hosts, also due to the winter break in the Czech championship – Viktoria's players are not in the best competitive form. I think this will be a low-scoring match, so my prediction: Total under 2.5 goals
