Skip to main content

UEFA Europa League Preview: Athletic Bilbao travel to Zilina, Odd host Dortmund

Athletic Bilbao will have to cut their Supercopa de Espana celebrations short as they return to competitive action against Zilina in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday.

Ernesto Valverde's side denied Barcelona's sextuple hopes as Monday's 1-1 draw at Camp Nou rounded off a 5-1 aggregate triumph – securing the Basque club's first trophy in 31 years.

Morale will also be high in the Borussia Dortmund squad ahead of their first-leg meeting with Odd, Thomas Tuchel's side arriving in Norway off the back of a 4-0 win over Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga.

After their disappointing campaign last season, the signs are already looking brighter for Dortmund, and they will hope to have enough firepower to overcome Odd - who have already played six games in this season's competition.

Southampton's first European adventure in 12 years continues with the visit of Midtjylland to St Mary's Stadium, while Fenerbahce's array of superstars will hope to avoid a repeat of their Champions League disappointment.

Former European Cup winners Ajax and Steaua Bucharest suffered a similar fate to Fener and will look to keep their European dreams alive with ties against Rosenborg and Jablonec respectively – Steaua looking for a joint record fifth win in the play-offs.

Brondby travel to PAOK, Molde host Standard Liege and Milsami continue their European adventure against Ligue 1's Saint-Etienne, the Moldovans another side to slip into the Europa League after Champions League defeat.

The final tie of the round sees Kairat Almaty face Bordeaux, with the Kazakh side the first to make the 5974-kilometre trip – the furthest distance travelled in the competition.