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UEFA Europa League Preview: Southampton, Vojvodina poised to advance

Southampton are firmly on course to reach the play-offs of the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, while Vojvodina are also in the box seat in their third qualifying round tie.

Ronald Koeman's Southampton travel to the Dutch city of Arnhem leading Vitesse 3-0 after last week's comprehensive first-leg win at St Mary's.

Graziano Pelle, Dusan Tadic and Shane Long were on target as Southampton ended a 12-year European absence in style and recent recruit Cedric Soares is hoping to extend the Premier League club's run in the competition at GelreDome.

"Teams are already expecting a high level from us, so they will respect us more. It means maybe there will be more attention so we need to be better and surprise them," the Portuguese defender told SAINTS, the club's official matchday magazine.

Vojvodina are back on home soil in Serbia for the visit of Sampdoria, who are on the brink of elimination following a humiliating 4-0 defeat last week.

Ognjen Ozegovic scored a second-half brace as Vojvodina spoiled Walter Zenga's first competitive match in charge at Sampdoria.

Thomas Tuchel will make his home bow with Dortmund leading Wolfsberger 1-0, Bilbao are up 2-0 as they prepare to visit Inter Baku, while Saint-Etienne enjoy a 3-0 buffer over Targu Mures.

Hajduk Split travel to Norway having defeated Stromsgodset 2-0 last week and Bordeaux take a 3-0 lead into their clash with AEK Larnaca.

Zilina and Krasnodar both carry 2-0 advantages into return-leg matches away to Vorskla and Slovan Bratislava, Zorya lead Sporting Charleroi by the same scoreline, and Kairat's 2-1 win has them narrowly in front against Aberdeen.