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UEFA Europa League Preview: Brondby and Slovan to protect handsome leads

Brondby, Slovan Bratislava and West Ham are among the strong favourites to progress from the UEFA Europa League first qualifying round when the second legs take place this week.

The biggest win during last week's first-leg ties came when Brondby romped to a 9-0 win over San Marino's Juvenes/Dogana, with Johan Elmander and Elbasan Rashani notching braces for the Danish team.

West Ham will hope to impress new manager Slaven Bilic by extending their 3-0 advantage over Andorra’s FC Lusitanos. Diafra Sakho helped himself to a first-leg brace.

Sweden's AIK will hope two away goals are decisive having shared a 2-2 draw first time around with VPS Vaasa in Finland, while their goalkeeper Patrik Carlgren is out due to a knee injury sustained last time out.

Norwegian duo Odds BK and Stromsgodset are comfortable leaders having won 3-0 at FC Sherriff and 3-1 against FK Partizani respectively, while Lithuania’s FK Trakai are 3-0 leaders over HB Torshavn on their maiden European outing.

Glentoran's Belfast neighbours Linfield hold a 2-0 advantage over NSI Runavik, while there are varying prospects of success for two League of Wales sides.

FC Vaduz must complete the formalities of a tie with San Marino's La Fiorita, who they lead 5-0.

FK Qabala and St Patrick’s Athletic are alive in their respective duals with Dinamo Tbilisi and Skonto Riga having netted in 2-1 losses away from home.