Ordabasy defied the odds to record a 1-0 win in the first leg, but the match showed the bookmakers had got it completely wrong when quoting the odds before the match. Jagodina failed to create a single clear-cut chance during the game and they look in for yet another disappointment.

Excellent performance in Serbia

Ordabasy Shymkent are hardly one of the most famous clubs in Kazakhstan, but they have been on the constant uptrend over the last few years. Besides finishing the last league campaign in 6th place, equaling their best ever finish to the league championship, the relatively new club did well to win the Kazakh Cup by beating Tobol in the final, before beating the reigning champions Shakhtar Karagandy in the Super Cup. The two trophies not only ensured the club a place in the Europa League qualifying stages, but also proved Ordabasy now have the quality to compete with the best sides in the league. Viktor Pasulko’s side showed a lot of promise in their first ever European match, having produced a high-quality performance to beat Jagodina at their own ground in the first leg. The match showed Ordabasy are not only superior in terms of technical skills but that they are also much fitter than their opponents, so we should see even more one-sided affair in the return leg.

Boss Viktor Pasulko has absolutely no selection worries and is expected to field an unchanged line-up from the first leg.

Out of ideas

Jagodina did well to achieve a fourth-place finish in the last league campaign and thus ensure their maiden appearance in the Europa League, but the team failed to properly prepare for their European exploits. The club first stayed without Marko Simic, who had been voted Best Goalkeeper in Serbian top flight last season, before losing two most creative players Milos Krstic and Sasa Marjanovic. Having failed to sign decent replacements for the key players and having just started their pre-season training, Jagodina were always going to have problems against Ordabasy, but nobody expected the team would be so disappointing in the first leg. The hosts looked desperately short of fitness and ideas, and deservedly lost the game after failing to create a single chance to score. Seeing that almost nothing has changed since the first leg, everything suggests Jagodina will lose the return leg as well.

Being desperately short of options on the bench, coach Simo Krunic is likely to field the same side that started the first match.

Verdict

Ordabasy completely outplayed their opponents in the first leg and deservedly took the lead, so the Kazakhs are expected to finish the job in front of their own fans. Jagodina were utterly disappointing in the first match between the two sides and I just don’t see how they can get something from this clash.

Our prediction: Home win

Odds: 2.38 (11/8)

Bookmaker: Ladbrokes